Welcome to the Aracari Hotlist for 2026. Our guide to where to go in South America in the year ahead, shaped by over three decades of experience designing luxury travel across the continent.
Assembling our annual hotlist of where to go in South America in 2026 is never a light exercise. It is shaped by months spent on the ground, thousands of miles traveled, and ongoing conversations with the people shaping the region, from chefs and artists to hoteliers, guides, and conservationists. To recommend a destination is to know it intimately. Not just what makes it beautiful, but when it is at its best, and why it matters now.
This year’s Aracari Hotlist reflects how travel to South America continues to evolve. Less about ticking off landmarks, more about access, timing, and depth. These are places that reward curiosity, where luxury is defined not by excess, but by authenticity, discretion, and the privilege of experiencing something well considered. It is this philosophy that shapes our bespoke South America travel experiences, and our belief that the most meaningful journeys are designed with intention.
As we look ahead to 2026, this guide serves as both inspiration and compass. A considered answer to where to go in South America for those seeking culture, nature, and connection in equal measure. Rather than chasing novelty, it highlights destinations that feel particularly relevant now, whether through thoughtful new openings, renewed creative energy, or moments of rediscovery.
1. Casa Gastón, Bolivia: A Hotel Museum at the Edge of the Salar
Few openings feel as quietly significant as Casa Gastón. Opening in March 2026 near the remote village of Jirira, at the foot of the sacred Tunupa Volcano and overlooking the vast white expanse of the Salar de Uyuni, it will become Bolivia’s first luxury hotel museum. It is one of the clearest answers to where to go in South America in 2026 for travelers seeking purposeful luxury in a remote setting.
Conceived by the late Gastón Ugalde, a longtime friend of Aracari whose work is exhibited through the Aracari Gallery, Casa Gastón is as much a habitable artwork as it is a hotel. Built from volcanic stone and coral, its architecture sits naturally within the Altiplano landscape, honoring both the environment and the indigenous communities with whom Ugalde worked closely throughout his life. His guiding philosophy, all is life and all is art, is woven through every aspect of the experience.
With just ten suites, each oriented toward the Salar and featuring private terraces with open air lithium baths, Casa Gastón offers a rare and considered expression of luxury. Original works by Ugalde are integrated throughout, alongside rotating exhibitions, ritual inspired experiences, and a strong emphasis on social responsibility and carbon neutrality. It is an opening firmly rooted in the evolving ethos of luxury travel to South America in 2026.
For Aracari, Casa Gastón represents exactly the kind of development we seek out. A stay here pairs naturally with a privately guided exploration of the Salar de Uyuni and the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve, traveling by 4×4 through high altitude landscapes, multicolored lagoons, and remote Andean communities. For those with a creative eye, journeys can be shaped around photography, art, or time spent simply absorbing the vastness of the Altiplano. Named by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the best places to go in 2026, Casa Gastón signals a new chapter for Bolivia on the global stage.
2. Machu Picchu, Peru: Rethinking the Return
There is nothing new about Machu Picchu, and that is precisely its power. For nearly three decades, it has anchored Aracari’s journeys through Peru, forming the heart of our itineraries since 1996. What is new, however, is how you leave it.
For 2026, we are rethinking the return. Rather than retracing the familiar route back through the Sacred Valley, we recommend an alternative journey that unfolds through cloud forest, jungle valleys, and communities rarely encountered.
This off route return begins by train toward Santa Teresa, where the Andes begin to soften into subtropical forest. From there, the journey continues by vehicle, climbing gradually back toward the Sacred Valley via the Abra de Málaga. The route is defined by dramatic shifts in landscape, misty forest and waterfalls giving way to sweeping high altitude views, revealing a very different side of southern Peru.
Marisol experienced this journey firsthand in November, describing it as a day entirely outside the tourist circuit. Along the way, she visited a small sustainable agriculture project focused on coffee and rewilding, quietly transforming former tea plantations into biodiverse jungle landscapes. By the time the route reconnects near Ollantaytambo, the experience feels markedly richer. A reminder that even in one of the most visited places on the continent, there are still ways to travel differently.
3. Salta Province, Argentina: High Altitude Wines and Bodega Colomé
In northern Argentina, Salta Province unfolds as one of the country’s most striking and least expected wine landscapes. Vast valleys, dramatic Andean geology, and vineyards planted at extraordinary elevations define a region where altitude shapes both terrain and grape.
The palette is unmistakable, deep ochres, rust reds, and pale mineral tones that recall New Mexico and northern Arizona, yet feel entirely Andean. With direct flights from Lima and several weekly connections from Madrid, Salta is also remarkably accessible, making it a natural extension to time spent in Peru.
Marisol traveled through the Calchaquí Valleys in November, following a route that passes through cloud forest before opening into stark, arid expanses and protected landscapes such as Los Cardones National Park. Villages including Cachi and Cafayate remain genuinely intact, laid out according to Jesuit mission planning and largely untouched by modern development. For us, the region recalled Cusco some thirty years ago.
This is the heart of Argentina’s high altitude wine country, with vineyards planted between 2,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level and a growing reputation for distinctive wines, particularly Torrontés, a fresh, aromatic white that feels unexpected in a country so closely associated with Malbec.
At the center of the region sits Bodega Colomé, recently ranked among the World’s 50 Best Vineyards for 2025. Set deep within the Calchaquí Valleys, Colomé is not simply a winery but the defining experience of Salta Province. Its refined five star hotel, vineyards, and James Turrell museum make it unequivocally the place to stay. Given the remoteness of the region and the long, rugged drives that reveal its beauty, staying here allows travelers to slow down and absorb the landscape fully.
4. Estancia Los Potreros, Argentina: Life on a Working Estancia
About an hour north of Córdoba, in the rolling foothills of the Sierra Chica, Estancia Los Potreros offers one of the most rewarding countryside experiences in Argentina. Family owned since the early nineteenth century and still very much a working cattle estancia, it is a place with real depth and intention. It feels less like a hotel and more like being welcomed into a private home.
What struck us most, when Marisol stayed here in November, is how naturally everything works. Los Potreros is built around horseback riding, yet it remains remarkably inclusive. Experienced riders will find long days in the saddle, often accompanying gauchos in their daily work. Those with little or no riding experience are equally well looked after, with horses, routes, and pacing tailored entirely to the individual. Riding groups are divided by level, making this an ideal choice for couples or friends with differing confidence.
With just six rooms and a maximum of twelve guests, the atmosphere is intimate and sociable. Meals are shared at a communal table, the food is hearty and homemade, and evenings unfold with familiar rhythms, drinks at sunset, music, or an impromptu wine tasting. There is no sense of performance here, just genuine hospitality, thoughtful organization, and an easy pace that encourages connection.
Los Potreros is not about luxury in the conventional sense. It is about authenticity, landscape, and doing things exceptionally well. For travelers interested in Argentine culture, rural life, and riding without pretension, it is a brilliant experience, and one that reflects Aracari’s belief that places with purpose often leave the strongest impression.
5. Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash, Peru: The Great Andean Treks
For 2026, one of the most compelling ways to experience Peru lies far from familiar circuits, deep in the high Andes where scale, silence, and effort define the journey. The Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Huayhuash together form one of the world’s most extraordinary trekking regions, offering glaciated peaks, turquoise lakes, and routes that remain remarkably under visited.
With direct flights from Lima to Huaraz, access to the Cordillera Blanca has become significantly easier, opening a part of the Andes that feels refreshingly removed despite its proximity. From here, travelers can explore classic day hikes and multi day routes within Huascarán National Park. Those seeking greater remoteness can continue onward to the Huayhuash range, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful long distance treks in the world. For longer and more remote treks, we draw on long experience operating at altitude. Equipment, support crews, and pacing are carefully matched to the route, allowing travelers to focus on the journey itself, confident that comfort and safety have been fully considered.
This is walking at altitude; demanding and deeply rewarding. These landscapes require time and intention. It is the kind of journey that stays with you, in the legs and in the memory, and speaks directly to the growing desire for the great outdoors and alternative routes when considering where to go in South America in 2026.
When the walking is done, Cuesta Serena Boutique Hotel offers a thoughtful counterpoint to the trail. Owner operated and design forward, it feels rooted in place, with warm hospitality, comfort, and views that stretch across the valley.
6. Peru’s Coastal Desert: Wine and Pisco Grown in the Sand
Driving deep into Peru’s coastal desert and arriving at vineyards planted directly in the sand is not an experience most travelers anticipate. Yet this is precisely what makes this visit so distinctive. Set inland from the coast, south of Lima, this private Aracari encounter reveals a lesser known expression of Peru’s wine and pisco traditions.
At the center of the experience is Bodega Murga, a small natural winery and pisco estate located within the historic Fundo Murga, whose origins date back to the eighteenth century. Founded with a commitment to low intervention practices, Murga allows its wines and piscos to reflect the extreme conditions in which they are grown. Albilla, Italia, Negra Criolla, and Quebranta vines are cultivated without chemical inputs, sustained by the narrow fertile corridor created by the Pisco River and framed by surrounding desert.
Visits unfold with time spent in the winery and cellars, tasting wines directly from the barrel and understanding how they evolve in this environment. From there, a short drive leads through the vineyards and into the dunes themselves. Seeing vines emerge from sand, shaped by sun, wind, and scarcity, is striking.
The experience concludes back at the estate with a guided tasting of wines, pisco, and mistela, paired with a traditional criollo style lunch. Rooted in a landscape once inhabited by Paracas, Wari, and Inca civilizations, the visit offers a clear sense of how land, history, and agricultural knowledge continue to intersect here. For travelers considering where to go in South America in 2026, it is the kind of half day that adds real depth.
7. Explora in Patagonia: Torres del Paine and El Calafate
Explora’s two new lodges in Patagonia, Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve and Explora El Calafate, offer carefully positioned bases on both sides of the Chilean and Argentine border. These are not additions to an existing circuit, but places designed to allow travelers to remain in one location and explore outward.
Explora Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve sits just beyond the national park boundary, within a privately protected landscape that forms part of the Torres del Paine Biosphere Reserve. With just ten rooms, the lodge is intentionally small. From here, guests can access both the park’s classic routes and lesser visited northern areas, exploring on foot, horseback, or by vehicle, always returning to the same base.
Across the border, Explora El Calafate offers a complementary setting on the Chorrillo Malo estancia, with open views toward Lake Argentino and distant glimpses of the Perito Moreno Glacier. With twenty rooms, it serves as a base for guided explorations that extend beyond the glacier into steppe, valleys, and riding routes rarely encountered independently.
For Aracari, the value of these lodges lies not in recommending them in isolation, but in designing journeys around them. Time at Explora is best framed by destinations before and after, whether crossing Patagonia from north to south, pairing Chilean and Argentine landscapes, or connecting the region with time elsewhere in South America.
8. Hermes Galápagos Cruise, Ecuador: Ultra-Luxury Living at Sea
For travelers who want to experience the Galápagos without sacrificing comfort, Hermes introduces a new proposition for 2026. This recently launched ultra luxury catamaran is designed for discerning clients who value space, privacy, and service alongside access to one of the world’s most extraordinary natural environments.
Hermes is best understood as a floating boutique hotel. The vessel features just twelve expansive suites, each designed with calm, contemporary interiors and generous proportions that allow guests to disconnect fully between excursions. Social spaces are equally well considered, with indoor lounges, a library, and a range of outdoor areas that encourage movement throughout the day.
Service is highly personalized, from 24 hour butler assistance to thoughtful touches such as unpacking on arrival and onboard culinary demonstrations. By day, guests explore the Galápagos as the islands require, guided by expert naturalists. By evening, they return to a setting that prioritizes space and calm. Hermes also supports conservation efforts through its involvement in the Endemic Reforestation Program on Santa Cruz Island.
For Aracari, Hermes is not about offering another way to see the Galápagos, but the right way for a particular kind of traveler. It suits those who want to experience the islands’ raw beauty while returning each day to refined surroundings and attentive service.
9. Tinajani, Peru: A Tented Hamlet in the High Andes
The valley of Tinajani, in southern Peru, is defined by vast open plains and dramatic red rock formations carved by erosion over millennia. The scale is immediate and uncompromising. Long corridors of stone, wide skies, and shifting light give the landscape a clarity that is rare in the Andes.
Set directly within this terrain, Andean’s new tented hamlet, Tinajani, offers a way to stay within the landscape itself. The camp is deliberately small, accommodating just twelve guests across six safari style campamentos, and designed to sit lightly on the land. Communal spaces occupy restored adobe buildings from a former sheep farm, while the tents are simply appointed with heritage textiles, artisan crafts, and open sightlines that keep attention focused outward. This is not a lodge, and it is not a safari camp adapted for Peru. It is a measured response to the place itself.
Mark, one of Aracari’s Travel Designers, visited Tinajani recently, and it was a shoo-in for inclusion in our 2026 guide. Days are spent walking canyon trails, hiking or cycling past ancient burial sites, or following streams through the stone forest with local guides who share the region’s long oral histories. Beyond the valley, excursions include visits to highland towns such as Ayaviri and Pucará, and seasonal walks among the towering Puya raimondii.
Evenings return guests to the hamlet for communal meals rooted in ancestral highland cooking and time spent around the fire under open skies. For Aracari, Tinajani adds genuine value to a journey through southern Peru, offering access to a distinctive landscape and a natural pause between Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and the Colca Valley.
10. Cusco Through Time: A Photographic Walk with Teo Allain Chambi
This private walk through Cusco offers a layered understanding of the city through its visual history. Led by Teo Allain Chambi, photographer and grandson of Martín Chambi, it is shaped by direct access to one of the most important photographic archives in the Andes.
The walk unfolds through Cusco’s historic center, including Qoricancha, the Plaza de Armas, and San Blas. At precise locations, Teo shares original archival images taken by his grandfather, placing them directly against the present day city. Through these visual pairings and personal commentary, Cusco’s architectural shifts, social changes, and cultural continuity come into focus.
Martín Chambi, born in 1891 in Puno, was Latin America’s first Indigenous photographer and one of the region’s most important visual chroniclers. His work documented both elite and everyday Andean life with equal care, creating a photographic record that continues to shape how the Andes are seen.
The experience concludes with a private visit to the Martín Chambi exhibition at the Scotiabank Galleries, a space not open to the general public. Here, original photographs are viewed across three thematic rooms, Tipos y Costumbres, Retratos de Estudio, and Machu Picchu, offering context and continuity to the journey.
For Aracari, this experience reflects the same curatorial approach that guides the Aracari Gallery, where select Martín Chambi prints are available alongside a wider collection of Andean art and design. It is included in our 2026 hotlist because it offers meaningful access to history, artistry, and place, and deepens time spent in Cusco in a way that is both personal and enduring.
Where to go in South America in 2026: where will we take you?
Taken together, the Aracari Hotlist for 2026 reflects a way of traveling that values perspective over pace, access over accumulation, and understanding over novelty. These are places and experiences shaped by timing, long standing relationships, and a deep familiarity with how South America reveals itself to those willing to travel with intention.
As travel to the region continues to evolve, so too does our approach. Whether through new openings, alternative routes from familiar landmarks, or encounters with art, landscape, and culture, this guide offers a considered answer to where to go in South America in 2026.
As always, every journey we design is shaped around the individual, drawing on this knowledge to create travel that feels personal, informed, and enduring.