TPG’s 9 favorite hotels in Latin America
We celebrate Latin America and its incredible hospitality year-round at TPG.
But we’re especially singing its praises during National Hispanic Heritage Month, when we celebrate the influence and contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States. We also look for any excuse to visit Latin American countries to explore, make new friends and indulge in some of our favorite hotels in the region.
Here are our favorite hotels in Latin America, whether you’re looking for a last-minute trip or planning for future travels.
Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo
Panama City
Panama‘s hotel scene took a monumental step forward last year with the opening of the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. The sprawling waterfront hotel is the product of a mammoth historical refurbishment in the city’s most historic neighborhood. The service is friendly and attentive, the vibe is luxuriously laid-back, and the guest rooms and suites are decadent enough to make you never want to leave.
Breakfast is served in Caleta, a French brasserie-inspired restaurant (though we recommend ordering room service to enjoy from your private balcony at least once), while you’ll also want to head upstairs for rooftop cocktails and bites at Ammi or sip on a rum at Arcano, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it speakeasy.
Guest rooms and suites feature a mix of dark wood and bright upholstery with French doors that open to your balcony overlooking the water. (We loved our view that also looked out on the Panama City skyline.) The massive hotel pool is the ideal spot to cool off from the Panamanian sun (and enjoy a glass of Champagne from the nearby Pool Bar). And you’ll want to book a treatment at the Sofitel Spa if you need a massage or facial to address too much fun in the sun. We’re not judging.
Rates at the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo start at $311 per night.
Copacabana Palace, a belmond hotel
Rio de Janeiro
We’ve all wanted to be the girl from Ipanema, but being a guest at the Copacabana Palace isn’t a bad consolation prize as far as trips to Rio de Janeiro go.
Rio’s most iconic hotel is a city jewel with its pristine white facade (meant to resemble the resorts of Cannes) and has hosted global celebrities, dignitaries and royals since it first opened in 1923.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Its star may have briefly dimmed a few decades ago, but the Copacabana Palace, under Belmond’s influence, is now as shiny as ever. The see-and-be-seen scene thrives at the Copacabana’s pool, where sprawling back on a sun lounger with a cocktail is the ultimate in Rio relaxation. Guest rooms and suites are crisp and clean; you’ll certainly want to request one with an ocean view.
If you’re looking for something more active with your stay, the rooftop tennis court is a great way to get some cardio in the sun. As for us, we’ll be enjoying the decadent Pan-Asian food at Mee, a Michelin-starred restaurant serving everything from omakase dinners to Malaysian curry. A little taste of France in decor and Asia in cuisine — all in the heart of Rio. Somehow, it all works at the Copacabana Palace.
Rates at the Belmond Copacabana Palace start at $614 per night.
The Singular Patagonia
Patagonia, Chile
Heading to the world’s end doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury — as long as you check in to the Singular Patagonia. The gorgeous hotel, tucked deep within Chilean Patagonia, occupies what was the Puerto Bories Cold Storage Plant, making this as much a museum as it is a place to catch up on rest.
The mix of industrial decor (and operations — a funicular whisks you from the check-in area to the main part of the hotel) and remote tranquility make a stay at the Singular one where you’ll leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
The property features guest rooms and suites that are minimalist chic: The picture windows overlooking Ultima Esperanza Sound and the mountains beyond are the main attractions here, after all.
Following a day (or days) of hiking through Patagonia, you’ll want to make sure you have a table at the hotel’s El Asador, which features wood-fired cuts of lamb steak or rib-eye as well as local vegetables. Fuel up before making your way to the next hiking trail.
Rates at the Singular Patagonia start at $468 per night.
Casa San Agustin
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena’s Old Town neighborhood features Casa San Agustin, a hotel built with a nod to history (a 300-year-old aqueduct is at the center of the hotel) while embracing a serene Colombian style with wooden accents and a relaxing color scheme.
Service is friendly, and we love how you can pass the time at the hotel, from the rooftop solarium to beating the heat with complimentary tea or coffee in the library. Guest rooms are cozy with large picture windows and cream-tiled floors, while balconies and bathrooms are decorated with marble and painted tiles.
Ceviche at Alma restaurant is a perfect local treat, as is a massage at the Aurum Spa. Don’t forget to unwind after a day of exploring and pampering with a cool glass of something at the blue-tiled outdoor pool in the heart of the hotel.
Rates at Casa San Agustin start at $459 per night
Alvear Palace Hotel
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The first time I went to Buenos Aires, a taxi driver corrected me when I said it was also my first time in South America: “You didn’t come to South America. You came to the Europe of South America,” he said with a laugh. This is a correct assessment when you stroll into the European-influenced Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires.
The luxe property features furniture inspired by Louis XV and includes amenities by French fashion house Hermes. Guest rooms and suites include Egyptian cotton sheets, plush carpeting, chandeliers and classical furniture. Nestled in the posh Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires, it’s hard not to feel like a Louis (or any other royal, for that matter) when you slip between the high thread counts here.
The Alvear Afternoon Tea served in L’Orangerie, the hotel’s atrium restaurant, is one of the more coveted happenings in Buenos Aires. Don’t cry for me, Argentina, but we’ll certainly cry when it’s time to check out here.
Rates at the Alvear Palace Hotel start at $410 per night.
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
Cusco, Peru
Luxe accommodations meet history in Cusco, Peru, at the JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, a hotel TPG named one of the best Marriott hotels in the world earlier this year. It might be a modern hotel, but its building dates to the 16th century when it served as a convent. Thanks to colossal wooden front doors, soaring ceilings and stone archways, the design still nods to its past.
Related: How to get to Machu Picchu
The on-site pool, steam room and sauna are the perfect places to unwind, while the hotel also pumps in fresh oxygen to guest rooms upon request for those who need extra acclimation to the high altitude. Glamorous rooms, which feature marble bathrooms and deep soaking tubs, are a luxurious sanctuary for relaxation before venturing to the hotel’s Qespi restaurant, which offers Peruvian cuisine like pachamanca.
Rates at the JW Marriott El Convento Cusco start at $209, or 42,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, per night.
Sofitel Baru Calablanca Beach Resort
Bolivar, Colombia
It’s hard to find a more picture-perfect beach getaway than the Sofitel Baru Calablanca Beach Resort, less than an hour from Cartagena. Consider this a resort meant to impress, as a boat voyage from the Cartagena Nautical Club is the best — and buzziest — way to arrive at the resort.
Bright beach vibes permeate the resort, guest rooms and suites through a significant lean into stone, concrete and brighter wood, and a neutral color palette. All rooms and suites feature private balconies, but consider a splurge for one with a hot tub, too. The resort is also popular with families thanks to its Family Suites and an array of locally inspired activities, from visits to the national aviary to coffee tastings and braid workshops.
The resort’s pools are steps from the beach — blending nature and a luxurious place to unwind in the most decadent delivery.
Rates at the Sofitel Baru Calablanca Beach Resort start at $306 per night.
Condesa DF
Mexico City
Trendy alfresco is the name of the game at Condesa DF, part of Marriott’s Design Hotels collection and a chic Mexico City mainstay popular with locals thanks to its outdoor eateries like the Mexican-French fusion El Patio or the Japanese-focused La Terraza.
Located in the city’s lush green La Condesa neighborhood, Condesa DF features views of Parque Espana, and guests should splurge on a room or suite with an outdoor balcony for more indoor-outdoor vibes to go with the breezy design aesthetic of bright upholstery accented with the occasional wood paneling.
One can’t help but feel that Condesa DF, which opened in 2005, may have inspired Ian Schrager’s Edition partnership with Marriott, which launched three years later. That’s not bad for this buzzworthy property in one of Latin America’s most bustling cities.
Rates at the Condesa DF start at $360, or 32,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, per night.
Soho House Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
The unofficial hangout of the global glitterati arrived in a quieter stretch of Sao Paulo’s financial center earlier this year with the opening of Soho House Sao Paulo. This Brazilian outpost of the global membership club brand is steps from Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo, Parque Trianon and the shopping and dining of Avenida Paulista. But do save time to luxuriate and explore within the walls of this particularly design-forward Soho House.
Overnight guests can expect an indoor-outdoor vibe throughout, thanks to the building’s connectivity to a central courtyard. Guest rooms — or bedrooms, per Soho House lingo — are cozy and chic with high ceilings, modernist furniture and a mix of reclaimed wood and Portuguese-inspired tiles. Splurge on a “Big” or “Big Plus” bedroom for extras like a soaking tub and private terrace. Back downstairs, indulge in a meal in the courtyard or first-floor bar — we’re big fans of the Brazilian tapioca, a tortilla-like flatbread stuffed with fruit.
If you’re looking to hotel hop, Soho House Sao Paulo is a partner of the luxury Cidade Matarazzo complex, also home to the nearby Rosewood Sao Paulo.
Currently, Soho House Sao Paulo is open only to Soho House members. Members can book a room at the hotel by visiting the website and signing in using their membership credentials or by calling the property directly.
Related reading:
