Vira Vira Hacienda Hotel - Pucón, Chile

The dream of escaping the rat race became a reality for Swiss financier Michael Paravicini and his artist and yoga teacher wife Claudia, who after many years spent holidaying in Chile’s Pucón region, finally took the plunge and opened the areas first luxury hotel. ‘We both fell in love with the Lake District area and believe in its huge potential as a high end travel destination,’ says Paravicini. It’s location along the shores of the Liucura River, within 100 acres of grassy terrain, is a picture-perfect palette of jagged peaks, dense forests and gently puffing volcanoes. The master plan, by architect Adolfo Fuhrhop Bosse, maximizes the bucolic gardens, lush trees and views of the water and beyond, while inside, furnishings by Chilean designer Cristian Valdés are interspersed with handcrafted textiles and ceramics, restored antiques and pieces from local artists such as sculptor, Mariana Canepa. Food – sourced from the hotel’s on site farm – is inspired by the ancient recipes of the Mapuche origin and is of course, paired with the best wines Chile has to offer.