It’s brutalism with a heart of gold, and from the first sip of my pisco sour, I’m smitten. Balletic waiters use copper cocktail cups to swoop up dragonflies that zoom in through open windows. A swimming pool defies gravity to cantilever out towards the lake. There is a sea of art books on low wide tables, there’s a fisherman’s boat suspended above the bar (which doubles up as informal earthquake detection). Inside, the sun toasts the floorboards through the glass, leaving the air warm with the smell of alerce, a kind of magical Andean cypress. The hotel itself is a graceful Jenga block of glass and steel, wood and concrete. (Bring sunglasses: I have never in my life seen water that sparkled more). The site of architect-owner Mauricio Fuentes’s summer house, Awa sits on the best spot of the black-sand-beached Lake Llanquihue. Some like silk, some like Starck, some like a submarine on site. Like love, there is something out there for everyone. But there’s something about Awa that has made me feel a little giddy. It is true we have only been here an hour. Yes, the next Bond will be a woman, and yes, I’ve decided, it will be my girlfriend. Welcome to the set of the new film franchise streamed direct from my fantasies: 008. A paparazzi of sunlight bounces across the lake, and she has a snowcapped volcano as her backdrop. Mrs Smith is sunbathing in a plunge swimsuit with a duo of jetties at her feet and a lavish speedboat just behind her. The cocktails are worth trying too – you’ll need something to toast those views, after all. Mesa Tropera has a prime Puerto Varas waterside setting for its flavoursome risottos, pasta dishes, ceviches and pizzas. Kick proceedings off with delicious empanadas. Swap fishy business for meaty magic at La Marca, also at Santa Rosa, which specialises in hefty, juicy steak. Thanks to its location and watery views, tables get booked up fast secure yours early to avoid disappointment. Try the toothsome southern hake barbells – washed down with plenty of icy white wine. Local restaurantsįeast on succulent seafood and fish at Casavaldés on Santa Rosa in Puerto Rosa. Alternatively, explore the pretty city of Puerto Varas, which has traditional German-style architecture, reflecting its 19th-century immigrant roots, and the red-and-white, three-towered Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Petrohue Waterfalls and the road up to Osorno Volcano are half an hour away. This adventurous hotel can also arrange seaplane flights, fly fishing, hiking trips, bird-watching, cultural expeditions and rafting. Go swimming or sign up for pampering treatments at the spa. You could also hop on bikes and dip into the 90-mile circuit that covers Lake Llanquihue. Take to the lake by kayak or stand-up paddleboard, which are free to borrow. Then, back at your boutique basecamp, make the most of the organic farm by trying farm-to-table activities such as harvesting, followed by a cookery class. Start by exploring the national parks of Chile's picturesque Los Lagos region (Lake District). Local materials star in the hotel’s construction. The hotel’s organic farm provides its produce and eggs earth-kind LED light bulbs and bath products are used glass and aluminum are recycled Awa has a water-treatment plant compost is made from the organic waste of the kitchen. ChildrenĪccepted, but the hotel is really designed for adults. The first floor can be accessed by a ramp the other levels can be reached by the lift. Rates also include spa access, WiFi and use of the kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and bikes. Packing tipsīring boots and threads fit for outdoors adventures. Breathe in the scent of wood and sweet citrus while you relax and unwind. SpaĪwa’s dazzling spa has a 25-metre-long 28✬ pool, another 38✬ pool with stunning views of the volcano, a steam room, a sauna, a treatment room (we’d opt for the royal jelly facial or a revitalising massage) and a small gym, where Pilates and yoga sessions take place. The pool is one of the hotel’s architectural magic tricks: it appears to float outside, with a glass wall overlooking the lake. Opt for second- or third-floor sleeping quarters for the best volcano views. In rooms: bluetooth speaker, Jacuzzi, TV, WiFi, shaving mirror, air conditioning, minibar, free bottled water, decorative fireplace. Gorgeous gardens spa gym adventure activities and private excursions on-loan bikes laundry service, WiFi, on-site parking.
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