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Put your wallet away and surrender to this all-inclusive oasis in the desert. Isolated enough to capture the tranquillity of this lush valley in the Salt Mountain Range, 1600 kilometres north of Santiago, it is still only a short bike ride from the tiny town of San Pedro. The design of the resort, including its 42 luxurious rooms, is inspired by local village architecture.
Fill your days with the guided tours on offer – journeys to the El Tatio geysers or mountain biking the Inca are just two of the 30 options – escape the heat in one of the hotel’s six pools set to varied temperatures, or visit the llamas in their stable.
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Elqui Domos
Serious stargazers are drawn to the Atacama Desert in Chile’s far north for the crystal clear views of the night sky. At Elqui Domos you can hone your astronomer’s eye from the comfort of your bed.
Snuggle up in one of seven igloo-like geodesic domes – each fitted with telescopes, private terraces, elevated loft beds and detachable roofs to allow maximum star power – or take in the twinkling panorama from a stylish, three-level observatory cabin. The hotel also offers nightly astronomy tours and twilight horse rides.
Remota
Superbly positioned at the mouth of Patagonia’s dramatic fjords, Remota draws inspiration from its ruggedly beautiful surrounds, but adds a unique modernist twist. Inside, the indigenous-inspired decor pays homage to the region’s rich past.
The all-inclusive resort offers daily excursions like kayaking to glaciers and horse treks to Torres del Paine National Park. But you’ll be eager to return for dinner. The ever-changing menu features fresh Patagonian delicacies, local wines and pisco sour, the staple Chilean cocktail. Unwind in the Finnish sauna, saltwater pool and outdoor jacuzzi.
Bikes and beers at Handlebar
We really dig bars that promote eco-living, not to mention discourage drink driving. Handlebar does just that with its cosy homage to the humble pushbike. Gold-painted retro bikes hang from the walls, and the furniture is vintage kitsch. Grab a beer or whisky and lounge on one of the patio chairs, or throw down a bowl of homemade meatballs and take in the sights and sounds of the vibrant Kensington Market. When the live music cranks up, head back inside and boogie the night away. Note: the bikes are bolted down so you’ll need to find an alternative ride home.
Cure your ills at Keefer Bar
Seeking a fix the doctor can’t prescribe? The Keefer Bar knows a cocktail mix sure to cure what ails you. This apothecary-themed watering hole aims to soothe your soul and quench your thirsty condition. Award-winning bartender Danielle Tatarin takes a fresh approach to proceedings, sourcing ingredients from local markets and nearby herbalists to make the bitters, syrups and teas used in her unique creations.
Sip on a punchy Thai Pisco Sour or, if you’re feeling daring, down a Bowen Island Iced Tea – as well as vodka, lime and honey syrup, it also contains seahorse tincture. Asian-inspired small plates, including Peking duck sliders and shrimp miso shiitake tacos, are also on the menu.
Seek out Spirit Bears
Shy, elusive and shrouded in mystery, the enchanting white bears that roam the pristine river valleys of British Columbia are a rare genetic anomaly. Spirit bears – also known as the kermode bear or moskgm’ol (white bear) – are relatives of the black bear, but a single recessive gene causes one in 10 to be born with a white coat. Embark on a spirit bear tour during September when a banquet of salmon leaps from the water in a frenzied surge upstream.
Travelling by boat to the Great Bear Rainforest, you’ll traverse lush valleys and bubbling rivers on foot so your guide can bring you within a stone’s throw of these magnificent animals. Watch with wonder as they forage for berries or gorge on freshly caught fish. The bears are protected by the Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy – the only conservancy of its kind in the world – and the local Kitasoo Xaixais people have a vast knowledge of the species dating back thousands of years. Lean on their expertise for a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with these fur balls you’ll want to cuddle but definitely shouldn’t.
Cycle Montreal’s Hidden Gems
Pedal beyond Old Montreal and get a feel for neighbourhood life in one of the hippest cities around on a tour with Fitz & Follwell Co. Get in touch with the bohemian side of town from Mile End to Outremont and Little Italy, exploring some of the town’s trendiest laneways and cafe-lined boulevards off the tourist track.
Enjoy a thick espresso with the locals, discover art galleries, and learn what makes each borough tick. Munch on fresh bagels and gather a picnic lunch from the Jean-Talon Market. Your guides have so many pearls to share they often lose track of time, so leave yourself plenty so you don’t miss out on the gems.
4 Rivers Floating Lodge
Lose yourself in the Cambodian wilderness at this remote overwater river escape, deep within the virgin forest of the Cardamom Mountains. Wake to the serenade of howling gibbons in your floating, tented villa as the last wisps of mist rise from the Tatai River and the jungle roars to life.
Each of the 12 villas takes its inspiration from the safari tents of African game parks, with luxury fittings, mini-bar and even a TV for those evenings when you’re feeling a little disconnected from the real world.
During the day, kayak down the river and enjoy a ‘hydro massage’ courtesy of the Tatai Waterfalls, go fishing with the locals or try your luck spotting the rare Javan rhinoceros, Indochinese tiger and Asian elephant. From your balcony, dangle your feet in the water – sunset cocktail in hand – then enjoy Khmer cuisine matched with fine wines before retiring to your heavenly king-size bed.
Jacana Camp
Welcome to the other side of Africa, away from the dusty savannahs and endless plains dotted by baobab trees. The Okavango Delta is a floodplain, alive with wildlife of the sort usually observed as part of a David Attenborough documentary. Not only do you have the opportunity to experience this delta; you can stay here, at Jacana Camp.
Jacana’s five tents and its main lodge, with elevated dining platform, lounge area and plunge pool, are situated on an island in the delta. Surprisingly, you don’t need to stray far to get an eyeful of the amazing animals that live in the neighbourhood. Elephants and hippos play in the water below the camp, wildebeest and deer graze on the lush growth, and the birdlife – from long- legged waterbirds to rare species like Pel’s fishing owl – is ridiculously abundant.
During the day, glide silently through the water in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) or check out far-flung channels in one of Jacana’s motorboats. Land safaris take place in sturdy, open-sided 4WDs, and there’s even some basic fishing gear if you fancy throwing in a line.
Cruise for Jaguars
There aren’t many animals that can render a caiman lifeless with one crushing bite that punctures the brain and pulverises bones. Jaguars can. Distinguished by their rosette-shaped black spots, these fierce yet graceful predators of the jungle are the third-largest of the big cats, after lions and tigers. Once found roaming across large swathes of the Americas, today jaguars are an almost threatened species.
If you want to see these majestic beasts in the wild, one of the best places is Brazil’s Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland and home to one of the densest concentrations of wildlife on the planet. July is the dry season in these parts, when the jaguar’s prey clusters around shrinking waterways, luring the cats close. During a boat safari through the Meeting of the Waters State Park, also known as the Jaguar Zone, you’ll get within a whisker of these water-happy felines. If you’re lucky, you might even witness these killer cats in action as they lunge at deer, caiman and tapir.