Travelers looking for bargains should look towards Latin America. Like our Guatemala Classico trip 6-days for $795

Cotopaxi Trekking Ecuador
7-days for $950
Hike in the shadows of the Cotopaxi Volcano and follow the ancient roads of the Incas during our 5 day/4 night trekking trip. Experience the hacienda culture of the Andean highlands and explore Inca sites during an active trekking circuit near the Cotopaxi National Park and in the Condor Biosphere. Includes two nights in Quito before and after the trek.

Bolivia’s Jesuit Missions
5-days at $770
Thought to be “forgotten” for more than two centuries, the region of Bolivia’s restored Jesuit Missions is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site for its cultural accomplishments and history. Includes San Javier, Concepcion, San Ignacio, San Miguel, San Rafael, and Santa Ana.

Awesome Argentina
8-days for $1525
Travel through the southern reaches of Argentina, taking in the highlights of Patagonia. Includes Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Beagle Channel, Gable Island, Tierra del Fuego, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, El Calafate and hiking on Perito Moreno Glacier.

Guatemala Classico
6-days for $795
A great introduction to Guatemala, this trip visits the celebrated market of Chichicastenango and explores the inviting colonial city of Antigua. Spend the next couple nights along the beautiful shores of volcano-fringed Lake Atitlan.

For more Latin America bargains, take a look at our ongoing and special discounts available and upcoming trips.

The Atacama Desert has been experiencing an unusual amount of snow. The cold front that came through the region dumped nearly 32 inches of snow on the desert — more snow then the region has seen in the last half-century. The Atacama Desert is known as one of the driest place on Earth. The Atacama averages just 2 inches of precipitation a year; there are regions in the Atacama that have never seen a drop of recorded rain. The desert stretches roughly 600 miles from Peru’s southern border into northern Chile.

Cold temperatures and snowy weather have been affecting other regions of Latin America as well. Earlier this month, the classic Inca Trail trek was actually closed for a few days due to the unusual and heavy snow fall. It has since re-opened.

With the help of seasoned travelers, journalists, and local experts, Traveler discovers properties that exhibit strong local color, authenticity, a sustainability ethic, and community involvement. Further research narrows the list down to our very best picks—places you can count on for a great overnight (and cultural) experience.

Here are a few details on just why these accommodations made the list.

The Madidi River -- Enroute to the Bolivian Amazon's Chalalan Lodge

EcoCamp in Torres del Paine National Park

Ecuador's Sacha Lodge makes National Geographic Travelers 2011 Stay List

EcoCamp
EcoCamp is designed to expose travelers to nature as in a camp tent but with the comfort and sophistication of a four star hotel. The structure is built to interfere as little as possible with the surrounding Torres del Paine environment, and to take full advantage of the site. EcoCamp gives sight to the park’s granite pillars right from the dining room and from many dormitory domes. Here the environment is the star. Travelers come very far to be outdoors in the park, so indoor amenities are as little as possible to encourage as much time outdoors as possible exploring the trails of Torres del Paine. The maximum capacity will be 30 guests so the feeling of intimacy, the idea of being in a Nomadic convoy in a remote environment will be kept even if the EcoCamp is full.

Sacha Lodge
Sacha has long recognized how rich and rare its surrounding environment is – and has designed a number of structures to highlight the region. This includes its kapok tower; this 135-foot tower is situated on a hill and constructed around a giant kapok tree for stability. This tower allows guests another opportunity to climb into and above the rainforest canopy. And its recent 940-foot (275-meter) long canopy walkway – at approximately 94 feet (30 meters) above the ground – is exclusive to the lodge. While at Sacha, travelers paddle dugout canoes along blackwater creeks and lakes; swim with piranha; take night walks and canoe trips in search of caiman and other nocturnal creatures. This is the Amazon – and Sacha is designed educate and immerse travelers in the jungle during the day, and relax in comfort at night.

National Geographic Traveler definitely has some nice things to say about Chalalan, Sacha, and EcoCamp (and we certainly share their sentiments) — but how about a few recommendations directly from the source. Here’s just a few things our travelers are saying about their time at these lodges.

What our travelers are saying about Chalalan:
“The Chalalan Lodge experience is just fantastic. Madidi Park is everyone’s dream of a rainforest-lush, beautiful, and filled with wildlife. Everyone at the lodge was super. Ricoberto, our guide, was knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic. The meals were delicious and the service was great. Every time I got back from a hike someone was waiting to greet me with a glass of cold lemonade. This was a fabulous tour!” – Kathy R.

What our travelers are saying about EcoCamp:
“Our EcoCamp dome was beyond our wildest dreams – wood floors, a comfy king-sized bed, floor to ceiling windows, a spacious bathroom – all the comforts of home with none of the environmental impact. After settling in, we headed back to the main dome where we were to have all our meals. Our first night, a delicious steamed salmon for dinner awaited, wine…plus good conversation with new friends. We agreed right then and there that life just doesn’t get much better.” – Jesson B.

What our travelers are saying about Sacha Lodge:
“I can’t tell you how impressed we were with the facilities. I constantly found myself thinking about how much it must take to maintain the place which essentially sits on stilts above the water and mud. Our guides, David and Poncho were excellent. Their knowledge is extensive and I am still amazed at their ability to spot wildlife in the jungle. On the evening of our arrival, Sacha hosted its once weekly barbecue at the boathouse. The food was delicious! All of the mysterious and fascinating sounds of the jungle could be heard right out of the windows of our cabin. What an experience!” – Charles A.

Adventure Life Bolivia Trip honored as a Tour of a Lifetime

Kicking off with Carnaval de Oruro, Bolivia’s most spectacular festival, this journey immerses you in local rituals that are still part of everyday life, such as baking bread in a traditional adobe oven at a working hacienda and shopping at the Tarabuco Market, where even the younger generation dons traditional ponchos, sandals, and headgear. There’s action, too: Explore the salt desert and cap your trip with a climb up the 16,500-foot volcano Tunupa.

A highlight of this trip is the Oruro Festival; a sensational event. The folklore festival finds its roots in Christian traditions and indigenous myths and deities. The festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil displayed in the form of dances and music. Each costume, each gesture, each character, color, and movement are symbolic in this carnival. This thirteen day trip also includes time in La Paz, Sucre, Tarabuco Market, Hacienda Candelaria, Potosi and the spectacular Salt Desert of Uyuni.

Traveler outside of her dome at Torres del Paine's EcoCamp

EcoCamp at sunrise -- hard to beat that view

A remote welcome from Sacha Lodge, in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Madidi River, enroute to Chalalan Lodge in Bolivia

Waterfall hike in the Costa Rican jungle during a stay at Selva Bananito

Visit largest parrot and macaw clay lick in the 4.4 million acre Manu Biosphere Reserve

By Shannon Beineke
Ecotourism has skyrocketed in recent years. As a result, many lodges around the world are now claiming to be eco-friendly, but it can be hard to tell which places are truly considerate of environmental issues. Fortunately, the very best eco-lodges in Latin America leave zero room for doubt.

EcoCamp in Patagonia
In Patagonia of Chile, EcoCamp helps visitors make minimal impact on the environment. The dome-shaped design was inspired by huts of the nomadic Kawesqar people. EcoCamp units are less vulnerable to 100 mph winds. While Kawesqar huts were made from local materials covered in animal skins, EcoCamp domes are made from sturdy materials collected outside of Torres del Paine National Park. Each foundation-free dome is removed seasonally so the land can fully recover, and using 17 hours of sun each day, solar panels power toilet fans and indoor lighting. It’s no wonder EcoCamp was the first Chilean hospitality company to receive the esteemed Enviromental Management Systems Certification: ISO 14001 from the SGS of Switzerland.

Sacha Lodge in Ecuador
Sacha Lodge is located on a private 5,000-acre reserve. Approximately 50 miles east of Coca in Ecuador, it’s nestled on Pilchicocha lagoon, near the dark and mysterious Napo river. This eco-friendly lodge is almost completely concealed by forestry. In fact, “Sacha” is the Quichua Indian word for “forest.” Each thatched-roof hut is made of local materials and screened in to keep insects at bay. A diesel generator powers the electricity. Remember, “lights off” is at 10:00 pm! Also, each unit has its own bathroom, complete with biodegradable soaps and shampoos. Runoff water is treated with ozone to keep the environment intact. With miles of footpaths and canoe routes nearby, Sacha Lodge is the ideal eco-friendly “home base” for Amazon Basin exploration.

Chalalan Lodge in Bolivia
The San Jos de Uchupiamonas are an indigenous Amazon community in Bolivia. They’ve lived in the Madidi National Park jungle for centuries. With help from Conservation International, the natives built solar-powered cabins and created Chalalan Lodge. Traditional building styles and local Madidi materials were used to keep construction eco-friendly. Now guests can enjoy home-cooked meals, musical shows, dances, and even moon-lit canoe rides. All of the proceeds help over 100 local families sustain life in the Amazonian jungle. Their precious home is among the most ecologically sensitive areas in the world, so it needs to be respected and protected. Be prepared for a trip! Chalalan is a 5-hour boat ride from the nearest town.

Selva Bananito in Costa Rica
Selva Bananito is run by Rain Forest Conservation Through Tourism, Inc. It’s the only eco-lodge in Costa Rica built with recycled waste wood. During construction, instead of being set in the forest, each cabin was placed in an area that had already been affected by humans. In addition, Selva Bananito doesn’t even offer electricity! This makes it ideal for an environmentally low-impact getaway. The lodge is located near Muchilla Mountain in Limon, at the south end of the Cordillera de Talamanca range; home to the gargantuan La Amistad Biosphere Reserve. Over 2 million acres of protected land in this area make the “green belt.” It’s the least-explored territory in all of Costa Rica, so Selva Bananito guests can discover unspoiled nature without harming it.

Manu Wildlife Center in Peru
The Manu Wildlife Center offers access to 40,000 acres of rainforest, with more than 30 miles of nearby footpaths to explore. Guests can see several species of monkeys and birds close up as they wander through the Amazon. They can also visit the largest tapir lick in the world, 120-foot-tall canopy platforms, or lakes full of hoatzins and giant otters. The Manu Wildlife Center offers a one-of-a-kind experience both outside and indoors. Guests can enjoy screened-in bungalows, electricity, showers with hot running water, and all-cedar walls. The lodge was built with salvaged wood from uprooted trees, gathered after flooding. This makes Manu an eco-friendly lodge, surrounded by one of the most magnificent creations in nature: the Amazon rain forest.

La Paz, Bolivia with Nevado Illimani in the background. What remains of Chacaltaya glacier is 35 miles from La Paz.

Reminding us of just how delicate our environment is, last week the Miami Herald reported that Bolivia’s Chacaltaya glacier has virtually completely melted — a good 6 years earlier than originally predicted. At nearly 17,400 feet in the Andes, the glacier gained its greatest notoriety as the world’s highest ski run. But this isn’t about tourism; there is a much bigger worry than its claim-to-fame. Water supply. John Enders from the Miami Herald reports:

On the western, mostly arid side of the Andes, millions of people depend on rain, snow run-off and melting glaciers like Chacaltaya, Illimani and Huayna Potosifor their water.

What is left of the glacier is 35 miles away from La Paz, Bolivia’s largest city. You can read the whole article here at the Miami Herald.

There are a few before and after pictures of the glacier posted on the BBC News that I think really capture the dramatic difference in the landscape. Including a picture of its rapid retreat since the 1940s.