Protruding from the hilltops of the San Vicente region is a Zaha
Hadid-esque titanium wave, an unlikely but dazzling addition to
Chile’s sepia-hued wine country. Inside you’ll be greeted with a
similarly incredible spectacle; open walkways and floor-to-ceiling
windows mean that the barrier between you and the surroundings is
remarkably thin. All 22 rooms are designed by local and
international artists – although with a carbon-fibre floating
bathtub in your bathroom, it can be hard to tell what’s art and
what’s not. Of course, a wine tasting at the Vińa Vik Vineyard is
on the agenda, as is a languid afternoon spent in the hotel’s
infinity pooL, set above the vineyards and lake sprawling
below.

Pro tip: get in touch with the surroundings by saddling up and
on one of Vik’s seven on-site horses. Giddy up!

From afar Tierra Atacama is all but invisible, the clay walls of
the old cattle corral blend seamlessly with the Chilean desert
hues. Having undergone a sensitive restoration that has preserved
some of the corral’s original walls as well as the indigenous
algarrobo and chanar trees (whose fruits are used to make a
decadent ice-cream in the hotel’s kitchen), Tierra Atacama retains
its gaucho appeal – albeit definitely a more luxury sort of
ranchero. Although you’ll find it difficult to peel yourself from
the cloud-soft beds or wicker sun loungers, Tierra Atacama invites
guests to embrace nature. With snow-capped volcanoes, bubbling
geysers and glittering salt pans on your doorstep, you won’t mind
donning those walking (or riding) boots for a day of
exploration.

Pro tip: After a hard day’s exploration, take a soak in the
rosemary garden’s outdoor hot tub, ice-tea in hand and Licancabur
Volcano in view.

Sprinkled across Patagonia’s bucolic pastures are formidable
mountains, enchanting lakes, lenga trees and fourteen boxy (in the
most stylish way) private villas. Spread out like a classic
estancia, the wood-panelled villas enjoy a high degree of privacy.
Life manifests only as an alpaca roaming the surrounding national
park or room service arriving at your door. Inspired by old
Patagonian shelters and ranching outlets, the villas are rustic and
pared back (but not so much so that there isn’t a private hot tub
looking out onto the peaks of Torres del Paine). The on-site
restaurant dishes up seasonal fare – guanaco tartar, austral crab
lasagna – delicious enough to draw you out of your secluded little
outpost on stilts.

Pro tip: Tailor your personal Patagonian adventure with the help
of on-site guides. Guests have access to hiking trails which lead
to spectacular vistas.

Tourists escape to Patagonia; Chileans head for the Lake District. Set on the slopes of the Villarrica volcano are Pucón’s premier lodgings, where Bauhaus-inspired architecture and mid-century interiors combine to offer a hotel experience pleasingly at odds the rustic, pastoral surroundings. Trace a young Queen Elizabeth II’s footsteps through the floor-to-ceiling windowed hallways to one of the 23 suites in which a fireplace heats the room and throws woven by Mapuche women adorn the beds. Although the hotel’s spa and pool are undeniably enticing, Hotel Antumalal encourages you to take full advantage of your activity-friendly terrain, boasting its own rowing boat, two jetties, a pebble beach and knowledgeable staff on hand to advise and recommend.

Pro tip: For the more restless lodgers for whom a ‘pool day’ is a sin, Hotel Antumalal offers an all-inclusive experience which includes activities such as rafting, hiking and dipping in the natural hot springs.

One glimpse of this all-inclusive resort is enough to know that Tierra Patagonia isn’t your average all-inclusive resort; disguised by a lenga-wood facade on the glittering shores of Lake Sarmiento under the shadows of the Paine Massif peaks, Tierra Patagonia is hardly distinguishable from its lush surroundings. The star appeal? Besides the see-it-to-believe-it sunrises, ample guest rooms and first-class service, the hotel’s inclusive rate covers hiking tours, wilderness bike rides, horseback adventures and kayaking expeditions so there’s no hidden fees or missed-out experiences – the only problem is fitting it all in.

Pro tip: Post outdoor adventure, head to the Uma Spa for a Patagonia Facial to bring your skin back to life.

Once the tallest building in Santiago and now sporting a lick of flamingo pink, Luciano K certainly isn’t trying to blend in. Designed in the 1920s, its elegant wrought-iron lift (the oldest in Santiago) and geometric patterned tiles on the seventh-floor roof terrace make this spot an art deco dream. Guests rooms meanwhile are a welcome cocoon of quiet, featuring a palette that’s more grey-blue than high-saturation. Given the huge (and we mean huge) cosy beds, you’ll want to turn your alarm off before a late entrance to the restaurant for a big buffet breakfast of pastries, cereals and fruit, accompanied by eggs and bacon made to order. What’s more Luciano K has an enviable location five minutes’ walk from the bohemian district of Lastarria, with the vibrant neighbourhood of Bellavista only two blocks north.

Pro tip: For a spot of relaxation, forego the rooftop pool and pad your way to the sauna on the ground floor to unwind in peace.