South American Splendour: Pina's Luxury Discoveries at ‘Emotions Lima’
When Y Travel’s senior Travel Advisor Pina headed to South America for the prestigious Emotions luxury travel showcase in Lima, Peru, she uncovered a treasure trove of extraordinary experiences that perfectly align with our Y Travel philosophy.
From eco-luxury cruises to artistic havens tucked in colonial streets, and even entire countries deserving of more of a spotlight, here are Pina’s highlights of hotels, experiences, and destinations that captured her imagination - each embodying one of our signature Y Factors.
Brand : Abercrombie & Kent's Dual-Destination Cruising
Y Factor: Adventure
South America offers some of the world's most extraordinary natural wonders, and Abercrombie & Kent has mastered the art of exploring them in luxurious comfort. Their Galápagos fleet—the elegant yachts Origin, Theory and Evolve—represent the only vessels in the islands accepted into the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection. With just 20 guests per yacht, these intimate expeditions offer personalised attention from naturalist guides who bring every encounter to life.
Beyond spotting giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz or snorkelling alongside sea turtles, A&K's Pure Amazon vessel offers an equally enriching journey through Peru's legendary river system. This thoughtfully designed ship accommodates just 22 guests while expert guides reveal the river's secrets—from nocturnal wildlife walks to kayaking expeditions through hidden tributaries where rainbow-coloured macaws skim the water's surface.
What Pina Loves: “Exploring the polar regions has always been at the top of my travel bucket list, but learning about the incredibly unique Galapagos Islands (and the stylish and eco-friendly ways to explore them), I think I have a new frontrunner!”
Stay : Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada, Mexico
Y Factor: Artistry
Nestled within six separate 17th and 18th-century 'casas' in San Miguel de Allende, Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada captures Mexico's artistic soul in physical form. This property immerses guests in the creative heritage that has defined this UNESCO World Heritage city for generations, with every tiled bath, curved ceiling and courtyard telling a story.
The artistic immersion extends beyond aesthetic appreciation. Guests can participate in expert-led workshops in oil, acrylic, watercolour or drawing, guided by local artists who share techniques while exploring the region's artistic legacy from Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo to contemporary creators. For deeper connection, the hotel arranges private studio visits to artists like Fermigante, David Vazquez, and the duo Heins & Ana, offering intimate glimpses into their creative processes.
What Pina Loves: “The six beautiful individual casas that combine to make up the Casa de Sierra Nevada really gives the feel of a true artists colony, made extra special with the Belmond touch of luxury.”
Destination : Uruguay's Authentic Soul
Y Factor: Culture & Community
While South America's tourism spotlight often shines on Brazil's beaches, Peru's ancient trails, Chile's dramatic landscapes or Argentina's European charm, Uruguay remains something of a hidden gem. During her pre-Emotions famil trip, Pina discovered a country whose greatest treasure is undoubtedly its people.
This compact nation rewards visitors with a slower pace that encourages meaningful connections. Whether savouring wines at family-run vineyards where owners personally conduct tastings or conversing with local craftspeople about techniques passed through generations, Uruguay offers an increasingly rare opportunity to experience a destination through genuine human connection rather than curated tourist experiences.
In an era where authentic interaction can feel elusive in travel, Uruguay stands apart as a place where hospitality comes from the heart rather than a training manual, and where the genuine warmth and authenticity of locals creates the kind of travel memories that linger long after returning home.
What Pina Loves: “I have never travelled through a country where the locals were so authentic, humble, hospitable, and genuinely proud of their country and what it has to offer visitors. Over the 5 days I travelled through Uruguay - not nearly long enough by the way - I had so many genuine connections with the loveliest people, all wanting to share their personal stories and the Uruguayan culture, produce, and way of life.”
Stay : Sol y Luna, Sacred Valley, Peru
Y Factor: Generosity
True luxury increasingly encompasses making meaningful difference in the world, and few properties embody this philosophy more completely than Sol y Luna in Peru's Sacred Valley. What began as a breathtaking hotel has evolved into something far more significant—a property where hospitality and social impact are beautifully intertwined.
The property's profits, along with contributions from guests and benefactors, wholly finance the Sol y Luna Association, which pursues inclusion and equality through education for local children alongside sustainable work opportunities for families throughout the Sacred Valley. This model of hospitality as a force for positive change represents luxury travel at its most meaningful—where exceptional experiences and genuine impact coexist perfectly.
What Pina Loves: “Not content with being a stunning hotel in one of the world’s most majestic locations, Sol y Luna ‘walks the talk’ in giving back to the local community through the wide reaching generosity and philanthropy of the Sol y Luna Association”
Stay : Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River, Costa Rica
Y Factor: Nature & Sustainability
Cooled by an ever-present breeze and framed by a unique dwarf forest, Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River is a sanctuary of well-being and the true embodiment of Costa Rica's legendary Pura Vida. Located in Guanacaste province just an hour's drive from Liberia, this rediscovered gem was once a sacred spot for the Cabecar tribes who recognised the magic of the thermal gorge hundreds of years ago.
Rio Perdido was designed to exist in perfect harmony with its surroundings. Great care has been taken to preserve this one-of-a-kind setting and its precious resources, while simultaneously providing a comfortable experience for conscious-minded guests across its 38 bungalows.
Visitors can swim in the abundant, completely natural hot springs along a kilometre of thermal gorge that cuts right through the spectacular 1,500-acre reserve. The property offers 32 km of hiking trails showcasing exotic flora and fauna, alongside activities from zip-lining and mountain biking to white water tubing. Those seeking relaxation can lounge by the pool, savour authentic Costa Rican cuisine prepared by local culinary artists, practice yoga on cliff-side pods or visit the spa for the region's finest treatments.
What Pina Loves: “Costa Rica is the heart of sustainable tourism, and the Rio Perdido Hotel, with its own thermal springs, is one of the country’s best examples of how design practices that sustainably integrate with the natural environment do not have to mean skimping on luxurious comforts.”
Stay : Hotel B Lima, Peru
Y Factor: Taste
In Lima's artistic Barranco waterfront district, the Belle Époque mansion housing Hotel B provides more than elegant accommodation—it offers a culinary journey through contemporary Peruvian gastronomy. This Relais & Châteaux property has become an epicentre for the country's culinary renaissance under the guidance of Peruvian Chef de Cuisine Franco Hurtado.
Trained under renowned local chef Oscar Velarde, Hurtado explores the perfect balance between Peru's culinary heritage and innovative techniques. The menu celebrates the country's remarkable biodiversity—from the bounty of its long coastline to highlands produce like quinoa and purple corn, to exotic fruits from the Amazon like camu-camu.
Guests seeking deeper immersion can participate in experiences ranging from cocktail masterclasses showcasing pisco creations to full culinary workshops where they learn to prepare Peruvian classics. The hotel's chocolate and coffee experience highlights two of the country's most celebrated exports, exploring their journey from jungle to cup or plate.
What Pina Loves: “Hotel B is everything I love - boutique, exclusive, and stunning! And of course, being part of the Relais & Châteaux group means that the in-house gastronomic experiences are guaranteed to be innovative and mouthwatering.”
Experience : Bolivia's Uyuni Salt Flats
Y Factor: The Unexpected
Some landscapes defy categorisation, and Bolivia's Uyuni Salt Flats stand as South America's most surreal natural wonder. This vast expanse of brilliant white salt crust creates optical illusions and otherworldly vistas that transform with changing light—especially during the wet season when a thin layer of water creates a perfect mirror effect, making it impossible to distinguish where earth ends and sky begins.
The region now offers accommodation options that match the extraordinary setting, from luxury properties with panoramic views to stylish airstream campers positioned in perfect isolation on the flats themselves. Experiences range from sunset champagne toasts amid the crystalline landscape to stargazing under some of the clearest skies on earth.
Active visitors can start off easy with outdoor yoga sessions, ramp up the pace with cycling expeditions across the flats, or even work up a sweat hiking to the Tunupa Volcano, situated on the edge of the vast salt plains.
What Pina Loves: “It’s just so rare to find a landscape as unique as the Uyuni Salt flats. Far from being just an expanse of ‘nothingness’, the destination features adventure experiences, cultural immersion with the local indigenous population, and gorgeous accommodation options that are as vast and spectacular as the Salt Flats themselves!”
Stay : Ponta dos Ganchos, Brazil
Y Factor: Wellbeing
On a private peninsula along Brazil's Emerald Coast, Ponta dos Ganchos offers the ultimate retreat for travellers seeking rejuvenation in an intimate setting. With just 25 bungalows—each featuring private pools, saunas and jacuzzis—this adults-only haven strikes the perfect balance between activity and relaxation.
The property's crowning jewel is its Sisley Paris spa, positioned at the peninsula's furthest point to ensure complete privacy alongside stunning ocean vistas. Here, treatments range from targeted facial therapies to deep tissue massages and specialised hair rituals, each customised to individual wellness goals.
The property's Re-Energize program takes holistic wellbeing further, combining natural surroundings with carefully designed experiences. After days filled with optional yoga sessions, guided meditation by the water's edge, or more active pursuits like scuba diving in crystal waters, guests retreat to accommodations where every element encourages restoration.
What Pina Loves: “A lush and beautiful property on the edge of the Atlantic, the Ponta dos Ganchos is already a favourite for Y Travel clients, and I can completely understand why! What a heavenly place to unwind and focus on treating your body and mind.”
Pina's discoveries at Emotions Lima reveal South America as a continent of extraordinary diversity, where authentic experiences await curious travellers. Whether you're drawn to adventurous exploration, artistic immersion, cultural connection or wellness retreats, our enhanced relationships with these exceptional partners - and so many more - allow us to craft journeys tailored precisely to your preferences. Contact your Y Travel advisor today to begin planning a journey that incorporates these exclusive opportunities.