4 Luxury Wilderness Resorts And Hotels that Immerse You in Nature’s Finest

As luxury travel in the Western Hemisphere becomes increasingly eco-centred, here are four remarkable off-the-beaten-track resorts that mix sustainability with sophistication.

From the temperate rainforest coastline of western Canada to the high peaks and plateaus of the Andes, the continents of North and South America, by way of the balmy blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, have gone wild for eco-lodges, many of them far from the beaten track.

If your notion of the perfect vacation is to leave the crowds behind and head for extraordinary experiences in stunning locations few have travelled to, we’ve selected four remarkable resorts where you can do just that: one in the wilderness of British Columbia, one on the gorgeous island of Saint Lucia, a third on the Peruvian shore of Lake Titicaca and, our final stop, on the high Atacama Desert in northern Chile.

Remote Hotels, Inns And Lodges That Are Not So Easy To Reach But Worth The Journey

Lifestyle

The World’s Most Exciting Desert Hotels

Lifestyle

CANADA
NIMMO BAY WILDERNESS RESORT

If you were looking to lose yourself in the wilds of Canada’s rugged West Coast, the name of this region – the Southern Great Bear Rainforest – pretty much says it all. This vast wildwood expanse, where the mountains touch the shores of the Pacific Ocean, is where the family-run Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort has been welcoming guests for the best part of 40 years.

Flying in by floatplane direct from Vancouver (there’s no road access), you’ll stay in either a spacious overwater intertidal cabin or in equally comfortable accommodation among the trees, with a stream and waterfall bubbling close by. Once comfortably ensconced, choose from kayaking, rafting, paddle-boarding or swimming on Mackenzie Sound, forest hikes and wildlife spotting (whales, orca, eagles, bobcats and bears – all from a safe distance), or fishing trips by boat or helicopter. Back in the resort, unwind in the spa or sauna, feast on the freshest local produce prepared by chef David Hassell or simply sip cocktails in the warmth of a crackling log fire.

PERU
TITILAKA

Situated some 3,800m up in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia, Titilaka is the world’s highest navigable lake, and one of the largest bodies of fresh water in South America. Here, on a private peninsula on the lake’s southeastern shore, lies the delightful 18-room Titilaka, a remote but discreetly luxurious hideaway designed and run on strictly sustainable principles.

If there’s time in your itinerary, take the PeruRail Titicaca Train from Cusco to Puno (it has an open-air observation car), after which there’s a 45-minute drive to the resort. Then relax in your stylish and comfortable accommodation, soaking up the stunning views through the floor-to-ceiling windows that are a feature of every room. Beyond the resort, there’s rowing, kayaking, and sailing boat charter to the lake’s famed floating islands or the former Incan birthplace of the Isla del Sol. Alternatively, stay on dry land and hike around this magical upland area. Dine on local catch, such as fish from the lake, and if you enjoy a late, late nightcap, the hotel bar is open until 2.30am.

SAINT LUCIA
JADE MOUNTAIN RESORT

It’s hard to believe that Jade Mountain Resort, an otherworldly pile of platforms, catwalks, pinnacles, pools and vegetation that at first glance resembles a palace in a science-fiction comic strip, was built almost entirely by hand. Even more fantastical is that this is a fabulously luxurious resort where sustainability is at its very heart. It draws water from its own off-grid supply, and there is a total absence of glass, meaning that every one of its 29 vast guest suites is open to nature and the elements (and is thus without air-conditioning). Indeed, there’s almost no aspect of Jade Mountain that doesn’t push the envelope of credibility, from the terraced private infinity pools to the beyond-spectacular vistas of Saint Lucia’s Pitons Unesco World Heritage Site, to the twinkling heavens viewed at night from the resort’s rooftop. Although it goes without saying there are beaches with kayaks and scuba diving, a spa and a gym, as well as wonderful dining, we’d be happy staying put in our suite, gaping in awe and wonder at this simply amazing place.

CHILE
NAYARA ALTO ATACAMA

Billed as “an oasis under the stars in the driest desert in the world”, Nayaro Alto Atacama is a wilderness lodge located some 2,400m above sea level near the northern Chilean town of San Pedro. Built from adobe and other local materials, it houses three categories of accommodation, the largest being the Tilo suites that stand further from the main areas and offer the best views. All are contemporary in style and feature shaded private terraces.

There’s a spa featuring naturally heated outdoor pools, as well as swimming and plunge pools, and a superb restaurant with menus based on local produce. Daytime vistas across the barren desert surroundings are fabulous, and activities beyond the resort include visits to the Salar de Atacama salt flats that is home to flamingoes, high-plains lagoons, geysers and the Alma Observatory. The great draw here is really the night sky, which in clear conditions affords sensational views of the Milky Way, especially when seen through the hotel’s own telescope.