PIONEERING LATIN LODGES

From works of architectural genius and hotels that double as art galleries, to eco-retreats and community tourism initiatives, these outstanding feats of accommodation are far more than simply places to stay

For sustainable architecture

SANTULAN, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO ‘Santulan’ means ‘balance’ in Hindi, and this eight-room hotel in the vineyard-filled desert of the Guadalupe Valley perfectly straddles the worlds of high design and sustainability. Walls are made from hand-pressed, air-dried blocks of earth, and the five buildings provide natural cross ventilation, there’s a ‘fogcatcher’ tower that converts mist into water, and a pretty triangular ‘pool’ around which everything converges is actually a greywater recycling system. An organic orchard leads onto vineyards, while the block of rooms has a ‘green roof’ (planted with desert-loving foliage) that doubles as a stargazing terrace. There’s also an art gallery, a yoga studio and a wooden geodesic dome for meditation. Doubles from £124, B&B. santulanbaja.com

For design

VIK CHILE AND PURO VIK,

MILLAHUE VALLEY, CHILE

Vik Retreats is arguably South America’s most design-focused hotel brand, and Vik Chile, a hilltop wine and spa retreat, two hours from Santiago, only enhances this reputation. Overlooking the vineyards of the Millahue Valley with the Andes in the distance, it was designed by Uruguayan architect Marcelo Daglio. Inspired by Frank Gehry, the building — a glass-titanium fusion — resembles a flying saucer docked in the wild landscape. Wedged into the hills below is a clutch of 19 futuristic glass, grass-roofed cubes: Puro Vik, which opened in April this year. Propped up on stilts and cantilevered over a void, each has three glass sides, a balcony with a bathtub out front and a unique theme, ranging from Japan with Utagawa Hiroshige to the art of glass with Dale Chihuly, and pop art. Doubles from £853, full board. vikretreats.com

For modern art

CASA MALCA, TULUM, MEXICO

Casa Malca has a new claim to fame — and it’s rather more tasteful than its past life as the beach retreat of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. In its new incarnation as a boutique hotel, it’s known for its collection of modern art, curated by owner Lio Malca, a New York art dealer. There’s a Marina Abramović installation in the restaurant, giant black fibreglass light bulbs by Sunil Gawde on the beach, and a statue of a Mumbai street seller amid the palms. Keith Haring, meanwhile, is responsible for the bar’s wallpaper and the outré chair coverings in Ambrosia restaurant. Doubles from £529, B&B. casamalca.com

For hot springs and wildlife

TABACÓN THERMAL RESORT & SPA, COSTA RICA Displays of lava flows in Costa Rica’s ‘resting’ Volcán Arenal can’t be seen currently, but this volatile environment offers incredible birdwatching and wildlife-spotting opportunities, not to mention the best spa in the country. Guests at five-star Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa get exclusive access to the hot springs here, along with spectacular views of the volcano from the resort itself, which centres around a thermal river, replete with relaxing pools and waterfalls.

Book tours via Arenal Observatory Lodge, located within Arenal Volcano National

Park, or with Costa Rica Adventures. tabacon.com arenalobservatorylodge.com costaricaexperts.com

For conservation

IBITIPOCA, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

At Ibitipoca, a 12,355-acre farm-turnedreserve a four-hour drive from Rio de Janeiro, visitors are taught about rainforest conservation. Proceeds go towards reforestation of the rainforest reserve. Fazenda do Engenho, an 18th-century farmhouse, contains eight rustic-luxe suites with copper showers and freestanding bathtubs, while nearby buildings, plus one in a local village, house ultra-private suites. Doubles from £232 per person per night, full board, including two daily guided walks. lastfrontiers.com

For all-round excellence

BLUE APPLE BEACH HOUSE,

ISLA TIERRA BOMBA, COLOMBIA

At Tierra Bomba, off the coast of Cartagena, beach chic meets mid-century bombast with a hint of nautical thrown in. But beyond its fun vibe and strong art ethic, its eco credentials are impeccable: used cooking oil is made into biodiesel fuel, organic matter is composted and a machine grinds bottles into sand. This year, it also paid for 10 locals to train as glass artisans — the fancy lights you see around the place are their work.

Doubles from £120, B&B, including transport to the island. blueapplebeach.com

For architecture

SACROMONTE, MALDONADO, URUGUAY

You might miss Sacromonte at first glance. Located in the hilly interior of Maldonado, near gastro hotspot Pueblo Garzón, it sprawls over 250 acres of sierra, its prefab cabins seemingly lost to the elements, thanks to their mirrored facades. Each minimalist wood-clad room put the focus firmly on the landscape. Not that views are all that’s on offer — each cabin has an outdoor plunge pool, with the only disturbance you’re likely to get from the neighbouring boars (which also turn up on the restaurant menu). Doubles from £348, B&B. sacromonte. com