Recommend October 2011 - (Page 70)

latin america BeST OF PATAgONiA Patagonia plays up its luxury side with lodges and estancias that embrace seclusion and invite the stunning natural surroundings into their cozy interiors. luxury in the wilderness, by Eolo is set in Argentina’s remote La Anita Valley. H carla hunt 70 october 2011 Has Patagonia gone posh? What a silly question to ask about a region that embraces 350,000 sq. miles, mostly in Argentina with a slice of Chile—stretching from the two-country-shared Lake District down to the bottom of the world at the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego—a gorgeous adventure-land of labyrinthine lakes and craggy Andean peaks, groaning glaciers and icy fjords, condors and guanacos at home in national parks, and penguins and whales hugging the coastlines. On the other hand, it is fair to say that there are now boutique corners of Patagonia where luxury lodges and estancias with a strong sense of place, authenticity and sustainability have tamed the wilderness experience, or at least made it a wildly comfortable adventure to go exploring on foot and horseback, by boat and 4WD. While Patagonia’s often rustically plush, out-of-this-world places are now linked by an improved network of roads and flight services, it was the Best of Patagonia (BOP) that first cobbled together an alliance of 12 of the region’s most exclusive hotels and cruises to promote the southern cone region as a single luxury destination to the international market. “We invest great effort on the U.S. market,” says Juan Pedriel, director of Best of Patagonia (BOP), “as it is the most important for us. Not only do we promote our individual members, offering special upgrades and perks to guests who stay at least three nights, but we design vacations of a week or two that visit different corners of Patagonia. We work closely with the most respected luxury tour operators and experts on Latin America, as well as travel agent members of Virtuoso, Ensemble and Signature.” And obviously its joint marketing efforts are working, for Pedriel advises that the alliance is broadening its reach. “While we are keeping the name Best of Patagonia, we are widening our borders and thus turning into a more integrated alliance of the most exciting and sought-after tourism areas of South America.” The newest member additions are the trio of Inkaterra properties in Peru: La Casona in Cusco, Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in Aguas Calientes, and Reserva Amazonico in Tambopato. continued on page 72 recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Coworth Park, London
Tour Talk: Cox & Kings
Paws Up Ups "Glamping" to New Heights
"Alpine" Adventure at Four Seasons Resort Vail
Hotel Beaux Arts Miami
Out & About in New York City
Adventures on Hayman Island
It's the Good Life at The Leela Kovalam Beach
Peninsula Shanghai & Hong Kong
Silversea's Silver Spirit
Thailand Travel Planner
Luxury in the Wilderness, by Best of Patagonia
Savoring St. Vincent & the Grenadines
CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla
Luxurious Egypt
A Good Turn for Bern, Switzerland
Mexico's Luxury Trail

Recommend October 2011