It starts with the walk. Elevated wooden pathways cut through dense temperate rainforest, lifting you just above the damp, tangled floor. Then the building reveals itself, a towering, spiralling cone of timber and glass rising out of the trees like a slightly unhinged architectural experiment.
It’s named after the beech trees that dominate the reserve, and one of them is literally growing through the middle of the hotel. Not beside it. Through it. Which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the place.
Inside, everything curves. Timber wraps the walls, light filters in through glass, and the whole structure feels like it’s quietly rotating around that central tree. Rooms lean into the setting. They’re warm, cocoon-like, and designed for collapsing into after a day outside.
And that’s the real reason you’re here.
The Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve is wild in the best way. You spend your days trekking through thick forest, bird-watching, or launching yourself across the canopy on a zip line that claims to be the longest in the world.
It’s less “activity schedule” and more “see what happens if I go this way.”
Back at the hotel, the spa becomes less of a bonus and more of a necessity. Legs are wrecked, pride slightly dented, and suddenly soaking in warm water feels like a reward you’ve genuinely earned.
Evenings slow down. You grab a drink, face the Andes, and watch the light drop behind the peaks. It’s one of those moments where everything goes quiet and you realise you’re staying somewhere that feels a bit unreal.
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It’s not flawless. The food doesn’t always keep up, and service can be inconsistent. But that almost adds to it. You’re not here for polish, you’re here because it’s strange, immersive, and completely committed to its setting.
And honestly, that’s exactly why it sticks with you.
Why It Exists
To drop you inside the rainforest, not next to it, with architecture that refuses to ignore its surroundings.
The Vibe
Forest immersion with a design twist. Quiet, slightly surreal, and very far from normal.
Your Bed Tonight
Cosy timber rooms wrapped in glass and forest, built for recovery after long days outside.
The Thing You’ll Brag About Later
Launching yourself across the reserve on a zip line that feels way too long mid-flight.
Eat / Drink This
Cocktails at sunset with the Andes fading into the background.
Steal This Local Move
Don’t rush it. Spend the day getting lost in the reserve, then earn your time in the spa.
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