Welcome to our curated guide to the taste of the finer things in life. From five star hotels in metro cities to luxurious dude ranches in the middle of the country, we even look at gorgeous mountaintop resorts and beachside spa retreats.

If you’ve ever doubted that the land of the free is also the land of luxury, prepare to have your perceptions reshaped. Luxurious travel is not just about plush accommodations and fine dining, it’s about creating unforgettable experiences, making lasting memories, and indulging in the richness of life.

The Best Luxury Holiday Destinations in the USA

Ready to learn about most luxurious places in the United States? Imagine yourself hopping on your private jet charter, enjoying a bottle of Dom Pérignon, dining on Michelin Star cuisine, and heading off to enjoy the best of the best.

New York City, New York

First stop, New York City.

The city’s bright lights, iconic sights, and endless activities add to its charm, while top-tier restaurants and world-class shopping cater to the most refined tastes. Add in a night at the theater, a horse drawn carriage through Central Park and a day visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art and you’re only starting to scratch the surface of what New York can bring to the table.

Take for instance, the Waldorf Astoria New York, a grand dame of luxury, which has served as the backdrop for many films, such as Scent of a Woman and Coming to America. While there are dozens of luxurious hotels in New York, staying at the Waldorf is still considered the crème de la crème.

Chicago, Illinois

Next, let’s head to the Windy City.

Chicago is a bustling urban gem that offers a mix of world-class dining, shopping, art, and architecture. Luxury travelers can explore the city’s Magnificent Mile for high-end shopping and dining, visit art institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago, or enjoy a boat tour along the Chicago River for stunning views of the city’s impressive skyline.

Luxury accommodations abound, with options like The Langham, The Peninsula, and the Four Seasons offering top-tier experiences.

Newport, Rhode Island

Venture eastward and you’ll find yourself in Newport, Rhode Island’s storied city.

Here, Bellevue Avenue is lined with magnificent cottages – a modest term for palatial homes where the city’s wealthy families once summered. Known for its historical charm and coastal beauty, Rhode Island offers a luxury vacation like no other.

The historic Castle Hill Inn, located in Newport, is a perfect example of the luxurious accommodations available.

This hotel was once a historic home, and now it offers stunning views of Narragansett Bay from nearly every room. Guests can opt for privacy in the luxe beach cottages about 250 yards from the main house or sunbathe on Grace Kelly Beach. The beach was named after her because of her habit of enjoying downtime on the rocky beach while filming High Society in the summer of 1956.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Castle Hill Inn (@castlehillinn)

Hawaii

No luxury travel list is complete without a visit to the enchanting islands of Hawaii. Its exceptional beaches, rugged mountain ranges, and laid-back vibe set the stage for an unforgettable luxury holiday.

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Big Island offers private villas with pools and terraces, all nestled amid elegant artwork and white sand beaches.

The Kamehameha suite at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Oahu has seen stars like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, while the cliff-side NOBU LANAI restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai delivers world-class dining with breathtaking views.

Miami, Florida

Now, let’s not overlook Miami.

From luxury yachts to luxurious restaurants, Miami has you covered. Known for its beautiful people as well as its beautiful beaches, if you want to seen, Miami is your destination.

Star Island, the city’s wealthiest neighborhood, boasts an impressive roster of celebrity residents, while North Beach is a haven for high-end homes and ritzy condos.

And while you’re in the neighborhood, why not experience beach luxury at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club?

Los Angeles, California

Next on our luxury tour is Los Angeles, a city synonymous with glamour.

From shopping along Rodeo Drive in downtown Beverly Hills to catching a bite to eat at one of the many trendy, high end restaurants, luxury abounds around every corner in LA.

The Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, perched atop cliffs midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, offers a rustic luxury experience. The city’s iconic Beverly Hills is home to both the Beverly Hills Hotel and The Peninsula Beverly Hills, icons of opulence and style.

Montana

Taking a turn away from the vibrant cityscapes, Montana, often known as the Treasure State, brims with natural beauty and unspoiled landscapes, providing a perfect backdrop for some of the most luxurious experiences in the USA.

The Ranch at Rock Creek, nestled in one of Montana’s most pristine valleys, offers an authentic American West experience without compromising on luxury. If you’re wondering if glamping is right for you, this world-class hideaway balances rustic ranch living with lavish accommodations and service.

Guests can choose from rooms in the Granite Lodge, glamping cabins by the creek, or a multi-bedroom log home, all while having access to outdoor activities like horseback riding, fly fishing, and hiking in the summer or snowshoeing and ice skating in the winter. An on-site spa, gourmet dining experiences, and a five-star service staff add to the luxurious allure.

Just a stone’s throw away, Triple Creek Ranch offers a high-end, all-inclusive experience.

Nestled in the Bitterroot Mountains, it boasts private log cabins with a rustic elegance, hot tubs with mountain views, and exceptional dining experiences that highlight local ingredients and pairings with world-class wines. Guests can indulge in a variety of activities, from horseback riding to sapphire panning, all while basking in the splendor of their surroundings.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Known for luxury ski resorts, gourmet dining, and exclusive shopping, Jackson Hole offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and upscale living.

Outside of town, you’ll find the best day trips from Jackson Hole, including visits to Yellowstone. The town itself is home to high-end boutiques and exquisite dining options, as well as luxury accommodations, perfect for those who appreciate the finer things in life away from the hustle of the bigger cities..

Amangani, which translates to peaceful home, is an embodiment of its name. Perched high on a butte, it offers breathtaking views of the Grand Tetons and the Snake River Valley. Its suites blend modern comforts with rustic charm, and its wellness spa, heated outdoor pool, and fine dining options just add to the package.

Adding to Jackson Hole’s luxury accommodations is the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole.

This AAA Five-Diamond resort is in the heart of Teton Village, offering ski-in/ski-out access during winter and close proximity to Grand Teton National Park for summer activities. Its rooms and suites offer mountain views, and its amenities, including a full-service spa, three heated pools, and several high-end dining options, ensure a luxuriously comfortable stay for its guests.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is an enchanting city where historic charm meets modern luxury. With its well-preserved architecture, cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and an array of prestigious restaurants, it exudes an old-world charm that is hard to resist. Its historic district, especially the King Street, is a paradise for luxury shoppers, boasting high-end brands and antique stores.

Accommodations in Charleston are a reflection of its southern elegance. The Hotel Bennett, located on Charleston’s iconic King Street, redefines luxury in the city. Its grand design, upscale dining, a rooftop pool, and a luxurious spa provide a truly opulent experience for guests. The rooms and suites are tastefully designed, blending classic style with modern amenities.

The boutique Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston, part of the Autograph Collection, is an art-focused getaway in the heart of the Historic District. It boasts an on-site art gallery, a wine blending experience, farm-to-table dining at its Élevé restaurant, and chic, artfully designed rooms that offer the utmost comfort and sophistication. Its rooftop restaurant and bar provide stunning views of the city, adding to the luxurious experience.

Sante Fe, New Mexico

With its unique blend of cultures, Santa Fe offers luxury through its world-class art galleries, gourmet dining, and high-end spas. Santa Fe boasts luxury resorts that offer a serene and indulgent retreat.

The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe is set in 57 unspoiled acres tucked gently into the Sangre de Cristo foothills. It offers guests a tranquil and secluded escape with lavish casita-style rooms, a world-class spa, and a renowned Terra restaurant that showcases local flavors.

Alternatively, the recently restored Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection, located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rockies, provides a rustic yet luxurious escape. It offers a perfect blend of the natural beauty of the Southwest with the amenities of a world-class resort, including a top-notch spa, an artist-in-residence program, and horseback riding experiences.

The Hamptons

Finally, we end our journey in The Hamptons, a playground for wealthy New Yorkers. With its pristine beaches, designer shopping, and upscale restaurants, it’s a destination that effortlessly brings the luxury vacation experience full circle.

The Topping Rose House is a luxury, five-star hotel known for its blend of historic charm and modern elegance. Based in a 19th century mansion, one of its notable features is its full-service spa that provides a range of treatments designed to pamper and rejuvenate guests. The outdoor pool is another highlight, offering a serene space for relaxation and leisure.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Topping Rose House (@toppingrosehouse)

The Roundtree, Amagansett describes itself as a stylish escape from everyday life. It’s made up of a charmingly stylish wood-shingled main house and tastefully restored barn and cottages. The hotel is a finalist in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2023.

From the sun-kissed beaches of Miami and the historic charm of Charleston to the rugged beauty of Jackson Hole and the chic exclusivity of The Hamptons, luxury takes on many forms across the country.

Each of these destinations offers a distinct take on luxury, showcasing the diverse experiences available across the United States. So whether you’re a lover of urban sophistication, enjoy rustic elegance, or crave coastal serenity, you’re sure to find a luxury getaway in the USA that perfectly suits your tastes.

The truth is, the Amazon jungle is a giant ecosystem running through 9 countries in South America, and, though Brazil accounts for the largest share of it, it’s not the only way to experience the Amazon rainforest. Like more and more people are doing, we chose to see it while visiting Ecuador.

Honestly, the Amazon isn’t the first thing I think of when someone says Ecuador. My first thought of Ecuador is of the famed Galapagos Islands and that’s a shame, because Ecuador is a wonderful, accessible way to visit the mighty Amazon rain forest.

During our Amazon jungle tour in Ecuador, we saw almost everything we’d dreamed of in the Amazon, including monkeys, bids, piranha, plus plenty of exotic insects and creepy crawlies galore.

We visited the Amazon as a family of four, with our two kids, ages eight and eleven, so we wanted to stay somewhere comfortable for the kids (and honestly, comfortable for us as well).

We wanted to be able to do all the activities we dreamed of and still have a clean shower at the end of the day. We also wanted good food and a comfortable bed, so we chose to stay three nights/four days at the highly rated La Selva Lodge (see reviews on TripAdvisor here). La Selva included transportation, all activities, and gourmet meals, but did not include airfare from Ecuador’s capital city, Quito (though that can be arranged).

Click here to see La Selva Lodge prices and availability.

First, I’ll tell you all about our Ecuador Amazon Tour. Spoiler – it includes blow darts, monkeys, jungle hikes, and even piranhas! If you’re interested in checking out the food and our room, scroll down or click here to skip directly to our review of La Selva Lodge Ecuador.

Our Ecuador Amazon Tour

Our four night Amazon tour at La Selva Lodge definitely kept us busy from the very beginning, when we arrived at the lodge in a dugout canoe (you can read our journey into the Amazon here) via tranquil Heron Lake (it’s also known as Garzacocha Lake).

La Selva Lodge is located deep in the jungle, about an hour plane ride from Quito to the small town of Coca (also called Puerto Francisco de Orellana), followed by an almost two hour journey on a motorized canoe, a 10 minute walk through the rain forest, and then a half hour paddle in a dugout canoe down a small creek and then across Heron Lake to the Lodge.

La Selva itself is located deep in the Amazon basin, on a tranquil lake that’s connected to the Amazon River system. The Lodge is a stone’s throw from Yasuni National Park, which is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. At La Selva Amazon Eco Lodge, they take care of all the excursions with in-house guides so there’s no need to book another company for activities.

During our  stay, we hiked through the surrounding rainforest, fished for piranha, spotted birds from a 100 foot treetop canopy tower, took a night paddle and even took a night hike through the awakening jungle. When we were done, we relaxed in our fully equipped cabana. We saw more wildlife than I thought possible, including monkeys, birds, black caimans, butterflies, amphibians, insects, and tarantulas.

Tip! We visited independently, but you can also visit La Selva Ecolodge as part of an all inclusive La Selva Lodge tour with G Adventures. The G Adventures tour includes flights from Quito and other transportation, as well as the standard La Selva package of accommodation, activities and gourmet meals. See prices and availability on G Adventures.

All of our jungle activities were guided by both an English speaking guide (the incredibly knowledgeable Daniel) and a local native guide (patient and helpful Medardo, who grew up a stone’s throw away from the Lodge in a local tribe). As a family with two kids, we wanted to make sure that we were in good hands in the jungle. Both Daniel and Medardo were attentive, knowledgeable, careful, and a lot of fun.

With two kids in tow, fishing for piranha was high on our must do list.

Our native guide Medardo prepared traditional bamboo fishing poles, and loaded us up with raw meat as bait, and we set out in a dugout canoe.

It was definitely unnerving to see how the raw meat bait disappeared from our hooks within a matter of seconds!

In the end, we ended up reeling in several piranha, most of them less than six inches long, but a few larger than our heads (eek!). Our guide, Daniel, even caught a catfish.

One of our day trips took us to a local Amazon tribes village (the Pilchi village). We spent most of the afternoon there, learning about their way of life, eating food prepared by the local women, and learning about how they use local plants and animals. Stay tuned, as we’ll be writing an entire new article about our time at the local Amazon tribe!

While the whole trip was memorable, our son Cole especially loved the chance to try his hand at using an authentic blow dart gun. Traditionally, the men of the Pilchi tribe used the poison tipped blow dart, to take down wildlife to eat. Our darts, of course, weren’t poisonous but we did enjoy testing out our aim regardless.

Medardo, our local guide, was taught how to use the blow dart by his father who was one of the last of his tribe to use the blow dart as an everyday hunting tool. They had very strict rules on who could use a blow dart and when, so it was a special treat that we had an official expert with us on our trip.

Another one of the highlights of staying at La Selva was climbing to the top of their own 10 story observation tower, deep in the heart of the jungle.

On our first attempt to climb the tower, we were surprised by a booming thunderstorm during our walk. Luckily, Daniel and Medardo had thought to equip us in comfy rubber boots and rain ponchos. They even had boots and ponchos to fit the kids, though if your little one is younger than Jordan (age eight), you may want to bring a raincoat for them. The smallest poncho was pretty big on her.

We chose not to climb the tower that morning because of possible high winds and lightning, and instead went back later in the day when the storm had eased however it highlighted the fact that when you’re in the rainforest, sometimes it’s going to rain.

Despite its location deep in the jungle, the observation walk was only about 10 minutes away from the lodge. When we made it back when the weather cleared, we were greeted with this view from the top of the observation tower. It felt like we could see all the way back to Quito!

During all of our hikes and activities, it was only the four of us and our two guides. This is the standard at La Selva Lodge, with one or two guides per group of four or five people.

That ratio meant that we got a personalized introduction to the rain forest, which was perfect as our English speaking naturalist guide Daniel was patient with the kids’ questions and quick to change our schedule if the weather or an opportunity presented itself.

For the most part, we walked on raised platforms and paths through the jungle, although some of the trails were on dirt. All of the trails were well marked, though I was glad to have guides along to guide us home!

Parrot Clay Lick

One of the most unique experiences we had at La Selva was visiting the exposed clay riverbank where brightly colored parrots gather to eat clay every day. The parrot clay lick is inside Yasuni National Park along the fast and large Napo River. The clay apparently neutralizes toxins in many of the nuts and foods the birds eat and the three species of parrot common to the area gather in large groups in the mornings to digest the clay.

From La Selva, visiting the clay lick is a 10 minute motorized canoe ride as well as the 15 minute paddle up the lake and down the creek to get to La Selva’s Rio Napo dock.

We did have to wait about 15 minutes before the birds appeared, but we saw well over 30 parrots. The majority of the parrots we saw were green Mealy Amazon Parrots, but the Blue-headed Parrot and Yellow-crowned Amazon Parrot also visit the salt lick and they could be seen in the surrounding trees.

If you’re really lucky, you’ll see hundreds of parrots at one time.

We spent a lot of time in the water on our Amazon tour in Ecuador. La Selva’s lake Heron is connected to the mighty Napo River by a small creek and many tributaries. We paddled along on the water, watching monkeys scurry overhead, birds flying through the trees, and even saw large black caiman crocodiles lounging along the shore.

In addition to scheduled and guided excursions like jungle hikes, piranha fishing and visiting the local indigenous community, the lodge offers many independent activities. If you’re so inclined, you can take one of the canoes or kayaks out on the lake, grab a massage, or even enjoy a yoga class on the water.

Charles was the only one brave enough (or is it crazy enough? I’m not sure) to do this, but you can even swim off the dock at La Selva. You’ll be swimming with caimans, electric eels and piranhas, so use caution!

We all had a fantastic time during our family yoga class. Daphne, our yoga instructor, gives personalized or group classes in the Gazebo overlooking the lake. Our class was aimed to entertain the kids, but you can also get classes customized to your needs.

Wildlife in the Ecuadorian Amazon

La Selva Lodge is perched beside Yasuni National Park, which is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and home to millions of species of plants, birds, insects and mammals.

We were lucky enough to see several monkey species in the park, including black capuchin monkeys, white-fronted capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys.

Yasuni is home to at least 596 bird species. We didn’t quite see all 596 species, but we did see so many that I lost track. Our favorite place to bird watch was up in the lodge’s observation platform above the restaurant and lounge. From there, we could look over the lake and into trees in the surrounding jungle.

The lodge had some quality binoculars and equipment for bird watching, which made it fun and easy. The trees were honestly teeming with birds like toucans, parrots and the comical hoatzin (which locals call the stinky turkey).

\

This is truly the wild, so experiencing and seeing animals is really up to nature. La Selva was fantastic about getting us out to see local wildlife, and took us on canoe rides, and nature walks, including a night walk through the jungle. Our english speaking naturalist, Daniel, was very informative on each species we saw and Medardo, our native guide, knew exactly how to close we could get without scaring it away or being in danger.

During our night walk, we saw a tailless scorpion, two tarantulas (one in a tree, and another in a ground burrow), and plenty of frogs and other invertebrates.

If creepy crawlies aren’t your thing, we also saw a tiny (and adorable) little opossum, plenty of birds, and a troupe of Capuchin monkeys that night. The monkeys were a bit feisty, throwing stuff at us from above, including bean pods they’d just eaten. They would eat the sweet white fluff around the beans, and then throw down the bean and pod.

Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park is also home to countless plant species. Everywhere we looked, the jungle was covered in lush green, and a profusion of flowers, ferns, and orchids.

At home in Canada, we only see the bird of paradise flower in high-end, expensive florists. Here in the jungle in Ecuador, they grew wild almost everywhere.

During our visit to the local Pilchi tribe’s village, the village women showed us crops they grew for food, as well as local jungle plants shamans use for medicine.

A Review of La Selva Lodge

Just being in the Amazon itself is a bit of a trial, as it can get oppressively humid and hot, and plenty of activity can quickly lead to heatstroke. We had our children with us, so we wanted to stay someplace where we could be comfortable, with a cool place to rest, as well as decent food. La Selva delivered that in spades, and more.

From the start, when the La Selva team met us in the Quito airport with boarding passes already printed out, helped check our luggage, and handed us a gift for each of the kids, we knew we were in good hands.

The La Selva Lodge is a big place, with private bungalows dotting spacious, landscaped grounds, surrounded by jungle on all sides.

From our cabin, it was a two minute walk to the secluded spa with its outdoor Jacuzzi, and a short 30 second hop to the main building with a large restaurant, viewing area, lounge and dock.

We had a family suite, with a king bed in one one room and two double beds in another. Outside, we had a private porch, hammock and a sunken tub in the deck. The rooms had a lot of nice little extras, from a dry box to keep electronics free of moisture, to mosquito netting over all the beds. There was also a washroom with double sinks and warm showers.

Meals at La Selva

Our stay at La Selva included all meals and snacks. Dinner, supper and breakfast are served at specific hours, but there are light snacks available from friendly Marcello, the bartender, any time of day.

Breakfast our first day started things off right, with a delicious fruit plate, cheese and meat plate, tiny corn tamales in corn husks, coffee, tart orange juice, pineapple juice and an offer of eggs.

We especially loved the chef’s willingness to accommodate us, as me and the kids are vegetarians. They were happy to whip up kid-friendly veggie meals, and asked us what we’d like best.

They also offered up great fish and meat meals which Charles was thankful for after early days and long nights hiking and going on adventures.

They also offered some great desserts which everyone was thankful for.

Weather: We went in early March, and found it warm and with humidity never dropping below 80% any time. When it rained, which it did at some point every day, the humidity got even higher. I set out some pants to dry from a walk one night, and in the morning they were wetter from the overnight humidity than they’d been the day before. Damp everything is pretty standard Amazon rainforest fare so pack accordingly. That said, the staff at La Selva does offer a laundry service.

Bugs: Well, it is the Amazon jungle, so there are bugs. Surprisingly, we found that there weren’t a lot of mosquitoes when we visited in March. Charles was surprised that there were way fewer mosquitoes in the Amazon jungle than in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba however it’s still a good idea to bring mosquito repellent, especially on the night walk. We also didn’t find any creepy crawlies in our room, much to our eight year old daughter’s relief and each bed has a netting that we made sure we used.

WiFi: Yes, there is WiFi at the lodge. The WiFi is via satellite, so it’s enough to check email, but don’t count on streaming Netflix or uploading your photos with La Selva Lodge Ecuador WiFi.

Hot water: There are hot water showers. We did have our hot water go out once, but we told the front desk, and they had it up and running in a couple of hours.

Drinking water: La Selva gets its water from an underground well. There’s filtered drinking water available at all times in the main lounge, and they bring a pitcher of filtered water to your room every day. Guests are also given personal refillable water bottles to use while they stay at the lodge.

Location: The La Selva Amazon Ecolodge is in Ecuador’s Amazon region, bordering Yasuni National Park and the mighty Napo River. To get to it you need to get to Coca where they’ll take you down the Rio Napo River for a few hours to their private docks and then you need to take a canoe up a small creek and across the Garzacocha (Heron) Lake.

La Selva Lodge reviews: Click here to see reviews for La Selva EcoLodge Ecuador.

How to Book La Selva: You can book La Selva Lodge through Booking.com or compare prices on TripAdvisor here.

Click now to see prices and availability.

G Adventures La Selva Lodge Amazon Adventure: We visited independently, but you can also visit La Selva Ecolodge as part of an all inclusive La Selva Lodge tour with G Adventures. The G Adventures tour includes flights from Quito and other transportation, as well as the standard La Selva package of accommodation, activities and gourmet meals.

See prices and availability on G Adventures.

We were careening through Quito’s busy morning traffic, worn out from long flights and short days, when Cristina talked about her very favorite place to relax just outside the city.

It sounded like a dream: A nice hotel, dozens of hot pools and a world class spa overlooking a small village, high in the lush cloud forest of the Andes only an hour east of Quito.

Take a private tour from Quito.

Flash forward a few days, and our little family of four were soaking in the hot spring pools at Hotel Termas de Papallacta Ecuador, surrounded by verdant mountain slopes, hummingbirds, and tropical flowers. We know a good hot spring resort when we find one and Termas Papallacta definitely belongs in that category.

Check prices and availability now.

Termas de Papallacta Hotel, sometimes called Papallacta Hot Springs Resort or Termas Papallacta, is located in the small Ecuadorian town of Papallacta, in the Andes of South America. It’s at a whopping elevation of 10,800 feet (3,300 meters). In comparison, Denver, Colorado is a mere 5,400 feet (1,645 meters).

Tip! Because of the extremely high elevation in Papallacta, be mindful of elevation sickness. If possible, try to leave a day or so to acclimate to the elevation in Quito before you visit.

We arrived on a cool, rainy day midweek in February, which was really the perfect time to take in the magic of this place.

Hotel Termas de Papallacta Ecuador Review

Below you’ll find our Termas Papallacta hotel review, including a look at our room, the public pools, the spa, the spa’s hot pools, the resorts private hot pools, the restaurants, and even information on hikes around Papallacta.

Check prices and reviews.

Contents – Click any of the following links to skip directly to that area

• Rooms
• The public hot pools
• The spa hot pools
• Private hot pools
• Restaurants
• Spa
• Hikes around Termas Papallacta
• Location, price and other necessities

The hot pools at Termas Papallacta

All of the hot pools at Hotel Termas de Papallacta sit at the base of lush mountains high in the Andes. In total, there are dozens of pools and hot tubs, with water of varying temperatures, that range from swimming pool size to intimate pools for only a few people. Unlike most natural hot pools, there is little to no sulfur smell around the pools or the resort!

That said, there are essentially three types of hot pools at Termas Papallacta:

• the public hot pools for day guests (included free of charge with your room)
• the exclusive spa hot pools, available to hotel guests (15% off for guests) and the public (higher fee than the public pools)
• guest only private hot pools located outside the family cottages and scattered around the main hotel

We’ll give you a detailed overview of all the hot pools below however first we’ll talk a bit about the grounds and our room.

The grounds at Termas Papallacta

The expansive grounds around the resort alone are reason enough to visit Papallacta. The grounds are painstakingly cultivated, with lush vegetation and tropical flowers overflowing every nook.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get a peek at some of the native animals, including hummingbirds, the spectacled bear, pikas, the mountain tapir, and even a small native wild cat called the Pampas cat. When we were there we saw a small rabbit, hopping along by one of the private pools, and an otter by the river, along with plenty of hummingbirds and butterflies.

Rooms at the Hotel Termas de Papallacta Ecuador

The resort has accommodations for everyone from single travelers to couples, to families and groups of friends.

We stayed in a family bungalow, which was just across the creek from the lobby. It was only about 100 meters from the main lodge, but felt far enough to feel like a private oasis.

To get to the family bungalows, you cross the road from the main lobby and drive over a small, covered wooden bridge that passes over a small rushing creek. The gate is often closed however there is always someone around to open it if you’re coming or going.

Our place was a two story cabin with a sitting room, a spacious bathroom and a master bedroom with it’s own well appointed en suite bathroom on the main floor. Upstairs, in the loft, was another four single beds.

All of the beds were comfortable, with plenty of spare blankets and pillows. They even provided a space heater for the upper level, which we appreciated to help keep the kids extra toasty up in the loft at night.

Since we visited on an especially cool weekend in February, we truly appreciated the heated water running under the travertine covered floors. That’s right, complete in floor heating! Some cabins even feature fireplaces and a sunken tub.

There were lots of little touches, from purified water in a big water cooler with plenty of glasses, to soft robes and fluffy towels for poolside use and comfy slippers. Outside, we had our own little patio with table and chairs off the side of our family cabin. There was even private parking.

I was surprised the free WiFi worked so well in the cabins, and was fast enough to work with. Now, it wasn’t lightning fast, but it was usable, and I thought that was a big win in a small town high in the mountains in Ecuador.

Probably my favorite part of the family cabin were the private hot pools just outside our cabin door. 

The resort has two small clusters of bungalows, and each cluster of bungalows has its own exclusive thermal water pools for guests. We shared our pools with only a handful of other bungalows, and we often went outside to find we had all of the pools entirely to ourselves.

Check room prices.

If a family bungalow is too big for you, Papallacta Hot Springs Resort has standard rooms, with two doubles or one king bed, as well as rooms with king bed and a Jacuzzi next to the main lodge.

There are also suite cabins perfect for couples or a small family (three people max) with king beds, small sofa beds, fireplaces, and in floor heating.

The Termas Papallacta has also just started a new bed and breakfast option, which allows access to the public pools, along with a more modest room and breakfast.

Find information on rooms and prices.

Tip! Hotel Guests get a 15% discount on spa services.

The public hot pools at Termas de Papallacta

Besides for the guest only private pools, Termas Papallacta resort has two types of hot pools for day visitors – the public hot pools or public baths as they’re often called (which we’ll talk about here) and the exclusive hot pools available at the Spa (we talk about those a little later).

There’s a lot of confusion online about the cost to access the public baths at Termas Papallacta resort, with most reports mistakenly quoting prices to access the exclusive spa hot pools, which are more expensive than the public thermal baths. The confusion comes from the fact that the public can pay to access two separate areas of the Termas Papallacta: the main public baths (which are less expensive, but lovely), and the exclusive spa area baths.

Access to the public spas is free if you’re a guest of the Termas Papallacta resort. Check resort prices here.

If you’re not staying at the hotel, there’s a modest charge for tickets to the main thermal baths at Termas Papallacta.

• Adults $8.50 USD
• Kids age 3 to 11 are $4 USD
• Children under 3 are free
• Seniors (over age 65) and special needs are $4.00 USD

Hours at the public hot pools are 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.

To get to the public hot pools, go past the lovely Termas de Papallacta Spa Resort main building, and you’ll find the public pools on your left, across from the large parking lot. The entrance to the public hot pools is under the sign that says Balneario (translated, this roughly means waterside resort in Spanish).

You’ll pay at the ticket entrance building or show your hotel wristband for free access. Towels cost $1 with a $5 deposit however, if you stay in the resort, towels are provided for free. Staff will pass you a sizable wicker basket to hold towels and other belongings.

Most people just throw all their belongings in the baskets and carry them everywhere they go however once you get inside there are lockers you can rent for the day that are more secure.

Once you pass the ticket booth, you then walk over a small bridge and a rushing stream to access the pools. You’ll also pass a small building with medical staff on hand in case of emergencies.

Once inside the gate, there’s 10 hot pools of varying temperatures to enjoy, grouped into three main areas.

When you first walk in, you’ll see the main pool on the right, which is kept at a moderately warm temperature, and is large enough to double as a swimming pool. This pool is one of the best for children since the water isn’t too hot and there’s plenty of space for them to play in. It’s also a great spot to lounge in since you won’t overheat and there are numerous jets everywhere.

Off to the left is another section of three more hot pools and a plunge pool.

Straight ahead, you’ll find a restaurant and snack shop before the washrooms, showers and lockers.

Just past the restaurants are another set of pools up a small hill. You’ll find the hottest public pools at Papallacta are on the top hill. As such, you won’t find many children there.

For the brave, there’s three cool plunge pools around the property. All are filled with icy cold green river water and are a hyper fast way to cool down.

Tip: Staff seem to be constantly draining and refilling the hot pools. If you find the pool you want is empty, just show up again in a few hours and it’ll probably be up and running again.

Restaurants inside the public Papallacta hot pool area

Aside from the main restaurant in the hotel’s main building, and a fancier restaurant in the exclusive Spa, there is a smaller restaurant and snack bar located in the public hot pools area of Termas Papallacta.

The Pumamaki restaurant and the Kiosco snack bar are side by side in the center of the public hot pools.

Kiosco Snack Bar

The Kiosco snack bar sells snacks like hot dogs, nachos, chips and crackers plus drinks and gifts like Termas Papallacta themed shirts and towels. You can also pick up sunscreen and a few other toiletries here. There’s a nice terrace outside, and you order from the front counter.

Pumamaki Restaurant

The Pumamaki restaurant offers sit-down service, with seats inside and on the terrace outside. You can get breakfast, lunch and dinner here. There’s a six page menu with a wide selection, including the fresh trout that’s famous in Papallacta as well as sandwiches and Ecuadorian style soups (be sure to try the Locro de la Casa/Potato soup with cheese), salads, grilled steak, plus desserts, drinks, and wines. There’s also a kids menu.

Restaurant prices in the public thermal baths area of Papallacta run about $9 USD for a economic set menu to $14 USD for a compete set menu, which includes appetizer, dessert and main course.

Tip: There’s also a public accessible restaurant in the main building as well as a restaurant in the Spa area.

Termas Papallacta Spa

Termas Papallacta’s spa is tucked away just past the main building on the right. The spa offers a suite of luxurious treatments, plus at least eight exclusive hot pools.

Spa pools cost $22 for adults, $14.50 for children, and $11 for seniors. Spa hot pool access is not included in hotel rates, however, as a guest of the resort, you get 15% off all spa services.

Tip: If you happen to visit Papallacta during a busy time, we’d highly recommend paying extra for access to the quieter, exclusive spa hot pools.

The spa offers a range of spa treatments, from private Jacuzzi baths to chocolate or mud wraps, to relaxing massages. Prices are quite reasonable by North American standards, at about $69 for a 60 minute deep body massage, or $60 for a hot stone massage. There are also individual thermal Jacuzzis and steam baths at the Thermal Grotto available for about $12.

The Spa hot pools are much quieter than the public baths, and we didn’t see any children here, other than a young girl of around 12 or 13.

We were lucky enough to enjoy a steam bath at the Thermal Grotto, which left both of us completely relaxed and utterly spent.

There’s also a restaurant in the Spa area. It was closed when we visited, but the views over the private spa hot pools are gorgeous.

Main Restaurant: Termas de Papallacta Restaurant

The main restaurant is in the main building just behind the lobby, and it serves delicious food (if slightly expensive for Ecuador). That said, we thought dining there was well worth the money, and found that compared to Canadian or American prices, the food was fairly moderately priced for the quality.

The restaurant at Termas de Papallacta has a good selection of American style food, including pastas, seafood, fish and plenty of Ecuadorian specialties. We ate here for lunch and dinner for two days in a row, and found plenty of delicious food to keep us happy.

There’s also a buffet breakfast available every morning as well as a set menu for those that want something special.

Our eleven year old loved the traditional Ecuadorian potato and cheese soup, which was comforting and warm in the cool mountain climate.

I tried a traditional soup of palm hearts, popcorn and plantain chips. It was delicious, and served cold, which I wasn’t expecting, with a burst of fresh flavor. I think the closest thing I’ve ever tried is gazpacho.

If you’re a seafood fan, be sure to try the trout, which is locally, and sustainably, farmed. None of us are big seafood fans, so we didn’t try it, but other diners told us that it was fresh and flavorful, and one of the best items on the menu.

We also really loved the pesto pastas, and the restaurant kindly made a butter pasta for our eight year old, which she devoured every night.

Note: You can also eat at the Pumamaki restaurant and the Kiosco snack bar inside the public hot pools area. Check out the info on the public hot pools above for more info on them.

Hiking and Guided Walks at Termas Papallacta

Termas Papallacta has an area called the Exploratori (or alternatively, The Terra Foundation or Exploratory Center), where you can book a guided walking tour, and camping spots. You can find it to the the right of the public baths.

The center is open 8 am to 5 pm.

Tip! When we were there in February mid-week it seemed to be closed down, but other readers have said it was open for them. It may be best to ask at the front desk for information.

The center can give you information about plants and animals, with four different trail options and a native tour guide. Guided tours range from $2 USD to $6 USD, and a tent camping spot at Papallacta Resort is $6 USD a night. You can even arrange longer treks, horseback riding and rafting. Ask about treks to the Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve.

There’s also a self guided trail called the Sendero de la Isla along the Papallacta river. The trail starts next to the public pools (Balneario), and takes about an hour and a half to navigate. You’ll walk over several small foot bridges, and have the chance to see llamas and other wildlife, along with the stunning cloud forest scenery.

Getting to Papallacta Hot Springs in Ecuador

Papallacta is about a 45 minute drive from Quito’s airport, and about an hour from Quito’s city center.

There are several ways to get to Papallacta, including renting a car, taking the bus, grabbing a taxi, or taking a tour that includes transportation.

Rent a car

We rented a car to get to Papallacta. It’s a 40 mile (73 km) drive on windy roads, and mostly uphill, with some steep grades (maximum posted speed was 60 km most of the way). The road is newly paved and generally in good condition, and the scenery is stunning. When we visited mid-week in February, there was very little traffic on the road however there was fog in places.

When you arrive in Papallacta, head left through town and up the hill to get to the resort.

If you drive, watch carefully as we saw a few major potholes on the highway due to recent rains. These were big enough to do some major damage to a car however most were well marked.

Quito is also a challenging city to drive in, as many intersections aren’t well signed, and we found that our Google Maps GPS didn’t have many of the new roads marked. That said, roads were generally in great condition and newly paved.

Based on our experience, we found driving to Papallacta quite easy but personally wouldn’t recommend renting a vehicle from Thrifty Car Rental Ecuador Quito Shyris Ecuador. It gets a 1.6 of 5.0 Google rating for a reason.

They charged us more than our reservation, said they didn’t have the car we reserved in stock, and gave us a horrible tiny car that barely fit our luggage and us, and could only get up to 30 km/hour on many of the uphill sections on the highway to Papallacta. They also threw on a condition at the end (just as we paid) that we couldn’t drive the car in Quito during rush hour. Luckily, this fit our schedule, but is a little ridiculous. Other Thrifty locations in Quito get pretty bad reviews on Google as well.

We did find some good reviews for Sixt Rental Cars in Quito on Google, so we’ll try them the next time we’re in Quito.

Check Sixt rental prices here.

Public Bus

You can take a public bus from Quito to Papallacta for around $3.00 each way. Since bus schedules change all the time, it’s best to do a search just before you go. That said, you should be able to catch any bus going to Coca, Lago Agrio, Tena or Puyo and get off at Papallacta. Just be sure to ask if you can get dropped off in Papallacta when you buy your ticket, and confirm your drop off with the driver.

Local buses in Ecuador are much easier to manage if you speak at least a bit of Spanish. In Papallacta itself, you’ll need to pay another $3 or so to get a ride up the hot springs on one of the communal truck taxis. Getting down you can get the hotel to call a taxi for you and they should also be able to help you arrange bus transportation back to Quito.

Taxi or shuttle

You can get to Papallacta by taxi or shuttle, and it should cost about $50 USD per way, but you’ll need to find a driver willing to wait for several hours while you enjoy the hot springs.

It may be easier and cheaper to get a tour instead with a reputable company like Viator. Tours start at around $85 USD for return transportation and a private guide. Check tour prices here.

Papallacta hot springs tour

The easiest way to get to Papallacta is to go with a tour. Reputable tour companies like Viator have day tours starting at around $60, with more luxurious tours with hotel pickup at around $136.

Check prices for day trips to Papallacta here.

Viator also has some fantastic combo tours, including a tour that lets you stay overnight in a private cabin at the Termas Papallacta, with a visit to the nearby Antisana Volcano. Click here for more info and prices. If you’d like to see the Amazon as well as the Andes, there’s a seven day private Amazon and Andes adventure tour as well (check prices here).

What I really like about the Viator tours is that many of the tours offer free cancellation, so you can get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance if you cancel.

Click this link to find more tours with things to do and see in Quito.

Should I do a day trip to Papallacta, or stay the night?

We’d highly recommend staying the night at the Papallacta Hot Springs Resort if you can find the time. It’s a magical experience to stay on site, and you’ll get to experience much more of the resort than if you just stay the day. You’ll also get to experience the private pools at night and early morning.

Check prices and availability here.

How to book Termas de Papallacta hotel

You can book Termas de Papallacta directly with the hotel, or on hotel booking sites. Check prices and availability now.

Check reviews on Expedia or TripAdvisor.

Looking for something different?

See homes and condos for rent on vrbo.

Tip: Termas Papallacta, and the rest of Ecuador, use the US Dollar as currency.

Where is Termas Papallacta hot springs resort?

Fun fact: The name Papallacta translates from papa (potato) in Spanish and llacta (town) in Quichua. The town was originally known for, as you can probably guess, growing potatoes. Today, Papallacta is best known for its luxurious thermal spas, and for producing a significant portion of the water supply for Ecuador’s capital, Quito.

Papallacta is located about an hour drive East of Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, high up in the Andes mountains. Quito is the world’s highest official capital city, at an elevation of 9,350 ft (2,850 meters), and, with over 7 million residents, has daily international flights from all corners of the world. This modern South American city is also a great gateway to the Galapagos Islands and excursions into the Amazon.

I feel like I’m leaving old friends.

I’ve slept at the Marival Residences Luxury Resort for only four nights, but it feels like a second home. Maybe it was the friendly smiles, the relaxed vibe, my enormous suite, the pools, or even the long, expansive swath of sand and sea. Maybe it was everything.

Tip! Want to check prices and availability? You can book on the Marival Residences website, where they often have exclusive deals, or check reviews on TripAdvisor.

Sigh… When can I come back?

But let’s go back to the beginning, when I first arrived from Canada, weary from my flight …

“Welcome!” I stepped out of the taxi and smiled at the cheerful bellboys. From the instant I arrived there was one constant: gracious, attentive, friendly, service. It’s the difference between an ordinary stay and feeling like you’ve come home.

About the resort

Marival Residences Luxury Resort is a four star diamond all-inclusive luxury resort, with spacious one to four bedroom residences, unlimited gourmet dining, free tours, golf, and a VP beach club.

It’s located is in the heart of Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit. Riviera Nayarit is a 200-mile stretch along Mexico’s Pacific coast, packed with lovely beach towns, colonial history, and what seems like an endless swath of beach.

Want to learn more? Check out our article on what do do in the Riviera Nayarit, with 23 wonderful experiences, from visiting the bustling surfing town of Sayuilta, to checking out the idyllic vibe of San Pancho, to snorkeling the aquamarine waters of Marietas Islands (where you can see birds like blue-footed boobies of Galapagos Islands fame).

My stay at the Marival Residences Luxury Resort

My first impression of my room was that it felt like I’d arrived home. Well, at an impeccably stylish and modern home.

You won’t find a typical hotel room here. At Marival Residences Luxury Resort, all accommodation is in residential-style suites. All rooms have spacious terraces with garden, pool, or ocean views. Bedrooms have flat-screen TVs with premium satellite channels (not that I had much time to watch TV; I was too busy playing in the pools and eating at the restaurants).

There’s free WiFi Internet access throughout the hotel. I had great luck with my connection, which rarely dropped, and worked reliably in my room and all throughout the resort.

My suite had a full kitchen and dining area with all the comfort of home, including a washer and dryer. The fridge was stocked with water, soft drinks and beer. The bathroom featured a rain shower, double sinks, a deep soaker tub, and high-end L’Occitane toiletries.

Did I mention the bathrobes, pillow menu and personalized turn-down service?

During my stay, one of my favorite things to do was to sit on my spacious private balcony, and watch the sun dip into the Pacific Ocean.

This is the lush tropical forest view from the back of the resort, facing away from the ocean. I loved this, especially since it meant that the resort is quiet and free of noise from passing cars.

What you’ll get with the all-inclusive package

The all-inclusive includes accommodation, gourmet meals, snacks and beverages in restaurants and bars (scroll down for details about restaurants and food). Entertainment, sports and tours are also included.

Alcohol was a cut above most all inclusive resorts, with national and international brands available, and tasty cocktails and wine.

You also have complete access to the facilities and restaurants at Marival Resort & Suites sister property, which is a short three minute ride away.

There’s too much to list that’s included with the all-inclusive package, including nanny services. You can find more details here.

Tours and sports

Each guest gets one FREE tour per person, per stay, arranged through your concierge. Tours include a world-class catamaran boat ride, a canopy river tour, and a city tour of Puerto Vallarta, plus more.

There’s a tennis court on site, with free lessons available.

Pools and jacuzzis

The adults-only pool is the perfect place to grab a quiet dip, while the family pool is perfect for families.

There’s full food and drink service by the pool, making it a fantastic place to spend the afternoon.

A special thanks to Felix, who took such great care to all of us poolside!

In a quiet corner, and easy to miss, I found one of my favorite spots to relax in the evening: the Jacuzzi.

The all-inclusive package also lets you access pools at Marival Resort and Suites sister property.

VIP Beach Club 

Before I arrived, I was a little concerned that the resort wasn’t directly on the ocean. I’m a huge water lover, and I was worried I’d miss being oceanfront.

Turns out, that wasn’t a problem. Getting to the VIP beach club, which is exclusively for guests of Marival Residences, was just a three minute shuttle.

I took the shuttle five or six times, and there was a driver waiting at the door each time.

The Beach Club is on a long, sweeping expanse of sand, with plenty of lounge chairs and sun beds. There were moist towels, cool water and a fruit drink at the front entrance, with personalized service to bring drinks and food to your beach chair.

Golf

If you’re a golf fan, you get a special green fee deal at these three courses.

• Vista Vallarta Golf Course, home of the EMC World Cup in 2002, and the 2006 PGA Seniors Tours at Puerto Vallarta
• Tom Weiskopf Golf course
• Jack Nicklaus

You pay an access fee of $69 USD, meaning a savings of up to $135 USD off the regular price.

Wedding

I think this is a fabulous deal for those thinking of a destination wedding. When you stay with the Marival Residences Luxury Resort all-inclusive plan, you get a $2,000 USD wedding package included at no cost.

Family amenities

It was just me on this trip, so I didn’t get a chance to try out the children’s amenities. There’s quite a lot for the kiddos here, including a nanny service, an on-site playground, kid’s splash area, family pool and kid-friendly restaurant menus, and extensive entertainment options at the sister resort.

I was really excited to see the Family Emotion package, which has to be, hands-down, the most appealing family package I’ve seen at any resort. Since I was there by myself, I didn’t get a chance to try it, but know my family would love it!

Family Emotion program

The all-Inclusive Family Emotion program is an optional program geared just for families. It includes a lot of goodies, all which are customized specially for your family’s needs.

• exclusive family concierge
• welcome basket of healthy and sweet snacks
• bundle of beach and pool toys, and other vacation essentials
• a FREE activity for every person, PLUS a free second family tour
• a basket of bath and beyond pampering essentials for Mom
• a spa saver discount
• family picnic
• specialized family concierge service
• entertainment items, including Xbox consoles and games, DVD players, movies, electronics, land games, water toys and more
• a professional photo shoot, with a photo album and CD, plus a gift card to develop prints when you’re at home

Melange World Spa

Any great resort needs a world-class spa, right? Well, the Melange World Spa at Marival Residences Luxury Resort definitely fits that description. Melange offers specialized therapies from around the world based on the origin and traditions of spa history.

At Melange, you can enjoy a specialized World Spa Experience from Mexico, Italy, Japan, Turkey, Russia, Bali, India, Thailand, or the USA. Each spa is unique, and based on the spa history and culture for which it’s named.

The Italy Vendimia Wine Experience starts with a wine therapy bath in an original wooden barrel, where you enjoy a wine tasting, followed by a full body relaxing massage.

The India Shirodhara Spa Experience includes a Shirodhara treatment with herbal oil that is poured in a steady stream onto your third eye, and a gentle scalp massage to help relax the nervous system. All of this is done on a traditional wooden table (with padding to make it comfortable!) imported from India. Following the oil treatment, there’s an Abhyanga therapy whole body massage with warm herbal oils, followed by a steaming hot water bath in a luxurious copper tub.

Each of the other massages are uniquely customized to the area of the world where it originated. The Mexico Agave treatment (which I was lucky to enjoy) featured a facial and body wrap with the native agave plant, cacao, honey, aloe vera, and mayan mud, with a facial and body exfoliation and a light body massage. There’s also a specialized couples massage, or a men’s wellness & renewal treatment.

Melange also offers traditional spa treatments, including facials and hand and foot treatments.

Wine tasting

I had the pleasure of enjoying a private wine tasting at Brunello Lobby Wine Bar, which is something new at the Marival Residences Luxury Resort. It was definitely the perfect evening after a tough afternoon at the spa.

My wine tasting featured Mexican wines, produced in Casa Madero Cellars. Casa Madero is a five century old winery (established in 1597), which is considered the oldest in North America).

I’m lucky enough to live in Kelowna the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada, which is one of world’s best wine regions to visit. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting many of our local, award-winning wineries, and I was impressed with the quality of many of the Casa Madero wines.

Pairing menu:

• Casa Madero Chardonay 2015, elaborates with organic grapes – Brie cheese toast with xoconostle jam
• Casa Madero Cabernet Sauvignon Pink V – Zarandeado shrimp toast with local organic tomatillos
• Casa Madero 3V 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo – Sliced tuna scented with regional chili
• Casa Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 – Slow-cooked duck sope (fried corn dough) with avocado sauce
• Casa Madero Shiraz 2011 – Chicken taco with pineapple and chocolate mole

I’m vegetarian, and Chef Alfredo and Brunello also provided delicious vegetarian options for the pairing menu for me.

The wine tasting experience is not included in the all-inclusive plan.

Food and Drink

It’s almost a winter tradition for Canadians like me to visit an all-inclusive hotel in Mexico. Usually, an all-inclusive offers a fun break from the cold, but typical all-inclusive buffets leave a fair bit lacking in terms of food taste and quality.

That’s definitely not the case at the Marival Residences Luxury Resort, where the food is gourmet, fresh, and delicious.

The all inclusive program includes all snacks, breakfast, lunch, drinks and a la carte dinner specialties, plus national and international brand drinks.

There are four a la carte gourmet restaurants on site, plus six restaurants at the sister resort, Marival Resort & Suites.

All of the restaurants at Marival Residences Luxury Resort operate under the keen eye of Executive Chef Alfredo Jimenez, who has worked with Marival for over fifteen years.

As a vegetarian, I loved Marival’s generous selection of healthy vegetarian options. There are choices for many different tastes and dietary needs – even gluten free!

Insu Sky Lounge

Located in the penthouse of the Marival Residences Luxury Resort, Insu’s impressive views looking over the Pacific Ocean are the first thing I noticed. The restaurant also has an infinity pool, and posh modern decor.

Menu items include roasted duck spring roll with Hoisin sauce, gratin spicy lobster sushi roll, grilled lamb chop with mint jelly, fois gras with brioche toast and candied shallots, and mini crab cake with preserved lemon aioli.

Omaggio

Omaggio is the hotel’s largest restaurant, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. I found the menu to be huge, with a great selection.

Lemmon Grass

Located outdoors, Lemmon Grass is a casual, elegant chalkboard restaurant. It offers a great selection of simple and delicious cuisine.

Menu items include salmon burger and caramelized pecans, spicy tuna tartar, watermelon gazpacho, and crispy calamari rings.

Grill al Fresco

Located outdoors, Grill al Fresco is open two times a day, with a wide variety of dishes for breakfast, including Mexican delights, omelette station, selection of fruits, juice and pastries. At night Grill al Fresco transforms into a barbecue, with NY steak, fillet, pork, catch of the day or chicken off the grill.

Brunello Lobby Wine Bar

Brunello Lobby Wine Bar is the perfect place for wine lovers to relax and enjoy a glass along with Montaditos tapas.

There are wines from around the globe, as well as excellent Mexican wines to enjoy.

Pairings include Mexican duck confit and avocado sauce bites, Pernod-scented shrimp and rose sauce bites, Brie, and Xoconoxtle jam, Sesame crusted Ahi Tuna and  Crispy wonton.

Some wines are not included in the all-inclusive plan.

Beach Club

If you’re in the mood for sun and sand, you can also get tasty guacamole and chips, fresh seafood and gourmet dishes and beverages at the VIP Beach Club. It’s located a short three minute ride at the sister property, and exclusive to guests of Marival Residences Luxury Resort.

Room Service

Room service from the extensive room service menu was probably my favorite indulgence at Marival Residences Luxury Resort. Room service operates 24 hours a day (with an additional 10% charge on your total bill).

The bottom line

Like many Canadians, I’ve visited Mexico many times, and I’ve even been to many all-inclusive resorts. By far, the Marival Residences Luxury Resort was the best I’ve ever stayed in. It’s a four diamond property, with service and amenities that match, but manages laid-back luxury without being pretentious.

Above all, it’s the great service and personalized attention from friendly, attentive staff that will make you want to come back.

Riviera Nayarit tours and excursions

Looking for something else fun to do in the Riviera Nayarit?

Get Your Guide offers a snorkeling tour or Coral Island Snorkeling paired with a visit to Sayulita, including a seafood meal.

See tour prices and more here.

Viator offers a wide range of tours in the Riviera Nayarit.

There’s a lot to choose from, including a Marietas Islands SCUBA adventure, whale watching, surf lessons in Punta Mita, an ATV tour, professional photography packages, and even private Spanish lessons.

See Viator tour packages and prices here now.

You need to know:

Hotel: Marival Residences Luxury Resort

Where to book? You can book on Booking.com, check reviews on TripAdvisor, or directly with the hotel.

Reviews: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Address: Av. Paseo Cocoteros Lt 53 Villa 8, 63732 Nuevo Vallarta, Nay, Mexico

Location: half-hour drive from downtown Puerto Vallarta

Nearest Airport: PVR, Puerto Vallarta

Phone: +52 322 226 9740

Trip in partnership with Marival Residences Luxury Resort and Riviera Nayarit tourism board.

We love to have family activities in our hotel as well as feel that the kids are welcomed (rather than just tolerated).

We found that family friendly vibe and more at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, only an hour and a half from Vancouver.

Check resort prices now.

We found several reasons why Harrison is a great for families. In fact, we found 22 fun reasons:

The family pool

When we visit with our kids, the the outdoor family pool is where we spend almost all of our time. It’s large – almost 4,000 square feet – and has a gradual, sloped entrance that’s perfect for toddlers. It’s also wheelchair accessible! The temperature’s perfect for the family, at 28 °C (83 °F).

The view

The resort is right on the shore of stunning Harrison Lake, with views of the lake and mountains in the distance.

Happy kids!

The kids had a blast playing in the pools, exploring the resort, and just being themselves!

The comfy beds

After a day in the pools, it was absolute heaven to sink into the hotel’s plush, comfy beds. So relaxing!

Plenty of dining choices

The resort has four on-site restaurants: Miss Margaret’s casual cafe, the Lakeside Cafe with gorgeous views of the lake, the Islands Bar, and the Copper Room, where they have dinner and dancing. There’s even a kids’ dance floor at the Copper Room! If you’re not up for going out, just slip into your complimentary bathrobe, and order room service.

Warm, personal service

From the time we arrived to the time we left, we found nothing but warm smiles and staff that were willing to help with whatever we needed.

Kid-friendly

Wherever we went, the kids were treated like welcome guests. We even found these adorable little Sasquatches in our room when we arrived!

Free WiFi

In Canada, most higher end hotels charge a rather steep fee for Internet.

Finding free WiFi in our room was a huge bonus!

Complimentary bathrobes

Who doesn’t love a plush, comfy bathrobe? We loved having complimentary bathrobes to use on our way to and from the hot pools.

Lounging by the fireplace

The resort has a huge common area where you can relax by the fire, read, or enjoy each other’s conversation and company.

Bonding time

It’s just a pleasure to be able to put everyday life on the back burner for a while, and just enjoy playing with the kids!

The waterfall

We had a blast playing in the waterfall in the family pool!

Grown up time!

If you’re looking for some adult-only time, the warmer adult only pool is a perfect escape. It’s also open later so after the kids go to bed you can head down and enjoy some kid free time.

The gift shop and store

You’ll be able to pick up any necessities and snacks at the well stocked on-site gift shop.

Relaxing on the balcony

How fun is this? We loved relaxing on the balcony taking in the beautiful sights of Harrison Lake and Echo Island right in front of the hotel. With wine for us, and cookies and juice for the kids we made it into an impromptu picnic.

Five pools to splash in!

Harrison’s hot mineral pools have drawn visitors since the Salish Coast Indians discovered their medicinal properties and rejuvenating effects. More recently, they’ve drawn famous guests such as Clark Gable, John Wayne, Michael Bublé, Robin Williams, and Liam Neeson.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa has five different mineral pools fed by the nearby hot springs. Each pool is kept at a different temperature from 28C /83F all the way up to 40C /104F year round. Outdoors you’ll find the large family pool, a lap pool, and the adults-only pool. If you want out of the sun, there are also two indoor pools; the crescent shaped deep pool and the hot pool.

The Spa

A resort wouldn’t be a true place to relax without a spa. You can choose from stone or deep tissue massage, a facial, or other treatments. There are even little princess manicures and pedicures for those under 13!

The gym

The state of the art, fully equipped gym is perfect if you’re looking for a place to work out.

It’s an affordable choice for Canadian travelers

With the high US dollar, many of us Canadians are looking for destinations where our Canadian currency will go farther. Staying within Canada has become a hot trend for Canadian travellers looking to save money while the Canadian dollar is weak.

Harrison Lake

We were completely happy playing in the pools and exploring the resort, but if you’re looking for more activities, there’s a lot to do and see near the resort, especially in summer.

The resort has a marina where you can take a fishing tour, rent jet skis, stand up paddle boards or kayaks, play with bumper boats, or even jump on a boat that will take you on a tour of beautiful Harrison Lake and get a closer glimpse of Echo Island.

There’s also the huge Harrison Hot Springs Water Park right in front of the hotel that will make any kids day a complete hit.

Posh, luxurious bathrooms

Clean, spacious, and luxurious!

Harrison Hot Springs

The Harrison Hot Springs Resort is right on the main boulevard of the lovely mountain resort village of Harrison Hot Springs, where you can spend a day at the lakeside beach or at the warmer kid friendly Harrison Lagoon. With tons of pathways, ice cream stands and restaurants along the main thoroughfare, there’s plenty to hold your interest year round.

It’s close to Vancouver

Harrison Hot Springs is only an hour and a half (120 km/75 miles) east of Vancouver, only three hours north of Seattle and 2 1/2 hours from Kelowna or Kamloops.

Looking for a deal for the family?

Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa has seasonal family packages and discounts available. Check resort prices now.

Wondering what to read next?

• The Best Things to Do, See and Eat in Vancouver + Where to Stay
• Where to Travel While the Canadian Dollar is Weak
• Our Favorite Outdoor Gear for Making Adventure Easier
• Watching Bald Eagles on a River Float in Squamish, BC
• The Best Family Things to Do, See and Eat in Kelowna, BC

We stayed as guests of the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa. All opinions are our own.

When the West was still in its infancy, staying in a tent while traversing North America was pretty much par for the course. With settled towns few and far between, finally arriving someplace civilized was a momentous occasion.

Fast forward a few hundred years and people are flocking back to the wild to get away from it all. So what is a modern person who likes the convenience of sleeping in a bed and having their daily cappuccino to do if they want to commune with nature without giving up every comfort they love? Glamping to the rescue!

Most people are aware of luxury motorhomes and campers that put some homes to shame, but what about sleeping in a tent or a hut? Sound primitive? Perhaps, however that’s what glamping is all about.

Glamorous camping may sound like a contradiction, but in this day and age, you can have almost anything you want for the right price. Remote location with all the conveniences of home overlooking your own waterfall? Check. Giant cabin-sized tents nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains? Check. Cool and unique structures all over the world in harmony with their surroundings? Check. Small ecological footprint with big rewards for those willing to drive the extra mile? Check and double check.

Intrigued? If you haven’t tried glamping yet, here are ten great reasons glamping might be right for you:

The conveniences of home

One of glamping’s greatest attractions is having all the conveniences of home while still being in the heart of nature. Love sleeping in a nice plush, elevated bed? Most people do and even though you’re staying in a tent or a hut only a few feet from the great outdoors, a comfortable night’s sleep will give you that extra energy in the morning to see and experience the wilderness around you. You’ll also have a nice ensuite to call your own and most home style conveniences are right at your fingertips.

Small ecological footprint

The problem with most luxury hotels around the world is that no matter how well they try to blend into their surroundings, the reality is that during their construction phase, they destroy the land around them and have to bring it all back again once construction is complete. Tents, huts, cabins and yurts require next to nothing to be assembled and leave a very small footprint compared to their brick and mortar counterparts. The wild stays wild and you can feel good that you’re not destroying the natural vegetation around you while you get to enjoy the true benefits of ecotourism.

Gets you right into the action

Whether you’re staying in a Berber tent in the middle of the Sahara Desert, a hut on the water in the Maldives or in a luxury cabin in the Rockies, glamping often puts you right where you want to be. Hate having to drive to the beach or 4x4ing to the nearest hiking trail? When glamping. you can jump off your deck into the crystal blue ocean or open your back door and walk down the path to that hidden waterfall that no one but the other guests know about. Glamping gets you right where you want to be.

Allows you to stay for longer

Ever go traditional camping and by the second night you’re tired of the smelly drop toilets, the cold water showers, the constantly leaking air mattress and the lukewarm food in your melted cooler? When you glamp those aren’t even a concern. Huge sprawling tents, warm running water, cold running fridges, comfy down beds and chef-prepared meals are all possible. You might have come for a weekend, but you’ll probably want to stay for a week.

Unique places to stay

Glamping accommodations aren’t just confined to oversized tents and luxury yurts these days. They can be anything from tree forts to geodomes. Cabins, huts, wigwams and teepees are always popular or you can go all out and stay in a tree fort or even a heated igloo. Luxury African safari tents have existed for centuries however how often can you say you slept in a Gypsy trailer or a turn of the century rail car nestled in the mountains?

Nicer than home

Some glamping resorts offer home style comforts. That’s great, however what if you want to not only get away but also take it up a notch? How about your own personal butler or a private salt water swimming pool? How about your own private beach or a natural hot spring right out your back door? Not only is it possible, but some some glamping sites specialize in the extreme.

You might be sleeping in a glorified tent but don’t be fooled, the amenities are often five star, like the ones at the The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana. One of the first glamping luxury accommodations, The Ranch at Rock Creek has received the Forbes 5-star Travel Guide award, and even hosted Kate Bosworth’s celebrity wedding.

The views are amazing

Tired of looking at concrete buildings and endless urban sprawl?

When you glamp, you’re getting away in style. Imagine being surrounded by the Rocky Mountains or surrounded by dense jungle. It’s all possible and there are glamping places in every nook and cranny around the world. Crave to see the grasslands in Mongolia? There’s  a yurt for that. Want to camp on the African plains? There’s a safari tent for that. Essentially, glamping places are as varied as the world they exist in.

Even celebrities do it

From Justin Bieber to Prince William, chances are that when a rich celebrity heads to the outdoors, they’re glamping. Some glampers, such as Kate Bosworth, even decide to get married while glamping. If it’s good enough for them, chances are you’ll enjoy it too. It’s even become the norm for celebrities to stay in luxury camps themselves when hitting or headlining some of the big music festivals during the summer. You can be guaranteed these aren’t the popup tents you stayed in as a kid.

Activities you won’t find anywhere else

Want to get back to your roots and live on a ranch, the Rock Creek Ranch offers everything an urban cowboy could wish for. Would you rather be at the beach? No problem, you can stay in a bamboo hut over the ocean in Belize and work on your scuba certification right from your deck. If you want to capture award winning pictures of the Big 5 in Africa, all you need to do is sit on your elevated porch and fire away. If you crave a little more excitement, you can stay in a treefort in Costa Rica and zipline down for your afternoon lunch or catch a wave in Australia and learn to surf from your own private beach.

Roughing it without the rough part

The truth about glamping is that when you glamp, you’re roughing it without the rough part. You can get away from the every day without sacrificing your quality of life while enjoying what each area has to offer.

If the sky is the limit on your funds, there really is no upper limit to what you can spend and what you can get while roughing it. Personal concierges, room service, big screen TVs, haute cuisine, heated swimming pools, oversized hot tubs, luxury spas and your very own masseuse are just some of the possibilities.

Luckily, there’s also a place for every budget and if you don’t have movie star cash to spend there are still many great places that will not only let you get up close and personal with nature, but will also make you glad you decided to try out glamping for yourself. After all, glamorous camping is one half glamour no matter which way you cut it. It feels wonderful to be pampered and splurge every now and then.

This post is sponsored in part by The Rock at Ranch Creek.