Relais & Châteaux in Latin America
A day of travelling, full of new impressions and discoveries, works up an appetite. So it’s wonderful to be able to enjoy a fully catered dinner in the evening. Preferably prepared with local produce, so you can discover the country through its cuisine too. When it comes to fine dining, we love to work with accommodation providers affiliated with Relais & Châteaux. In this blog, we highlight some of our favourites in Latin America.
What is Relais & Châteaux?
Relais & Châteaux was founded in 1954 and comprises more than 580 properties and restaurants, with the focus entirely on the experience of the stay and/or dining. Relais & Châteaux focuses on a number of core values: local commitment, dedication, sharing with others and friendliness. To become a member of Relais & Châteaux, accommodation providers and restaurants must adhere to these core values and are assessed against over 300 criteria. One of Relais & Châteaux’s main aims is to inspire guests with the quality of the cuisine and to ensure that new styles of cuisine are given the opportunity to develop.
Delfin Amazon Cruises – Peru
Delfin Amazon Cruises operates three small-scale vessels and, in 2018, became the first river cruise operator to join Relais & Châteaux. During this cruise, you’ll sail through the Pacaya Samiria Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon. There are local guides on board who can tell you all about this area. You’ll go on excursions in smaller boats to explore the spectacular surroundings.
On board the cruise ships, you can enjoy Peruvian cuisine. Over the years, Peruvian cuisine has developed into one of the most varied cuisines in Latin America. Traditional national dishes, inspired by the Amazon, are served. The service on board is excellent and you’ll be delighted by the variety of dishes. To accompany your meal, you can choose from a selection of South American wines, and round off your evening with a whisky or a Pisco sour, Peru’s national drink.
Awasi Iguazu – Argentina
Awasi Iguazú is a unique lodge situated in a – largely – unspoilt part of the Mata Atlântica rainforest. This area is famous for the Iguazú Falls. The lodge is just 15 to 20 minutes away from these falls, which are considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The accommodation comprises 14 luxury villas, decorated with art by the Guarani people, who have lived in this part of the Mata Atlântica rainforest for many years. When you stay at Awasi Iguazú, you will be assigned your own guide. During the day, they are on hand to help you discover the splendour of the waterfalls and, above all, the rest of the Mata Atlântica rainforest.
The restaurant and bar at Awasi Iguazú are exclusively for guests staying at the property. The menu changes daily and is seasonal. The cuisine makes extensive use of produce found in the Atlantic Rainforest. As a result, you’ll find local flavours reflected in the menus and in the drinks available at the bar.
Chef Manuel Agrelo: “My cuisine is an interpretation of the journeys I have made and the flavours I have discovered along the way. I enjoy using both traditional and modern techniques and source the freshest, most representative local produce available.”
Photos: Relais & Châteaux
As well as this lodge, Awasi also has accommodation in Torres del Paine and San Pedro de Atacama. Would you like to find out more about the Awasi hotels? Then take a look at the Gente Mágica interview, in which Johan talks to Matías de Cristóbal, CEO of Awasi.
Pikaia Lodge – Galápagos Islands
The Pikaia Lodge is situated on the island of Santa Cruz. This is one of only three inhabited islands in the Galápagos archipelago. The lodge’s estate covers some 31 hectares, lies 450 metres above sea level and is surrounded by its own giant tortoise reserve. The lodge was also recently awarded a sustainability prize for its commitment to preserving culture and nature.
Photo: Pikaia Lodge
Thanks to the lodge’s location, you can easily visit the nearby islands on one of the lodge’s boats. Here you can discover the unique flora and fauna of the Galápagos Islands: sea lions, birds, iguanas and tortoises.
The Evolution restaurant is situated on the edge of a crater, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The restaurant is decorated in a contemporary style, allowing you to dine in a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. The décor subtly and artistically references the evolution of humankind. The cuisine is a fusion of Ecuadorian and international flavours. The dishes are prepared creatively and with care, using the finest, freshest and most local ingredients. The menu changes every two days to offer you a varied selection. The restaurant features a walk-in wine cellar stocked with the finest South American wines. Here, you can select a suitable wine to accompany your meal with the help of the host or hostess.
Photos: Pikaia Lodge
Nayara Springs – Costa Rica
Nayara Springs is situated in the Volcán Arenal National Park in Costa Rica and overlooks the volcano of the same name. Hospitality, service and gastronomy are of the utmost importance here. The resort is accessed via a suspension bridge that runs right through the jungle. The villas are surrounded by rainforest, which you can explore on a variety of excursions. After a day spent in nature, you can relax in the spa. Each villa has a ‘plunge pool’, fed by water from the Arenal volcano.
Photo: Relais & Châteaux
Nayara Springs offers a range of dining and drinking options. Each restaurant offers a different culinary concept, but what they all have in common is that the dishes are ones the chefs themselves enjoy eating. A variety of cooking techniques, local ingredients and seasonal produce result in dishes with refined flavours. Delicious traditional Costa Rican dishes with a modern twist are served. However, it’s not just Costa Rican cuisine on offer: Peruvian and Asian dishes are also served in the restaurants. So there’s something for everyone.
Photos: Relais & Châteaux
Txai Resort Itacaré – Brazil
This resort is built on a 92-hectare farm in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Bahia is a melting pot of cultures, which enhances both the atmosphere and the cuisine. Txai Resort is situated on Itacarezinho beach and is surrounded by the Mata Atlântica rainforest. The resort features luxury bungalows and apartments with sea views. ‘Txai’ means ‘company’ and the word derives from the language of the Kaxinawa tribe. It symbolises the essence of the resort.
Photo: Relais & Châteaux
Txai Resort has two restaurants: Orixás and Praia. Here you can enjoy modern dishes that also reflect the culture of Bahia. The chefs constantly strive to bring together the various influences from Bahia and bring them to life in their dishes. Local dishes are prepared with an international twist, creating unique flavours. To accompany your meal, you can choose from a wide selection of South American wines.
Photos: Relais & Châteaux
Narbona Wine Lodge – Uruguay
The Narbona Wine Lodge is unique; a winery, restaurant and accommodation all in one. The estate dates back to 1909 and is the best place to stay in Carmelo, Uruguay’s wine region. There are just five hotel rooms, each named after a specific wine. The rooms feature antique décor but are equipped with modern amenities to ensure you have everything you need.
The restaurant is housed in a former grocery shop. The wooden shelves and the counter have been preserved. The wall behind the bar is lined with bottles of wine from the estate’s own vineyard. In the afternoon, for example, you can enjoy a wine tasting accompanied by a cheese platter, both sourced from the estate’s own grounds.
The restaurant is renowned for its farm-to-table cuisine. The dishes are full of flavour, yet understated. Think colourful salads, soups, local meats, homemade pasta and many more delicacies.
Photos: Relais & Châteaux
Andbeyond Vira Vira – Chile
The Vira Vira hacienda is situated in the heart of the Chilean Andes, close to the Villarrica Nature Reserve, and has 18 rooms. The huge windows offer stunning views of the landscape surrounding the property, including snow-capped volcanoes and rainforests home to trees that are over 1,000 years old.
Photo: Relais & Châteaux
The dishes served in the restaurant are inspired by the recipes of the Mapuche people and are prepared using organic ingredients. French chef Damian Fernandez works according to the ‘farm-to-table dining’ principle. He prepares regional dishes using ingredients from the hotel’s own vegetable garden or from local producers. Why not try one of the cheeses from the local cheese factory, for example?
Photos: Relais & Châteaux
Fancy organising your own trip of Latin America?
Would you like to go on a trip of Latin America and stay at one of these properties? We’d be happy to explore the options with you. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’d be happy to help.