Dear Diedre,

Accessibility to more global destinations is becoming easier with new air routes, improved safety awareness and modern infrastructure. Countries that just a few years ago were off the grid (except for a few adventure-seeking savvy travellers), are now being flagged as "the next big thing". We have been scouring reports from the field (not to mention travelling extensively) in search of Latin America countries on the cusp of discovery (or re-discovery), and we've come up with the following list.

Colombia - I was overwhelmed by the excellent hospitality I received on a recent trip to Colombia, which is still plagued by misrepresentation in the international press. Cartagena, for example, has new boutique hotels opening up like hotcakes. The historic centre of Bogota, on the other hand, continues to reinvent itself in a similar way to Lima. Both are now vibrant, exciting, cities worth making a journey to visit on their own merits. Historic haciendas in the coffee region are opening their doors in a similar way to Mexico a few years back.

Brazil is still relatively unknown in the luxury travel market, with some of the world's most beautiful beaches where discrete and stylish properties personify the word boutique. While everyone knows that Rio is one of the hippest cities anywhere in the world, you may not know that some of the best diving and snorkeling in South America can be found just off the coast from Fernando de Noronha (pictured above), a remote island in the north east.

Cuba is another destination poised for a tourism boom as soon as the new US administration revokes the travel ban for Americans. Although it still offers a very small range of upscale properties, efforts are being made to change the "all-inclusive" image of the country, and many new and sophisticated experiences are now available. As a Canadian company, we've been planning trips to Cuba for the past twenty years, from organizing bone-fishing in remote archipelagos to staging vintage car rallies across the country, from art & architecture themed tours of Havana to cigar tastings in the renowned tobacco growing valleys of Vinales. Call or email me to put your name on our waitlist and I'll contact you as soon as you can legally travel to Cuba.

The lesser known Central American countries are also jumping on the bandwagon that has long been lead by Costa Rica. The Bay Islands off from Roatan, Honduras and the Bocas del Toro archipelago off from Panama are great alternatives to Ambergris Caye in Belize. Roatan combines easily with a visit to the Mayan ruins at Copan for those who wish to see beyond Tikal in Guatemala. In Panama, the historic centre known as Casco Viejo is a colonial treasure trove of architectural gems, a combination of restored splendour like Antigua, Guatemala and the dilapidated neglect of Havana, Cuba.

Other news:

Argentina: Francis Ford Coppola has just opened his new venture in colourful Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires. Jardin Escondido has just 7 rooms dotted around the three "Hidden Garden" levels, terrace and outdoor pool.

Uruguay: Brazilian restaurateur Adolfo Suaya is putting the finishing touches to the gorgeous Casa Suaya; a barefoot luxury hangout which faces the virgin sands of Playa Brava, Jose Ignacio.

As you can probably tell, I could go on and on about the hidden gems of Latin America, but why don't you call me or drop me a note if you have a specific request or question. Whether it's a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon, a family vacation in the private jet or a barefoot excursion to deserted Caribbean island, we can arrange just about anything.

Cheers,

Steve Wilson
Senior Trip Designer & Latin America Specialist
(swilson@horizon-co.com)