From remote hideaways melting into the Utah desert to mirrored cabins reflecting Uruguayan mountains, these hotel hideouts appear to vanish into their natural surroundings.
We’ve seen beachfront villas spring up on far-flung shores. We’ve watched safari lodges open up the wilds. Desert camps inch further from civilization, and mountaintop retreats soar to ever-higher peaks. But now hotels are taking it to the next level, not only unlocking the beautiful landscapes they inhabit but almost becoming a part of them. From those concealed by rocky ravines to others swallowed up by hills or mirrored by towering pines, these hotels are so well hidden they’re practically invisible.
Top Picks for You
Amangiri
There are desert hideaways, and then there’s Amangiri. This off-grid retreat is tucked away in the remote reaches of Canyon Point. It’s difficult to get to, but that’s the beauty of it. Amangiri melts into the otherworldly landscape of Colorado Plateau, a crinkled expanse sculpted into rock whorls in Southern Utah. The 34-room hotel wraps around a sandstone escarpment, working with the environment—not against it. This adds to its appeal; the swimming pool curving around a 164-million-year-old rock is a knockout. Views are incredible: a shifting spectacle of color, from honey-dipped sandstone spires at daybreak to fiery red mesas as the sun sinks. The spa is huge at 25,000 square feet, with a lantern-lit outdoor pool and Navajo-influenced treatments. Utah is made for outdoor adventures, with the iconic national parks ripe for exploration: Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion.
INSIDER TIPTest your mettle on Amangiri’s via Ferrata; the views from the top of the towering rock formations are worth the dizzying climb.
Palacio de Sal
We’ve seen hotels made from ice, now it’s salt’s turn. Fifteen miles from the nearest town, the isolated Palacio de Sal rises from the banks of the world’s largest salt flats, Salar de Uyuni, in southwest Bolivia. From afar, the hotel disappears when you blink, re-emerging like a mirage on the stark lunar landscape. It’s made entirely from salt, from ceilings and walls to furniture and sculptures. The boundaries between design and nature blur; as hazy as the horizon of the salt flats during the rainy season. That’s not to say this hotel is as barren as its surroundings; there’s a saltwater pool, spa, salt sauna, bar, and restaurant—seasoning is optional. Domed rooms mimic salt igloos, with salt-brick ceilings and beds made of salt. There’s a strict rule that guests can’t lick the walls to avoid damaging the structure (hopefully this was a preventive measure, rather than reactive).
INSIDER TIPSign up for a tour of the world’s biggest salt flats through the hotel, but remember your high-protection sunglasses—the reflection on the white expanse is dazzling.
Tierra Patagonia
On the shores of Lake Sarmiento, Tierra Patagonia weaves into the rugged surroundings, mushrooming from the environment. The low-slung arc of wood and glass becomes part of the dramatic backdrop: the granite peaks of Torres del Paine in Chile. It’s all about the views here. The glass walls frame swathes of untouched national park—from rooms, from the restaurant, the terrace, the spa, even the bathtubs. The Patagonian landscape beyond the full-length windows of the infinity pool makes for soul-soothing spa sessions. While you’re wallowing in the outdoor hot tub, a herd of wild guanaco (native cousin to the llama) may roam by.
INSIDER TIPIt’s a bit of a slog from Punta Arenas—four hours by car—so try to fly to Puerto Natales to skim three hours off the journey from the airport.
The Mirrorcube
This treehouse isn’t the rickety wooden affair from your childhood, but it is just as nostalgic. The cleverly designed treetop hideout mirrors the towering pines and ice-blue sky of northern Sweden, camouflaging it among the branches. Trees were not cut down to accommodate The Mirrorcube but rather aided its construction; a single trunk rises through the living space, supporting the structure and doubling as a natural design feature. Access is via a rope bridge, and the space-savvy interior (Scandi-minimalist, of course) makes room for a double bed, toilet, lounge, and roof terrace. In case you’re worried birds may not see the hidden refuge, a transparent infrared film in the glass prevents collisions. The Mirrorcube is part of Treehotel’s collection of somewhat bizarre treehouse designs, including a bird’s nest and UFO.
INSIDER TIPShowers and a sauna are in nearby buildings, and meals are served in the guesthouse—or delivered directly to your perch.
Casas Cuevas del Tío Tobas
Like hobbit homes from Lord of the Rings, the cave houses of Cuevas del Tío Tobas are swallowed up by a grassy hillside in Guadix, an ancient city in Granada. For hundreds of years, the trogloditas of the Barrio de Cuevas (Neighborhood of Caves) have lived in subterranean homes, carved into a rocky plateau at the foot of Spain’s Sierra Nevada. You could walk above these lodgings without knowing they exist, with the white chimneys the only giveaway. From the front, however, many look like your standard Andalusian abode: whitewashed facades punctuated with wooden shutters and arched doors. Others are hidden within the folds of russet-colored hills, disguised behind cliff faces, or covered by scrubby grass. The 19 casas at Cuevas del Tío Tobas remain rooted in time, cozy cocoons with stone walls reaching up to rough-hewn curved ceilings, dotted with natural enclaves.
INSIDER TIPIf you’re traveling with kids, pick The Picón for an additional sofa bed and enough space for four.
