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Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa is situated in a space of wild beauty; a place of fjords, native forests, rivers, waterfalls, mountains and glaciers. Deep within a remote recess of Patagonia, one of the least inhabited and most serenely beautiful places on earth. The lodge appears like a dream - sitting on the shore of a tranquil sea inlet of the Ventisquero Sound, accessible only by sea within the protected shore of Dorita Bay, in Southern Chile. Built in harmony with nature it offers rustic, yet supremely comfortable luxury amidst these wild, untamed surrounding 'South of Silence.'

Puyuhuapi was built from trees of the surrounding forests by local craftsmen almost three decades ago. Over the last 15 years the Kossmann family developed it into a unique lodge, welcoming people from all over the world. Guest can experience its magic and tranquility, combining exploration of the fjords, rainforest and surrounding Queulat National Park, plus a top-notch thalasso therapy centre offering thermal pools, pampering massages and seaweed treatments to unwind after a day of excursions. Despite its extreme remote location, the lodge offers all that you'd expect from a small luxury hotel: fine cuisine, comfortable accommodation and friendly service.

Facilities

The lodge offers natural hot spring swimming pools in the open air and on the sea shore as well as a modern hydro massage indoor pool. The structure of this Patagonian Lodge itself was designed to harmoniously combine with the surrounding Patagonian forests. The 33 rooms and cabins have been carefully designed and crafted from local wood and most feature balconies and panoramic views of the bay or forest. Located among the main buildings of the complex, they are all a short walk from the restaurant, reception, communal rooms and indoor spa area, and within 150 meters of the outdoor pools.

Different types of accommodations are available:

1 Suite Capitania /30 Double Superior Bay View Rooms

Spa & Thalassotherapy

The waters of the spa are naturally pure, the source being just meters from the lodge. At the spa, you can enjoy the benefits of three very rare world wide, pristine water coverage's in one place; sea water, thermal water and water directly from the waterfall.

It's important to find ways to alleviate the stress of daily life, to find places to re-energize, and to reclaim that good feeling of well-being. The Spa at Puyuhuapi provides benefits from relaxation massages, beauty treatments, to thalasso therapy treatments.

There are 3, 4 and 5 day programs available - most operate only from October to April, but a couple are available all year round. Please check out the full details.

Enquire now and reserve your space!

Patagonia - the very essence of untouched, pristine wilderness at the end of the world - glacial ice fields, rugged mountains, ancient forests, a maze of fjords and wild, untamed rivers. That is Patagonia today. But peril looms in paradise. The Spanish Energy company Endesa, or rather its Chilean Offshoot, Endesa Chile and the Chilean Colbún signed a contract in 2006 to turn this wilderness into a wasteland. Under the innocent sounding project name of 'HidroAysen' no less than 5 hydroelectric dams are planned in Patagonia, to harness the power of the wild, glacier-fed Baker and Pascua rivers. Undoubtedly this would change the pristine face of this magical landscape forever and turn it into an ugly, marred, desolate moonscape of clear-cut mountains, blasted rock faces and high voltage electricity pylons that will march down the Carretera Austral for more than 2000 miles.

Read more about the issue:

• International Rivers - Patagonia
• IPS News: CHILE - International Campaign for a Dam-Free Patagonia

And please support the campaign to stop the HidroAyséen Project by making your voice heard:

• Action Alert: Save Patagonia's Baker and Pascua Rivers

Situated in the legendary Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth, AWASI INN offers a perfect place to replenish and contemplate the awesome powers of nature by which it is surrounded: the stark beauty of vast open spaces, distant mountains and ice-capped volcanic peaks, salt flats and lagoons that harbor a surprising range of bird and animal species. Despite the dryness there is life in this remote location, an amazing testimony to the resilience of life.

Sat on the edge of San Pedro de Atacama, a little oasis town huddled around the riverbed of San Pedro River, AWASI LODGE is no ordinary hosteria. It is a new boutique hotel with the highest standards of personalized service. Its hosts are proud to offer travelers a place of serenity and beauty that aims to strike a perfect balance with its surroundings. Built with natural, local materials - adobe, stone and wood, its ambience exudes an air of earthy luxury, and great attention is paid to every detail.

The Inn comprises of only 8 cabins, which ensures an intimate and private atmosphere to make each guest feel at home. The circular, thatch-roofed cabins are constructed in the local style with traditional materials, tastefully furnished for comfort and style, each with its own spacious bathroom and private patio where you can relax in privacy. The swimming pool invites guests to take a refreshing dip or just relax in the comfortable chaise longues set up around the pool.

Awasi Lodge prides itself on its exquisite and innovative cuisine. Professional chefs create imaginative, non-traditional dishes with traditional local foods, such as purple potatoes, patasca, quinoa and chañar, obtained, wherever possible, from local, organic sources. Top quality wines and drinks are served to accompany the exotic dishes.

Awasi offers more than a comfortable bed - it is a complete experience of this remote oasis surrounded by the natural beauty of the arid landscape. Minimum stay is two nights, which includes not only exquisite food and lodging, but also private excursions to fantastic locations that are well off the beaten track. Read More...

Enquire now to reserve your space

Are you among those people who prefer to explore a region or country by themselves, rather than traveling with a group or following a private guide around?

Did you know that it is quite easy and feasible to arrange customized self-drive itineraries in many Latin American countries?

Although, there are places where guides are essential - especially in remote regions or on tours that are distinctly adventurous, quite often it is just much more fun to discover a country on your own.

Our self drive tours in Costa Rica have already proven very popular. We now also offer a number of self-drive tours in Chile that provide you with a rental car, a route and pre-booked hotel rooms along the way. You can decide what you want to do where and when - discover Chile at your own pace!

All the itineraries can be modified to suit your interests and time frame. For independent travelers or even families with kids and teens this is by far the best way to explore this magnificent country.

As we near our summer months, the southern regions of Chile are getting, well, somewhat chilly. However - Chile is not exclusively a winter escape destination - far from it! The entire north, all the way down to the Lake District is still worth visiting, even during the Chilean autumn or winter months. In fact, there are several advantages to traveling at that time of the year: there are fewer tourists, hotel rates tend to go down, and best of all, you'll avoid the nasty biting flies that can be extremely annoying in some parts of the Andes during January and February -the peak time for tourists.

Chile is a thin and very loooooong country. Rather than trying to see the whole country in one go, we suggest focusing on one or two regions, such as the Lake District, the 'Norte Chico' or the central wine valley. We also have several itineraries in Patagonia, both on the Chilean and the Argentinean side, but these are best undertaken in spring or summer - from October through to April is a good time to explore this wild and untamed region. Read More...

Chile Self-Drive Itineraries

Contact us now to plan your personalized self-drive vacation in Chile.

Despite its small size, Ecuador comprises of a greater diversity within its confines than any other Andean nation. From the coastal lowland to the misty cloudforests, to windswept sierras, fertile agricultural valleys, stupendously high mountains and active volcanoes or steamy rainforest, the enormous geographical variations of this small country gives rise to a myriad of ecosystems and microclimates, which in turn creates a kaleidoscopic diversity of plant and animal species that have adapted to these special topography. 1600 species of birds can be observed in this small country - the highest number per square meter in all of South America, and 3500 species of orchid - more than any other country on earth, all congregate in this 'biodiversity hotspot'. The best thing about it, from the travellers point of view, is that Ecuador's natural riches are within quite easy reach from the country's capital and main hub, the beautiful colonial city of Quito.

But as if this weren't enough, Ecuador still holds another trump card in its small territory - the world famous Galapagos Islands - every naturalist's dream destination, with its amazing and unique wildlife and geology. Many travellers come to Ecuador for these islands alone, never spending more than a night on either end of their journey in the nation's capital or anywhere else for that matter.

Galapagos Islands

For those blessed with more time, a more extensive tour of the country combining several of its highlights is definitely recommended. And contrary to popular belief, this does not have to be THAT expensive, if you choose a land-based excursion to the Galapagos Islands, instead of a cruise. While cruises are a great way to visit the Galapagos Islands, the quality of the experience varies tremendously depending on the particular cruise company, their guide to visitor ratio, the professional training level of the guide and the size and standard of the yacht. The best cruises do not come cheap, while the cheapest ones may not be worth the money spent on them.

Galapagos Cruises all booked up?
Why not go on a Landbased Tour!

A great alternative are land-based visits to the islands. These offer by far the most intense experience of 'being there' instead of 'getting there'. They also have the advantage that accommodation choices tend to be more flexible and more comfortable, for the price you pay. Land-based tours have access to vehicles on the islands, that can take you to places that cruise companies never visit, and daily activities can, to some degree, be tailored better to your individual needs and wishes. Another advantage is that they can be arranged individually, for your group, departing on any day, rather than having to arrange your holiday schedule with a chosen cruise company's itinerary. Also, the most popular cruises often tend to be fully booked several months (for Christmas departures even years) ahead of time. Land-based tours can be arranged more spontaneously and are ideal for families and small groups. While cruises charge a flat rate per person, land-based tour rates go down if you travel as a group. The more participants in your group, the lower the price per person - and what's more, the tour is completely private so you still get a better guide to visitor ratio. Read More...

• Galapagos Walking Tour 9 Days
• Galapagos Walking Tour 7 Days
• Ecuador Itineraries

Sani Lodge is truly a one of a kind eco-lodge, dedicated to ecotourism, environmental conservation, and community life in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. The wildlife at Sani Lodge is outstanding, although it is obviously not possible to say exactly what the average visitor is likely to see due to the tremendous general biodiversity and the scarcity of some particular Amazon species.

On the other hand, all the major mammals endemic to the area can be found here. There are also many types of monkeys and most visitors will be able to see at least a few varieties. Bird life is also excellent and Challuacocha is home to 5 species of Kingfishers, many species of parrots, macaws and toucans as well as tanagers, cormorants, cotingas and many others. All told, some 550 species of rainforest birds can be found in the area - making it an excellent place for bird watching.

In the lagoon Caiman, frogs, turtles and strange looking fish can all be seen. Snakes are seldom apparent, but may be encountered on night walks. Don't worry though, poisonous snakes are quite rare. Terrestrial Amazon mammals, like Jaguars, Tapirs and Capybara are all here, but are mostly nocturnal and difficult to see, but then again, you never know.

Facilities:

Clustered on the shore of a remote black water lagoon are our 8 newly constructed private, thatch-roofed cabañas. Each is equipped with twin beds, hammocks, electric lights, and modern bathrooms with showers. Our open-air dining room and bar offer exquisite views of colorful sunsets over our beautiful lake. And since the facility is powered entirely by solar panels, there is no noisy generator to drown out the magical night sounds of the jungle.

Sani Lodge offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and provides a real jungle experience. Sani Lodge is 100% native owned and all monies earned through this eco-tourism venture provides a sustainable source of revenue for the community as well as supporting conservation efforts in the region. Read More...

Enquire now to reserve your space.

It is sad, but unfortunately not an uncommon scenario: A cute little village in some remote part of the world gets 'discovered' by intrepid low-budget tourists who don't mind roughing it and are not bothered by the lack of facilities in remote places. Gradually the word gets out, more and more people show up. Locals have long caught on to the fact that tourists make a good source of additional income and increasingly facilities for tourists emerge, first gradually, then ever faster until there is a veritable building boom - restaurants, hotels, tourist shops, tour agencies...the prices go up, as the once beautiful beach becomes buried in concrete.

Investors with greater aims in mind plan their move to 'develop' the area by building better hotels and resorts, some of them so all inclusive that tourists never leave the compound - after all, beyond the walls their security may be at risk. Is that tourism, or a new form of colonialism? The only contact with locals (or not so locals) is with the servants and staff who try their best to make the tourist's stay a 'perfect paradise get away', (which they themselves could never afford), and every whim is catered for (just as in the 'good old days' when people had servants in their own estates...) Now, this kind of luxury is available to everyone, who is willing to pay for it.

Meanwhile, the towns thus 'developed' still often lack the basic infrastructure to support the sudden swell of population during the peak season. While it could handle a few hundred extra people over a period of several months and perhaps welcomed the diversion brought by foreigners, suddenly the town is overwhelmed. Where does all the extra waste go? Where does the extra energy come from to power the not insignificant requirements of a mid-to large scale resort facility? Where does the extra water come from? Read More...

You must be thinking that I have gone completely mad. Even by the furthest stretch of the imagination, London can hardly be described as a 'green city destination'. It is a heaving Moloch of a city with a serious traffic problem, which has only been marginally improved by the 'congestion charge', a special fee that requires all vehicle owners who want to take their cars into Central London to pay a hefty sum. But you would never guess that it had any impact at all, judging by the heavy traffic that continues to crawl through the city - unless you actually knew 'the bad old days'. But in a city such as London, which is constantly on the move, heaving, honking, fuming throughout the day, it is especially important to know where to go for some peace and quiet, (or something like that), to get some respite.

So, when thinking of London's city green spaces the first that come to mind are the obvious: Hyde Park and Regents Park, and maybe Green Park and St. James's Park, as all of these are pretty much in the center of town, not far from other tourist attractions, such as Buckingham Palace, Marble Arch, Picadilly Circus and London Zoo. And, well, as parks go, they are ok, though nothing really special. For slightly more interesting bits of nature one has to travel a little further afield.

Hampstead Heath

My favourite green areas in London are Hampstead Heath and Kenwood Park, comprising of about 790 acres of open park area in north London, including a variety of habitats such as heath, woodland, meadows, bog and marsh, and last but not least, the famous ponds, some of which are accessible as public bathing spaces - the only such natural, guarded bathing spots in Britain, known as the 'men's pond and the lady's pond' which are fed by natural spring water. They get pretty busy in the summer. But Hampstead Heath is most famous for the open hillside known as Parliament Hill, which offers marvellous views across the city (providing the weather is clear), from what feels like a lofty height. The nice thing about Hampstead Heath is the fact that it is possible to walk around for ages on trails that vary from well maintained and quite busy major paths to secretive trails that almost let you forget that you are in a major metropolis. And even when you re-emerge from the woods, dipping back into city life does not come as a huge shock, as Hampstead is quite pleasant, village like district of London, full of nice restaurants and little shops.

Richmond Park

A lot more remote and pastoral is Richmond Park - one of the old Royal Parks, located in southwest London. With 2500 acres it is the largest Royal Park in London and it is a bit of a hidden world, far from the noise and racket of the city. It even has a population of about 650 roaming deer which visitors may spot - especially when walking at dawn or dusk. Richmond Park is a little bit of pastoral British landscape, with its scenery of rolling hills, woodlands, gardens and meadows dotted with ancient trees that induces the sense of having been beamed straight into a Jane Austen novel. The Park is designated as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Read More...