Recommend February 2015 - (Page 28)

latinamerica UPSCALING THE WILDERNESS Go adventuring in style amidst Latin America's remote and celebrated natural landscapes and culture sites, including in Argentina, where Salta and its environs shine. carla hunt In Latin America, luxury has tamed the wilderness experience, or at least made it ever so much more comfortable. For this relatively new state of luxurious affairs, we have many pioneers to thank. For example, in Chile, the debut of the stunning Explora de Patagonia put the extraordinary Torres del Paine National Park solidly on the must-see map; Explora took its exclusive, allinclusive, eco-adventure formula to other little-known corners of Chile: the Atacama Desert and Easter Island. In Costa Rica, the opening of the quintessential eco-lodge Lapa Rios on the Caribbean coast-a member of the newly created National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World-and the arrival of the Four Seasons brand on the Paciﬁc, set the luxury scene for development of upscale lodgings in all corners of the country. And while not in the wilds, but once a wilderness for elegant accommodations, Orient Express (now Belmond) debuted two luxury sensations in Peru: Hotel Monasterio, arranged around graceful 16th century cloisters, and the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, occupying the only site right at the famous ruins; the company went one deluxe travel step further and connected its properties with the Hiram Bingham Train-rather a palace on Visit recommend.com and search "tours to argentina," as well as "recommended luxury stays," to get even more information on how to tame the wilderness with a dose of luxe. 28 february 2015 28-29 LA Upscale.indd 28 wheels reﬂecting the opulence of a bygone locomotive era. Today, there is no shortage of creature comfort in the former capital of the Inca Empire, as well as the surrounding Sacred Valley. And Argentina, too, has been taming its wild settings with luxurious lodgings. In fact, there was no shortage of nominations for Latin America's best-in-show luxury comforts and experiences coming from my fellow bus mates, made up of a dozen U.S. and European tour operators; we are on the road in Northwest Argentina, getting our heads and hearts around the reality that this region is just plain drop-dead gorgeous. Our host, Juan Jose Lazcano of Eurotur, gets it right when he tells us: "Think of our 5-day trip as a luxurious one: the luxury of estancias and wine estates turned tastefully into unique and elegant lodgings that reﬂect their settings, and the luxury of visiting a culturally important and scenically splendid destination on the cusp of discovery." Let's share some highlights. High near the border of Bolivia, this northwestern corner offers a completely different perspective on Argentina. Here, the descendants of the Inca warriors who ﬁrst met the Spanish and the heirs of the conquistadors, have been joined in recent centuries by Lebanese and Syrian sheep ranches, Korean merchants and Italian winemakers. They share a crazy-quilt landscape of stunning natural beauty: dramatic wind-carved rock formations, Andean mountain passes and Grand Canyon-like rock formations in a rainbow of striated colors; broad puma prairies where gauchos herd their ﬂocks; and vineyards green with high-altitude vines producing quite fabulous wines. Prepare to enjoy the city that Argentines call Salta la Linda (Salta, the beautiful). Founded in 1582, handsome Salta was a key trading post on the mule highway between Lima, the silver mines of Bolivia and Buenos Aires-today only two hours away by air. Not only is Salta known for its superb meat empanadas and some of the world's best preserved mummies (on view in the Andean Archaeology Museum), but other must-see attractions in this colonial town include the architecturally stunning, gingerbread cathedral of San Francisco, and the colorful, craft-ﬁlled Artisanal Market set in a beautifully restored millhouse. Go north from Salta to the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage site and splendid rift valley that cuts through the Andes and forms a natural corridor from Argentina to Bolivia: a path once well-trod by the Inca. It bristles with recommend.com 1/21/15 1:29 PM http://www.recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend February 2015

Editor’s Notes
Four Haute Hotel Happenings in 2015
Tauck
Let’s Talk Luxury
In the Lap of Luxury, At Sea
Tee Off & Unwind in the U.S.
Golf with “a Shot of Spa” in Vibrant Mexico
Barbados & Bermuda Get a Boost
Curaçao’s Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort
Upscaling the Wilderness
The “High Life” in France
Africa Ups the Luxury Ante
A Sense of Wellness in India

Recommend February 2015