Elite Traveler May-June 2018

AWASI IGUAÚ, ARGENTINA OPENED FEBRUARY 2018

Awasi’s latest luxury lodge sits on the edge of Iguazú National Park, just a short drive from the reserve’s famous thundering waterfalls. Lush rain forest envelops the resort’s 14 stilted standalone suites, immersing each one in a dense canopy where coatis and elusive jaguars roam and toucans peer down from their perches in the trees. Buenos Aires–based designers Patricia Diedrichs and Eugenia Choren furnished each cabin with wood, linen and a palette of neutral tones, finished with botanical prints and paintings by local artists and baskets woven by the Guarani tribe. Each cabin comes with a private terrace and plunge pool. Winding stone paths connect the suites to the main lodge, where guests gather to dine on multicourse meals of prettily plated dishes with Relais & Châteaux rating, and sip cocktails at a bar crafted from native wood. Each suite is assigned its own four-wheel-drive and private guide, so you have complete freedom to venture out at your own pace. Iguazú Falls is understandably the region’s biggest draw, but there’s so much more to discover, from meeting the local Guarani community to exploring the region’s 18th-century ruins. THE EXPERIENCE By working with local experts, Awasi has created a series of experiences that give greater insight into the Atlantic Forest that surronds the lodge. Thousands of endemic species exist here, and it’s thought to be Argentina’s most biologically diverse area. Navigate the forest trails with an expert in regional birdlife, kayak along its waterways and meet the local Guarani tribes to find out about life in the forest. From $2,100 per person per night. Contact Diego Borjas, head of reservations, dborjas@awasi.com, +1 888 880 3219, awasiguazu.com