Best Hotel Bets

Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires (tel. 011/4808-2100): Decorated in Empire- and Louis XV-style furnishings, this is the most exclusive hotel in Buenos Aires. Luxurious guest rooms and suites have chandelier lighting, feather beds, silk drapes, and beautiful marble bathrooms; service is sharp and professional.

Villa Huinid, Bariloche, Argentine Lake District (tel. 02944/523523): You won't have to rough it here -- Villa Huinid's country-style cabins are luxurious enough to be considered small mansions, and there's a private beach and walking trail on the property. The surroundings offer fantastic views of Lake Nahuel Huapi and it's also not far from the lively nightlife of Bariloche.

El Hostal de su Merced, Sucre (tel. 0104/6442-706): Sucre is one of the most historic cities in Bolivia, so it makes sense to stay in a historic hotel. El Hostal de su Merced is housed in an elegant 300-year-old mansion. All the rooms have charming antiques, crystal chandeliers, and lace curtains.

Hotel Sofitel, Rio de Janeiro (tel. 0800/241-232 or 021/2525-1232): Considered Rio's best hotel, the Sofitel combines old-world elegance and style with one of the city's best locations, across from the Copacabana Fort and steps from Ipanema.

Tropical Manaus Eco Resort (tel. 0800/701-2670): The Tropical Hotel in Manaus is without a doubt the hotel in town. Set in its own piece of rainforest on the banks of the Rio Negro, the hotel is built in an elegant colonial style. Rooms are spacious and the amenities are top-notch; archery lessons, a zoo, wakeboard lessons, a wave pool, a salon, and more await you in the middle of the Amazon.

Hotel Explora, San Pedro de Atacama and Torres del Paine (tel. 22/066060 in Santiago): Few hotels have generated as much press in Latin America as the two all-inclusive Explora lodges in San Pedro de Atacama and Torres del Paine. A dynamite location has helped, of course, but great service, cozy rooms with out-of-this-world views, interiors that are equally elegant and comfortable, and guided outdoor trekking, horseback-riding, and biking excursions are what really put these hotels above par. The lodges were designed by several of Chile's top architects, built of native materials, and decorated with local art. All-inclusive packages are pricey, but you won't need to spend anything once you're there.

Hotel Antumalal, Pucón (tel. 45/441011): This low-slung, Bauhaus-influenced country inn is one of the most special places to lodge in Chile. Located high above the shore of Lake Villarrica and a sloping, terraced garden, the hotel literally sinks into its surroundings, offering a cozy ambience and number-one view of the evening sunset. A warm welcome and a room with no lock are all part of making you feel at home, and the chic, retro decor is a welcome relief from the cookie-cutter style of many hotels.

La Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa, Otavalo (tel. 800/327-3573 in the U.S., or 06/2915-237): This luxurious hotel is one of Ecuador's finest. The manicured gardens make this place feel like a mini-Versailles, while the rooms are all palatial-style suites. Ancient Ecuadorian treatments are the specialty at the spa.

Royal Palm Hotel, Santa Cruz, Galápagos (tel. 800/528-6069 in the U.S., or 05/2527-409): This is the most luxurious resort in all of Ecuador and its restaurant is arguably one of the finest in the country. The villas are truly sumptuous, each with a private Jacuzzi and an enormous bathroom with hardwood floors. Large windows open up to the lush tropical landscape and the awesome stretch of the Pacific in the distance.

Hotel Monasterio, Cusco (tel. 084/241-777): Carved out of a 16th-century monastery, itself built over the foundations of an Inca palace, this Orient Express hotel is the most dignified and historic place to stay in Peru. With its own gilded chapel and 18th-century Cusco School art collection, it's an attraction in its own right. Rooms are gracefully decorated with colonial touches, particularly the rooms off the serene first courtyard.

Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Aguas Calientes (tel. 800/442-5042 or 084/211-122 for reservations): It's not next to the ruins, but this rustic hotel is a compound of bungalows ensconced in lush tropical gardens and cloud forest, and it's the nicest place in Aguas Calientes. With lots of nature trails and guided activities, it's also great for naturalists. And after a day at Machu Picchu, the spring-fed pool is a great alternative to the thermal baths in town. Junior suites, with fireplaces and small terraces, are the most coveted rooms.

Belmont House, Montevideo (tel. 2/600-0430): A boutique hotel in Montevideo's peaceful Carrasco neighborhood, Belmont House offers its privileged guests intimacy and luxury close to the city and the beach. Small elegant spaces with carefully chosen antiques and wood furnishings give this the feeling of a private estate.

Conrad Resort & Casino, Punta del Este (tel. 042/491-111): This resort dominates social life in Punta del Este. Luxurious rooms have terraces overlooking the two main beaches, and there's a wealth of outdoor activities from tennis and golf to horseback riding and watersports.

Jungle Rudy Campamento, Canaima (tel./fax 0286/962-2359 in Canaima, or 0212/693-0618 in Caracas; www.junglerudy.com): The accommodations here are decidedly rustic -- no television, air-conditioning, or telephones. However, the setting, on the banks of the Río Carrao above Ucaima Falls, is spectacular. If you can land no. 9, you'll be able to say you stayed in the same room as Prince Charles.