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Its beautiful location in the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Triangle means BIO Habitat Hotel ticks all the boxes for relaxation before you’ve even checked in. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Andean forests, this sustainably led hotel fuses sleek, modern structures with locally sourced materials and environmental consciousness.

Check into one of the treehouse-like Bio Loft Suites, suspended among the treetops, where you’ll wake up to the sweet singsong sounds of tropical birds each morning. Each suite features floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views of the forest canopy and the peaks of the Andes. Or, for a more immersive experience, stay in one of BIO Habitat’s cabins, where you can stargaze from your own outdoor hot tub.

Dining-wise, expect a farm-to-table affair with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients at El Mirador, which serves up Colombian classics with a modern twist. Its tranquil location, hidden in the jungle, means each meal comes with gorgeous panoramic views. While here, check in for a coffee scrub or bamboo massage at Bo Wellness Center, try a morning yoga class in the forest, or relax back in the infinity pool.

Tucked away in a secluded vineyard, a well-stocked cellar and an abundance of fantastic Argentine vintages await wine lovers at Cavas Wine Lodge in Luján de Cuyo. Mendoza province’s only boutique lodging with Relais & Châteaux billing pays tribute to colonial architecture with every meticulous detail in the 17 stunning standalone suites; four were recently renovated. Among the many amenities are private Hiroki mini pools, a rooftop terrace with fireplaces conceived for soaking up Andean sunsets, and a hot water bottle at the foot of the king-size bed to warm cold toes. A polite note left during the nightly turn-down service highlights the time of the next morning’s sunrise so guests don’t miss the vibrant pink rays reflecting off the mountains, which is a charming touch.

Make time for the full wine-therapy treatment at the Moorish-style spa, which includes a unique Bonarda bathing experience. Energies are reinvigorated, and guests can also indulge in asado cooking classes, enjoy olive oil and wine tastings guided by the in-house sommelier, or get to know the terroir by bike. With every meal of the day contemplated, including afternoon tea, there’s little need to leave the estate, but should you wish to explore, Cavas is a short drive from Michelin-starred bodega restaurants such as Zonda Cocina de Paisaje and Riccitelli Bistró.

Once you pass through the tall double doors of Arequipa, Peru’s Cirqa, you’re engulfed by a kind of contemplative quiet you’d think impossible so close to the city’s main square, Plaza de Armas. Placards along the entrance hallways depict this building’s history: the property first served as a monastery in the 16th century and, once turned into a hotel, was designed to accentuate the original design, with vaulted ceilings and the white volcanic stone walls emblematic of Arequipa. Cirqa is all about understated elegance—gray and charcoal accents in the common areas complement, rather than overpower, the parador’s architecture. Inside each of the uniquely decorated rooms, stylish, tailor-made furniture blurs the line between the ancient and contemporary worlds.

Amenities include a plunge pool in the center courtyard, a massage room, and the attentive service provided by staff members who wear long, black cloaks in the chilly Arequipenean mornings. Guests can gather in Cirqa’s Salón or Terraza spaces to enjoy regional dishes presented by Executive Chef Maria Fé García or spend time on El Techo de Cirqa, a rooftop hideout designed like a traditional road stop with views of the UNESCO World Heritage city and the volcanoes that preside over it.

Originally built by the French architect Joseph Gire to mirror the hotels that line the French Riviera, the Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro is a historic property that played a pivotal role in transforming Rio’s stretch of beach into the popular destination it is today. History abounds at the palace, which has played host to notable guests from Brigitte Bardot to Pavarotti to Madonna, cementing its status as a celebrity hotspot. While you have your pick of the litter when choosing a hotel on Copacabana Beach, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that can outshine the 5-star hospitality found at the Copacabana Palace.

Historic hotels can sometimes sit on their laurels, coasting on the reputation of their storied past, but the Copacabana is not one of them. In 2023, the hotel celebrated its centenary by unveiling a breathtaking renovation by renowned architect Michel Jouannet, whose work helped shape such legendary hotels as the Ritz and Hôtel de Crillon in Paris.

The star of the renovation is the Copacabana’s half-size Olympic swimming pool, which sits in the heart of the Palace’s courtyard, flanked by lush tropical foliage and cozy sun loungers. Following the renovation, the pool has been made even more beautiful, if you can imagine it, boasting glistening marble and exquisite tile work. Around the hotel pool stands three restaurants—Pérgula, Mee, and Cipriani—creating a private oasis of fine dining. The most sought-after reservation is the beloved Ristorante Hotel Cipriani, a Michelin-starred eatery serving Northern Italian dishes.

Opened in 1958, the Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls is a symbol of the Iguaçu National Park, with stunning views of the falls. It is one of the most sophisticated hotels in Brazil, offering guests luxury and exclusive activities, including walks through the Iguaçu Park in the morning before visitors arrive and after the park closes to the sunset.

The hotel’s pink façade, in Portuguese colonial style, retains the charm of the past. The 187 rooms are comfortable, with solid wood furniture and paintings on the walls that show the local fauna and flora. Some rooms have a private pool, while suites have a separate living room with panoramic balconies.

In the central area, find a large heated outdoor swimming pool, as well as a spa, 24-hour gym, and tennis court. The Brazilian meal feijoada can be enjoyed in the restaurant with a terrace. The only hotel in the National Park also offers boat or helicopter tours and hikes. In addition, the hotel has sustainable actions such as an organic vegetable garden, LED lighting in 97% of the hotel, and other initiatives. The impressive Iguaçu Falls and the 185,000-hectare Iguaçu National Park, home to animals such as exotic birds and the jaguar, make this a trip for the senses.

Tucked in the foothills of Mendoza’s sprawling vineyards ​sits a hospitality gem that redefines the meaning of “luxury wellness travel.” Famed politician and Argentina’s first female winemaker, Susana Balbo, has introduced the SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, a seven-suite oasis that pampers weary travelers with open-fire La Vida restaurant, a seasonal outdoor pool, and, perhaps best of all, state of the art accommodations fitted with private dry saunas, steam rooms, sensations showers, and oversized soaking tubs upcycled from concrete wine-aging vessels.

In-room treatments incorporate the alluring local smells of grape flowers and herbs harvested directly from the property’s garden. These are all part of multi-sensory massage and facial journeys that aim to calm and relax guests and help them become entirely one with nature.

Though the ​Cuyo region demands full-day exploration in the form of hikes in the Andes, clinking glasses in tasting rooms, and long walks in Parque General San Martín,​ the Winemaker’s House positions itself as a respite from any type of activity, demanding or otherwise. And that’s something anyone can toast to.

In the middle of the Sacred Valley in Peru lies a Relais & Chateaux collection of casitas, little houses in Spanish, where you can go horseback riding in the morning and lounge in the pool all afternoon. Book one of the five Premium Casitas, and you’ll have your own little heated outdoor pool. All 43 luxury casitas have their own patio and garden area, with the property’s lush greenery affording complete privacy.

Sol y Luna is an easy day trip to the famous Inca ruins at Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac, though the property is so beautiful you may not be inclined to do many day trips. The Yacu Wasi spa uses locally grown medicinal herbs for a fusion of modern indulgence and traditional Andean healing. The hotel’s Killawasi Restaurant is fine dining indoors by a lovely fireplace or outdoors poolside. The Rancho Wayra Restaurant is a casual affair near the stables, where you can try Pachamanca (meat and vegetables baked underground) while watching an afternoon horse show.

You would never guess this dazzling property was an afterthought, but it was created to support the pre-existing Sol y Luna Foundation. The foundation works with children in need by providing housing, meals, a school, and scholarships for higher education.