10 Best Secret Escapes in South America

A Collection of Off-Getaways by LANDED

In our more than 20 years of exploring South America, we’ve fallen madly in love over and over again. Today, many of our destination crushes have become justifiably popular. Others remain closely held—not exactly hidden, but fine-tuned for those who prioritize time together away from the crowds. These are quiet corners where one can write the stories of a life well lived—memory-scapes than you can revisit mentally for doses of rejuvenation and joy.

Each of these sanctuaries has been chosen for travelers like you: those who crave solitude, natural beauty, and even epiphany. Places that allow you the rare luxuries of space and peace—venues for re-integration into sources of natural strength: mystery, vastness, and awe.

We invite you to consider these locations as conversation starters. Every LANDED journey is custom tailored—an original travel design shaped around your dreams, requirements, and priorities. At LANDED, we’re miles away from the off-the-shelf travel catalog companies. Let’s get to know you.


10. Hacienda La Danesa · Guayaquil · Ecuador

In lush lowlands outside Guayaquil, cacao and teak trees cast dappled shade across a family-owned estate. Horses graze beyond whitewashed walls. Butter is churned fresh; chocolate crafted on-site. The air carries hints of river, pineapple, and honey.

Days unfold with quiet grace: cycling along country lanes, private farm-to-table tastings, sunset rides through fields washed in gold.

Hacienda La Danesa

For couples: Intimate verandas, candlelit dinners, the romance of pastoral elegance.
For families: Hands-on experiences—cheese-making, horseback riding, chocolate workshops—spark joy across generations.

Hacienda La Danesa Social Area 2
Hacienda La Danesa Garden Cottage
Hacienda La Danesa Garden Cottage Terrace

9. Susana Balbo Winemakers House & Spa · Chacras de Coria (Mendoza) · Argentina

At the foot of the Andes, vineyards ripple beneath snow-capped summits. Architecturally striking and deeply personal, this wine estate reflects the vision of Argentina’s pioneering female vintner.

Private tastings, blending sessions, and chef-led pairings unfold against a backdrop of gardens and mountain light.

Winemaker’s House Wine Cellar

For couples: Golden-hour Malbec moments and vineyard walks scented with lavender.
For legacy celebrations: Curated harvest experiences and private asados bring generations to one long table.

Susana Balbo's Winmakers resort
Winemaker's House
Winemaker’s House La VidA Restaurant - Salon

8. Casa Yahri · Barichara · Colombia

Stone streets wind between whitewashed facades. Bougainvillea spills across terracotta rooftops. Clouds roll over the distant Andes, and the breeze carries notes of distant church bells and Spanish guitar.

Casa Yahri rests on the hilltop La Loma section overlooking what is often referred to as “the most beautiful town in Colombia.” LANDED arranges private cooking classes, artisan workshop visits, and guided hikes along the Camino Real—experiences that honor the distinctive spirit of Barichara.

For couples: Rooftop sunsets and boutique colonial estates.
For families: Shared discovery in one of Colombia’s most beautifully preserved towns.

Casa Yahri
Casa Yahri

7. Fernando de Noronha · Brazil 

An archipelago suspended in turquoise waters. Spinner dolphins arc through crystalline bays. Sea cliffs blaze copper at sunset.

Access remains intentionally limited, preserving a sense of rare privilege. LANDED arranges villa and pousada stays, private boat charters, guided marine encounters, and secluded beach picnics.

Fernando de Noronha sunset | Landed Travel

For couples: Barefoot seclusion elevated by impeccable guiding.
For families: Snorkeling and surfing adventures, conservation storytelling, and sunset sailing—experiences that cultivate shared wonder.

Fernando de Noronha dolphins | Landed Travel
Fernando de Noronha Brothers | Landed Travel
Exterior view of the dilapidated stone ruins of a colonial-style building with arched windows and doorways, overgrown with lush green tropical vegetation

6. Melimoyu Lodge · outside La Junta · Chile

This is remote northern Patagonia at its pristine best. Your helicopter skims over fjords and temperate rainforest before touching down at a secluded wilderness lodge.

Fly-fishing in crystalline rivers. Wildlife tracking with expert naturalists. Helicopter biking and trekking. Fireside storytelling beneath vast southern skies.

For couples: Shared adventure wrapped in comfort.
For legacy journeys: Exclusive access that fosters deeper connection through shared achievement.

Melimoyu lodge
Melimoyu lodge

5. Tinajani Tented Camp · southern Peru

Remote and elemental, Tinajani feels like a forgotten world. Best experienced from a stay at Tinajani safari-style tented camp, this natural wonder should be explored slowly and reverently. The canyon, 160 miles northeast of Colca and worlds away from the crowds, has been sculpted by wind and time into towering spires—sentinels among the altiplano’s surreal silence.

Days invite slow exploration—community visits guided with respect, sunrise meditations, textile traditions shared by master artisans.

Tinajani Tented Suite Deck

For couples: Profound quiet, expansive skies, space to reconnect.
For families: Cultural immersion framed with natural wonder and comfort.

Tinajani Tented Suite

4. Casa dos Arandis · Marau Peninsula · Brazil

Along Bahia’s palm-fringed coastline, this intimate beachfront retreat whispers understated grace. Hammocks sway. Tides set the rhythm. Your hosts—Cacau and Nanana—are Brazilian hospitality incarnate.

Kayaks slip across mangrove channels. Private schooners introduce you to island beaches and migrating humpbacks. Evenings glow in lantern light.

For couples: Effortless romance grounded in nature.
For families: A private coastal haven well suited for buyouts and milestone gatherings.


3. La Casa Las Nubes · Salento · Colombia

High in Colombia’s coffee region, cloud forest meets design-forward hospitality. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame rolling green hills. Mornings begin with freshly roasted beans, birdsong, and mist on the Andes.

Private finca visits, wax palm valley excursions by vintage Jeep Willys, and curated tastings immerse guests in Colombia’s famed coffee culture.

La Casa en las Nubes

For couples: Firelit evenings and panoramic solitude.
For multi-generational groups: Gentle adventure balanced with restorative downtime.

La Casa en las Nubes Private Cabin
La Casa en las Nubes Master Suite
La Casa en las Nubes 2

2. Las Balsas · Villa la Angostura · Argentina

On the edge of Patagonia’s Nahuel Huapi Lake, alpine peaks frame a charming, family-owned Relais & Châteaux retreat. Ancient myrtle, beech, and pine frame the grounds. Lake waters shift from gold to sapphire. Woodsmoke and native herbs infuse fresh-caught trout.

Private boat excursions glide across glacial waters. Evenings culminate in tasting menus that celebrate Argentine terroir.

Hotel Exterior Lb 14 1 66b23e9dd03de

For couples: Lakeside suites, spa treatments, and the hush of snow falling beyond picture windows.
For multi-generational groups: Exclusive-use buyouts transform the lodge into your family’s Patagonian residence.

Las Balsas - Exterior
Las Balsas - Living room

1. Paguimalal Private Retreat · Pucon · Chile

Paguimalal is a private, family-owned estate overlooking Lake Villarrica in Chile’s Lake District, near Pucon—the region’s outdoor adventure hub. Set on 44 acres of fields, native forest, and gardens, this warm and inviting home offers views of Fuji-esque Villarrica Volcano. 

Days might include guided hikes through araucaria forests, volcano skiing, jet boating, hot springs visits, forest bathing, poolside picnics prepared by private chefs.

For couples: Warmth, privacy, elemental beauty.
For families: Space to gather, tailored outdoor adventures, and natural reconnection.

Paguimalal
Rafting in Pucon, Chile

Why LANDED Is the Best Choice for Couples

Romantic travel deserves intention and insight. LANDED crafts journeys composed with care and intuition. Private transfers timed to perfection. Surprise celebrations woven seamlessly into your days. Suites chosen for atmosphere, privacy, and comfort.

We design journeys of connection—not distraction. Your story informs every decision.

Why LANDED Is the Best Choice for Multi-Generational & Legacy Travel

A 50th anniversary. A retirement celebration. Three generations exploring together. These journeys require choreography—balancing energy levels, interests, and expectations without sacrificing connection.

LANDED specializes in:

  • Exclusive-use estates and lodges
  • Seamless private aviation and ground logistics
  • Guides skilled in engaging children, teens, and grandparents alike
  • Meaningful cultural access that fosters shared reflection

Original travel design ensures special moments for each family member. The result: a new chapter in your collective story.


Let LANDED craft your family’s defining South American journey.

Custom Tailored. Deeply Personal. Entirely Original.


LANDED’s travel designers live and work across South America. We know our destinations first-hand and by heart. Our relationships open doors that remain closed to conventional travel planners. 

Every LANDED itinerary is a true original shaped through one-on-one conversation, insight, and meticulous orchestration.

This is travel design powered by human insight. No algorithms. No shortcuts. 

This is LANDED.

Connect with your expert travel designer today and begin creating your secret escape.