Across South America, discovery is not confined to the past. It lives on in volcanic caves, cloud forest laboratories, cliffside suites, wild coastlines, shipyards and new routes to the edge of the world. This month’s travel update looks at journeys for travellers who want to go further, not only across distance, but into meaning.
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Chile | &BEYOND Vira Vira | Antarctica | Argentina | Peru | &BEYOND Amazon Explorer | Ecuador | Galapagos Islands | &BEYOND Galapagos Explorer
Chile invites travellers into landscapes shaped by fire, forest, water and deep-rooted cultural knowledge. From the volcanic world surrounding &Beyond Vira Vira to Punta Arenas as a gateway to Antarctica, this is a destination where nature feels active, elemental and very much alive.
Vira Vira is a luxury adventure lodge in Chile’s Lake District, ideally positioned between Patagonia and the Atacama Desert. Set on a private estate beneath Villarrica Volcano, the lodge offers exceptional access to one of South America’s most diverse adventure destinations, with experiences ranging from hiking, horseback riding and white-water rafting to skiing, snowboarding and helicopter excursions.
What sets Vira Vira apart is its seamless blend of immersive exploration and refined hospitality, allowing guests to experience Chile’s wild landscapes without compromising on comfort. Whether as a standalone destination or part of a broader Chilean itinerary, the lodges serves as the perfect gateway to discovering the country’s extraordinary diversity.
These excursions are designed for travellers who want to engage with the landscape more actively, whether descending into ancient lava tunnels, learning from a local textile artisan or moving through forests and waterfalls with expert guides.
A rare and atmospheric experience, this new experience takes guests beneath the volcanic landscape surrounding Villarrica Volcano, one of Chile’s most active volcanoes.
Available year-round, this adventure leads guests into an ancient lava tunnel formed thousands of years ago. As molten lava once flowed down the mountain slopes, its outer layer cooled and hardened while the lava beneath continued moving like an underground river. When the flow drained away, hollow tunnels remained.
Walking through these volcanic passages offers a powerful perspective on the raw energy of the earth. Surrounded by sculpted lava formations, mineral textures and moments of complete darkness, guests experience a side of the landscape that feels elemental, immersive and far removed from the traditional hiking narrative.
At &Beyond Vira Vira, the work of local textile artisan Sandra Rojos is woven into the character of the lodge itself, with her handcrafted pieces displayed throughout the property.
Guests seeking a deeper cultural connection can visit Sandra’s atelier in the Quelhue area, approx. 20 minutes from the lodge, for a private hands-on workshop. Guided by Sandra, guests select natural wools, fibres and colours before creating their own woven textile using local materials and time-honoured techniques.
The experience is both meditative and meaningful, offering insight into local craft traditions while giving guests a personal keepsake to take home. This private workshop is available at an additional cost and is reserved for guests staying on the Full Experience programme at &Beyond Vira Vira.
Set within the striking natural environment of Salto El Claro, this canyoning experience invites guests to descend an 80-m (262-ft) waterfall surrounded by native forest, volcanic scenery and the clear waters of the Araucanía region.
Accompanied by expert guides, guests rappel down the waterfall face, moving alongside cascading water into the natural pool below. The experience combines adrenaline with a powerful sense of place, offering a direct and memorable encounter with the region’s wild landscapes. The adventure ends with time to enjoy the refreshing natural pool at the base of the falls, surrounded by rushing water and pristine forest.
The Canopy La China experience offers guests a thrilling new perspective on the Palguín Valley, one of the most scenic natural landscapes in the Araucanía region.
Suspended above a dramatic canyon, the circuit features 1.5 km (0.9 mi) of zip lines divided into seven sections. Guests glide from platform to platform, taking in panoramic views of native forest, volcanic rock formations and an impressive 80-m (262-ft) waterfall cascading through the canyon. It’s an exhilarating way to experience the region from above, combining movement, height and the raw beauty of southern Chile.
For travellers continuing south, Chile also offers a compelling route towards Antarctica. Set at the southern reach of Chilean Patagonia, this wind-brushed city has long looked towards the White Continent. Today, it offers a compelling gateway for Antarctic journeys, particularly air-cruise itineraries that begin here before crossing towards King George Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.
It’s a place of pause before the polar vastness. A chance to feel the scale of the adventure, standing at the meeting point of Patagonia, ocean and ice.
Nestled in the enchanting southern city of Punta Arenas, just below the majestic Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint, stands as a tribute to the rich history and cultural tapestry of Chilean Patagonia. This thematic hotel, born from the ardent passion of Paola Milosevic and Sergio Solar for the region, breathes life into an old English-style house originally constructed in 1929.
Few encounters make you feel smaller in all the right ways. From Punta Arenas, travellers can journey into Francisco Coloane Marine Park, Chile’s first marine park and an important feeding ground for humpback, sei and minke whales. Here, between the Strait of Magellan, forested coastline, glaciers and seabirds, kayaks offer a rare perspective: low on the water, close to the rhythm of the wild, and guided by the quiet presence of whales.
Vast icefields, sculpted glaciers, penguin colonies and silent seas create an expedition defined by scale, stillness and wonder. Antarctica is a place that asks you to slow down, look closer and surrender to the rare privilege of being so far beyond the familiar.
Antarctica21 continues to shape the way travellers experience the White Continent, with journeys designed to combine remote adventure with considered comfort. Its new hybrid Magellan Discoverer expedition ship offers a strong storytelling opportunity, reflecting the continued evolution of polar travel and the growing demand for meaningful, lower-impact ways to explore Antarctica.
From the wind-shaped wilderness of Patagonia to the vineyards of Mendoza, the culture of Buenos Aires and the thundering waters of Iguazú Falls, it’s a country of scale, soul and striking variety.
Set at the southern tip of Argentina, Ushuaia remains one of the world’s most evocative pathways to Antarctica.
Framed by mountains, sea and the mythology of the end of the world, it offers a natural starting point for travellers preparing to cross into one of the planet’s most remote regions.
A refined waterfront retreat on the shores of the Beagle Channel, just outside Ushuaia. Framed by the Andes and set only seven kilometres from the city, it offers rooms and suites with dramatic views, private beach access, warm Patagonian hospitality and a spa made for easing into, or out of, days of adventure.
Located just outside Ushuaia, this mountain retreat is positioned on a natural balcony above the city. Offering sweeping views of the Beagle Channel, Martial Mountains and surrounding valleys, the hotel boasts spacious rooms, thoughtful sustainability credentials and easy access to the wild beauty of Argentina’s far south.
On Argentina’s Atlantic coast, Península Valdés offers one of South America’s most moving wildlife encounters. This protected Patagonian peninsula is a vital breeding ground for marine mammals, including southern right whales, elephant seals and sea lions, with penguins, seabirds and orcas adding to the richness of its coastal life. Here, every encounter is shaped by tides, seasons and the rare privilege of witnessing animals on their own terms.
For travellers, Península Valdés brings a different kind of Patagonia into focus: less about conquering distance, more about being still enough to notice what returns, year after year.
Set within a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, with private coastline, open Patagonian steppe and access to remarkable wildlife, from penguins and elephant seals to orcas and southern right whales, Estancia Rincon offers an immersive stay in one of Atlantic Patagonia’s most important natural sanctuaries.
Peru brings together ancient knowledge, bold design and dramatic terrain. From cliffside stays in the Sacred Valley to ongoing momentum in the Amazon, this is where human imagination responds to extraordinary landscapes.
Early explorers are rewarded with 20% off their accommodation aboard the &Beyond Amazon Explorer when they book ahead of the crowd.
From arrival assistance and flights to transfers, a two-night stay in Lima and a seven-night voyage aboard the &Beyond Amazon Explorer, this offer brings everything together in one well-connected adventure.
Here, glass sleeping pods are suspended above Peru’s Sacred Valley, reached by a secured climb and surrounded by open air, sweeping Andean views and a gentle sense of exhilaration. Complete with a high-altitude spa, this is one of Peru’s most extraordinary stays and a memorable option for guests seeking a different perspective on the Andes.
Ecuador carries the science, biodiversity and conservation thread of this update most clearly. From the cloud forests of Mashpi to the evolutionary theatre of the Galapagos Islands, this is a destination where the natural world continues to reveal, adapt and surprise.
Best of the Galapagos East is defined by rare breeding encounters and exceptional bird and wildlife.
From frigatebirds on North Seymour to all three booby species at Pitt Point and the world’s entire waved albatross population breeding on Española, this itinerary offers some of the archipelago’s most distinctive wildlife spectacles, balanced with classic Galapagos highlights such as giant tortoises, Galapagos penguins, sea lions and volcanic island landscapes.
Best of the Galapagos West stands out for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, remote marine environments and powerful evolutionary stories.
This itinerary brings guests to Fernandina and Isabela, where young lava fields, untouched shorelines and extraordinary ecological purity offer a vivid sense of the forces that shaped the archipelago. Wildlife encounters are equally distinctive, with the chance to see flightless cormorants, large marine iguana congregations, Galapagos penguins, green sea turtles, rays and, in the Bolivar Channel, the possibility of whale sharks or sunfish. From Rabida’s red sandy beach and Chinese Hat’s lava formations to Tagus Cove’s Darwin Lake and South Plaza’s cactus-lined cliffs, this is a route for travellers drawn to raw landscapes, remote waters and evolution in its most visible form.
The Galapagos may feel a world away, but we’ve made getting there surprisingly simple. With our Fly Me offer, your guests’ journey begins before they even step aboard. From city sights in Quito to flights and essential fees, we’ve thought ahead — so you don’t have to.
Mashpi Lodge began 2026 with some exciting new developments from Mashpi Science, further strengthening its commitment to research, conservation and immersive guest experiences within the Mashpi-Tayra Reserve. One of the most significant updates is the transformation of MashpiLab, the lodge’s Science Laboratory, into a more interactive and educational space. The redesigned laboratory now includes a museum-style exhibition featuring specimens from Mashpi’s permanent collection, organised into major groups such as Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera.
Other exciting updates include:
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