Around the World in 80 Spas | Part 6: South America
- Published: Friday, October 26th 2012
- in Editors' Picks
- by Kate Phillips
We’ve been across the globe — Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and beyond — during our Around the World in 80 Spas feature, and Part 6 takes our travels to the hot spas of South America. From desert havens to cosmopolitan hotspots to Patagonia destinations, these superlative spas should be on your must-see list.
Miss Parts 1 through 5? Check them out here:
Around the World in 80 Spas | Part 1: North America
Around the World in 80 Spas | Part 2: Europe
Around the World in 80 Spas | Part 3: South Africa
Around the World in 80 Spas | Part 4: Asia
Around the World in 80 Spas | Part 5: Australia & the South Pacific
Photo courtesy of Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa
Kurotel Medical Center for Longevity and Spa – Gramado, Brazil
We’re kicking off our hot spas feature with Kurotel, a medical spa destination that appears to be the whole package: treatment programs are inspired by the European Kur tradition, emphasizing preventative and rehabilitative medicine; a specially designed Kur Longevity Diet is available to all guests; and activities encompass informational lectures and discussions in the indoor amphitheater, hiking, swimming and tennis. The bi-level Kur Water Station and Spa taps into the healing benefits of water treatments (as well, select services incorporate the Kur Cosmetics product line) and includes a separate high-tech Stress Control Center for mind therapies.
Photos courtesy of Kurotel Medical Center for Longevity and Spa
Spa Faena Hotel Buenos Aires – Buenos Aires, Argentina
It’s easy to see why Spa Faena Hotel Buenos Aires made our hot spas list. The five-star urban hotel, steps from the Plaza de Mayo, is housed in a former granary dating back to 1902, and its belle époque accommodations and spa were designed by Philippe Starck; spa highlights include Biologique Recherche treatments and a marble Turkish hammam infused with soft candlelight and eucalyptus-infused vapors. At night, slip into the rhythm of the dynamic culture with tango dance presentations and live music performances.
Photos courtesy of Leading Spas of the World
Hotel Sofitel Cartagena Santa Clara – Cartagena, Colombia
Against the backdrop of the Caribbean Sea, in the vibrant city of Cartagena de Indias, a UNESCO World Heritage site, there’s no question Hotel Sofitel Cartagena Santa Clara is a lovely retreat. The hotel resides within the center of the old colonial walled city, and is contained in a former 17th-century Clarissas monastery (rooms that were once the chapel, nuns’ dining room and convent now house meeting areas, restaurants and lounges). LeSpa Sofitel Cartagena Santa Clara, the brand’s first spa in South America, is a sumptuous blend of traditional rituals and amenities like a hammam, solarium, tea room and relaxation terrace overlooking the sea.
Photos courtesy of Hotel Sofitel Cartagena Santa Clara
Elements Spa by Banyan Tree – Tivoli Sao Paulo Mofarrej – Sao Paulo, Brazil
The first Elements Spa by Banyan Tree in Brazil is located in the cosmopolitan Tivoli Sao Paulo Mofarrej. The spa embraces the Elements brand’s “high-touch, low-tech” holistic approach, showcasing Asian-inspired spa rituals that use aromatic oils, herbs and spices and are performed by Banyan Tree Academy-trained therapists. All spa services include a footbath, herbal drink and some relaxation time, making it easy to say “ahhh.”
Photos courtesy of Leading Spas of the World
Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Golf-Spa – San Carlos De Bariloche, Argentina
Ready to unleash your adventurous side? Head to Llao Llao, a hilltop golf and spa resort within the Nahuel Huapi National Park in the Argentine Patagonia. The exquisite beauty of the natural landscape is incorporated into all spa elements, from treatments to decor. Step outside Llao Llao Spa and embark on all that Patagonia has to offer, from fishing and horseback riding to kayaking and mountain biking and more.
Photos courtesy of Leading Spas of the World
Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa – San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
An adobe-style, eco-luxury retreat built from local materials in the red-rock desertscape, with a spa menu that includes a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath and indoor/outdoor hot tubs, all utilizing water derived from glacial snow…a magical desert oasis, indeed.
Read about our visit to Alto Atacama.
Photos courtesy of Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa
Lapinha Spa – Lapa, Brazil
Said to be Brazil’s first medical spa, Lapinha Spa makes getting healthy feel like an indulgent experience. More than 40 spa treatments are available, and the spa setting is a serene one, with meditation bungalows dispersed in garden settings, as well as an indoor Kneipp immersion pool. The Araucaria forest-enveloped destination initiates a seven-pillar philosophy for physical and spiritual programming: healthy, organic food; hydrotherapy; physical therapy; phytotherapy; movement therapy; biorhythm therapy; and spirituality.
Photos courtesy of Lapinha Spa
Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness – Urubamba, Peru
A 17th-century restored hacienda in the Urubamba Valley; amenities like an on-site art gallery, chapel and cinema; and the spacious Unno Spa surrounded by lush foliage and serene lagoons…yes, yes and yes! Exotic Andean treatments that incorporate regional elements — muña, coca and maca oils, yellow corn, aguaymanto, herbs and muds — and facilities like an Inca cleansing sauna, hydrotherapy pools and hyperbaric chamber can be discovered at Aranwa Sacred Valley, approximately two hours from Machu Picchu.
Photos courtesy of Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
Kate Phillips
About the author: Kate Phillips
Spafinder Wellness 365 Editor and self-proclaimed Starbucks fanatic, Kate is an avid enthusiast of writing, all-things-travel, and fashion magazines. Before SFW365 she was a freelance contributor to Time Out New York and the online editor for Chemical Week magazine, where she penned articles on chemicals found in beauty products. She spends her downtime testing out spa and beauty products on her mom and sisters, including her identical twin.
