Luxury Travel to Jose Ignacio made for you

On a site spanning some ten acres of beach dunes with sweeping views across the Southern Atlantic Ocean and Mansa Beach, Bahia Vik is a stylish retreat promising superb scenery and ultimate relaxation – with one of the best sunsets you will ever see. Understated in its luxury and cool vibe, 14 unique whitewashed bungalows, with 49 suites, sleekly incorporate Uruguayan woods and grey slate. While some enhance this sophisticated feel with Vik’s eclectic and renowned art collection, all are discreetly environmentally conscious. The larger suites then feature private terraces overlooking the dunes, beach and ocean, with unique pieces by Uruguayan and international artists. Dining is done in style – as everything else is here – on a sprawling poolside terrace, in the indoor dining room and at the beachfront restaurant and bar, La Susana. Besides traditional Uruguayan barbecue, fresh seafood and locally grown produce, meals offer the chance to savour the superb Chilean VIK wines. Aside from sunbathing and people watching from the sands, days here are spent indulging in spa treatments and kayaking, surfing, canoeing and exploring the local wildlife. If you fancy a wider selection of activity though, head to the Bahia’s nearby sister properties, the Estancia and Playa, to horse-ride, cycle, play golf, tennis and even take polo lessons.

Playa Vik is the property that brings a touch of full luxury to Jose Ignacio, previously reserved only for the private homes. Designed by renowned Uruguayan Architect Carlos Ott, the hotel features contemporary design and is adorned with an important collection of South American and International art. The property really creates the ‘wow’ factor with features such as a 23-metre black nero granite pool fibre optic lit with a map of the stars. The hotel also has a wine cellar, gym and small spa with two treatment rooms. There are six ‘casas’ of varying sizes (up to three bedrooms) each designed uniquely and again featuring many different art works.

Estancia Vik is an extraordinarily creative marriage of a traditional Uruguayan ranch with contemporary artistic flair, design and imagination. The Hispanic adobe structure has 12 rooms each individually designed and decorated by a different, famous Uruguayan artist making every suite a very visual and sensory experience. Their en-suite bathrooms are all wonderfully intricate and modern with hand-made wooden bath tubs, mosaic walls and stone carved basins. Every room seems to grab you and whilst you might not ever think to put this there or hang that there, you appreciate that this is very uniquely Uruguayan and the entire property is an unashamed dedication to its multi-faceted culture and style. The striking BBQ room is adorned with corrugated tin and slashed with paint and graffiti-like drawings. The main sitting room has a surrealist map of the country on the ceiling, huge rock gems mined from the north on its walls and a large marble sculpture by the celebrated sculptor Pablo Atchugarry right in the centre. The red brick dining room and wine cellar is heavy with the traditional but this makes for a very warming and atmospheric place in which to dine on their deliciously delicate food and well selected wines. Outside, an arched patio elegantly frames the sweeping views across the pastures and where the sun loungers sit next to a fresh water swimming pool, which has lights embedded in the bottom that mirror the sky’s constellations above. The estancia’s estate covers 4,000 acres of the Jose Ignacio countryside marked by rolling pastures, lagoons, copses and the views from the rooms play these out nicely. Also the choice of activities is broad and encourages you to make the most of the outdoors. The team of staff here are all local residents with a true passion for the area and its way of life – you will feel quite at home.

With four acres of beachfront ‘pampas’, private gardens and stylish design, Casa Suaya has been quickly earning a reputation as a hideaway for the jet-set and honeymooners. Rooms here are tasteful and modern; including stone fireplaces, flat-screen TVs and large windows, they also come equipped with blackout curtains, so you can relax in comfort after a nights’ partying. The hotel also features a handful of bungalows, ideal for those looking for their own personal oasis, or for family groups in need of extra space. With the shortest high season in the world, at 15 days, the quiet town of Jose Ignacio explodes into life just after Christmas; it may be worth visiting in the off-season for a more tranquil experience. Spend your time here hanging out poolside during the day before wandering into one of the small village’s restaurants for a late (and long) lunch. Follow this with a light siesta before hitting the beach or wandering to the nearby lighthouse, local art galleries and fashion boutiques. There are a handful of outstanding restaurants and bars close by; the party atmosphere here in high season is unmissable and well worth dipping into.