andBeyond Vira Vira

"Why we love it: Adventure and creature comforts at the gateway to Patagonia The Highlights: - A spectacular setting near a lake and active volcano - Endless activities to enjoy in all seasons - An on-site cheese factory that supplies the farm-to-table restaurant The Review: Best known for its African safari camps, &Beyond has brought its signature adventurous spirit toChilewith this stunning Lake District lodge. The homeland of the Mapuche people, this part of the country—located at the gateway to Patagonia—is dotted by farmlands and villages set around Villarrica Lake, near an active volcano. It’s a wonderland of rainforests, natural lagoons, mountain foothills, and more, all of which guests of Vira Vira can explore with their dedicated guide. After a day spent trekking or horseback riding in the national park, taking a helicopter tour (from the lodge’s own helipad), skiing, fly fishing, mountain biking, dog sledding, or river rafting, retreat to the 54-acre estate, which boasts its own working farm, organic vegetable gardens, and cheese factory—so you know the meals in the restaurant are full of fresh, seasonal flavors. (The adjacent clubby bar stocks more than 1,000 different Chilean wines, so there’s plenty to pair with the gourmet dishes, too.) Unpack in one of the six suites, 12 villas, or the single-use, five-bedroom Hacienda, all with rustic-chic decor, natural textiles, and underfloor heating. Soothe weary muscles in one of the two hot tubs or with a treatment in the spa, then grab a glass of wine or a book from the library and settle into the main lounge, where oversized windows frame the otherworldly views."

The Best Hotels in Chile

"We’d be hard-pressed to find a hotel in a more stunning—okay, downright breathtaking—locale than this one. Surrounded by nearly 60 acres of native parklands on the banks of the Liucura River, with awe-inspiring views of the Villarrica volcano, this beautifully-designed lodging is in a blissfully peaceful corner of the country's Lake District. It even comes with its own fully-working farm and cheese and milk dairy. Outdoor activities are near-endless: on foot, in the water, or atop horses. Rooms (of which there are four kinds: Hacienda doubles, hotel rooms, villa suites, and the spacious Ruca suite, ascending in size) aren’t kitschy, or needlessly over-the-top. In fact, they hit just the right note of comfortable, well-appointed elegance, with sloped wooden walls and roofs, floor-to-ceiling windows, and handmade wall tapestries flanking mod, built-in fireplaces. If you need to get away from it all, this is a good place to start."

"This southern city is a 90-minute flight from Santiago. From Pucón Airport, it’s an easy 15-minute drive to the estatelike andBeyond Vira Vira, one of the most indulgent places to stay in southern Chile, full stop. The 18 rooms and suites have clean lines and large picture windows, with cabin-inspired interiors clad in sustainably harvested local timber; each has a hot tub within an easy dash of the swimmable Liucura River."