Top 10 All-Inclusive Resorts in South America

Caribbean destinations have long been the standard for honeymoons and romantic getaways, but there’s a huge selection of lesser-known, yet equally beautiful and luxurious, all-inclusive resorts just a little further south. 

South American countries have beautiful beaches, delicious food, and far fewer tourists than many popular Caribbean islands. Plus, affordable all-inclusive prices and a good exchange rate means your dollar goes much further in Colombia or Peru than it does in Grenada or St. Lucia.

To help you find the perfect spot for a getaway to one of these fascinating countries, check out our choices for the top 10 all-inclusive resorts in South America. 

Hotel Estelar Playa Manzanillo, Colombia

Hotel Estelar Playa Manzanillo is sandwiched between a small fishing village and a beautiful 18-hole golf course called Karibana. Set on the shores of the Caribbean on a white sandy beach, the resort is just a 10-15 minute drive from the UNESCO World Heritage city of Cartagena and features 2 refreshing swimming pools, a spa with a Turkish sauna and Jacuzzi, water and land sports, and entertainment on a perfectly manicured 4.5-hectare property. 

There are 190 rooms and suites spread out on the property that offer views of the garden, pool, or ocean from a private balcony or terrace. Some include private hot tubs and separate living or dining rooms. Deluxe suites come with adjoining standard rooms on either side for groups who are traveling together. Junior rooms are perfect for couples traveling alone and come with a separate living room and kitchenette.

Of the 4 dining options, Restaurante La Palapa is the sole buffet and has a large patio with indoor and covered outdoor seating. For pizza and lunch head to La Trattoria, a sit-down eatery located on the roof. Nativo is a cozy fine-dining spot underneath a thatched roof, and a simple eatery called The Grill is located outside between the main pool and the beach.

Vila Gale Mares, Brazil

Vila Gale Mares is in a beautiful location in Brazil on the beaches of Guarajuba, less than an hour from Salvador’s capital city of Bahia. In addition to a private, 460-meter stretch of beach (which has a lifeguard posted and security guards standing by) the resort has an indoor and outdoor pool, a spa, 5 restaurants, and 6 bars. 

There are 432 standard rooms and 49 larger suites that offer better views and nicer amenities. Besides rooms and suites, there are 21 chalets in their own little village near the beach. They have tall, pointed thatched roofs, a terrace, and king-sized beds. Tropical plants, a lagoon, and colorful flowers dot the property. 

The main pool is enormous and has several access points. Two man-made grassy “islands” sit in the middle of the pool, accessible by a bridge, and the entire deck is surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas. Hotel rates include dining at the resort’s 5 restaurants, snacks around the pool, and drinks. 

The Satsanga Spa, where you can enjoy a lovely massage or skin treatment, is in a different building that also houses a gym, indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, Vichy shower, Turkish bath, and sauna and steam room. 

Sandals Royal Curacao 

Sandals Royal Curacao is the newest Sandals location. It’s set on the beautiful yet under-rated island of Curacao, in the Caribbean just off the coast of Venezuela. Beautiful mountain ranges, secluded coves with calm water and white sand beaches, and a charming Dutch-influenced capital city make a honeymoon in Curacao a spectacular choice.  

The resort’s rooms are romantic and luxurious. There’s even a Mini Cooper convertible available for guests to use to explore the surroundings or head off-site for a romantic picnic lunch on a secluded beach. Seaside Butler Bungalows at Sandals Curacao come with even more romantic amenities like Soaking Tubs with privacy curtains, large private pools that overlook the ocean, and butler service. 

There’s also a wide range of incredible restaurants to choose from, an inlet beach with calm water for all the complimentary watersports, and several beautiful pools with exceptional views (including an amazing bi-level infinity pool). 

Hillary Nature Resort & Spa, Ecuador

Consider Ecuador for your next tropical getaway and stay at Hillary Nature Resort & Spa, a beautiful oasis with a lively social scene that’s just a stone’s throw from the Peru-Ecuador border. All-inclusive rates get you an on-site waterpark with tall waterslides, full use of the sports courts, limitless food and drinks, and entrance to the Raymi Disco from Wednesday to Saturday nights. 

The usual resort activities like nightly shows and daily activities are included. Stand-out offerings include a 700- and 400-meter canopy with jaw-dropping views for rappelling, a climbing wall, and a guided bike tour. Tours to the zoo and a rural farm can be arranged for an added cost. 

Two international buffets are served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Snacks and drinks are served in La Gruta Lounge Bar and Yaku Snack Bar. The Citrin Bar is in the bungalow complex and is only open on the weekend for guests staying in bungalows. 

Rooms have warm wood finishings and pale, neutral colors. The Honeymoon Bungalow has extra large beds, views of the mountain ranges, and a hydromassage table, although it is only available on weekends and holidays. 

Ocean Palace Beach Resort & Bungalows, Brazil

Ocean Palace Beach Resort is built on the Potiguar coast and offers its guests luxurious spa treatments, beach access, and complimentary on-site activities like dance and cooking classes. 

The rooms are a bit dated but many have great ocean views, and there are some great amenities in the higher-end suites and apartments like huge verandahs with private hot tubs. Bungalows are a world away in their own compound and have large private balconies, spacious bathrooms, and peaceful, green surroundings. 

Meals in the main restaurant, The Sunrise Coffee Shop, are included in the rate. It serves a buffet featuring local and international dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Regional cuisine is featured at lunchtime. Feijoada, Brazil’s national dish of stew made with beans and pork, is the featured special every Saturday evening. Light healthy snacks are set out between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. for late-night munchies. 

Alternatively, you could get a delicious handmade pizza at La Luna Pizzeria or take the kids to Ocean Food Space, another buffet station with more options for children. There’s also a dessert stand near the pool deck and the Kiosk Grill, which serves up delicious Brazilian BBQ. 

Two other restaurants can be added to your all-inclusive rate if your stay meets minimum length requirements. Reservations of 5 nights or more get you into Le Soleil Restaurant, an upscale French eatery with a cellar full of Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish wine. Stay for a week or longer and dine at Sukiyaki, a Japanese restaurant with Teppanyaki tables and sushi made with fresh local fish. 

DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Paracas, Peru

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Paracas is a luxury all-inclusive resort in South America that’s centrally located between the Paracas National Reserve and the El Chaco harbor in Peru. Hike through a coastal desert or take a boat trip to Islas Ballestas, then come back and relax in the lap of luxury at DoubleTree.

Rooms are contemporary and offer views of the garden or Paracas Bay. A massive swimming pool also offers views of the ocean from certain angles, and the beach setup includes a huge firepit with a circle of cushions arranged around it. The open-air lounge, Glazz Bar, is located just off the side of the pool and has crystal-clear glass walls. 

The only restaurant, El Pardo al Mar, is included in the cost of your room and serves a buffet breakfast and dinner. Dinner service also includes a la carte and menu options. Lunch is always served a la carte. 

As a Hilton all-inclusive resort, DoubleTree guests get the same perks and rewards offered at other Hilton locations like military family rates and discounts for AARP and AAA members. Right now, Hilton Honors members will earn double the reward points for each night 

Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte, Brazil

Iberostar Resorts’ beautiful seafront location in Brazil has 5 swimming pools, 6 restaurants, 5 bars, a golf course, and a nightclub. All-inclusive rates cover a la carte and buffet meals, mid-afternoon snacks, and select domestic and international alcoholic drinks. Plus, guests of Iberostar Praia do Forte can also enjoy the dining and beverage options at Iberostar Bahia. 

There are 3 types of suites to choose from. The Junior Suite Oceanview offers the best views in the house from a large private balcony, and the beach is just a few steps away from the ground-floor suites. Privilege Junior Suites overlook the gardens and come with separate bedrooms and living rooms as well as a large private terrace. 

With reservations in the Privilege Suites, you’ll also gain access to Star Prestige areas. The resort’s best room, the Oceanfront Penthouse Suite, has a private terrace with a whirlpool, a large living area, a double bathroom, a full kitchen, and a deep jetted bathtub. 

On top of a free daily sports and recreation program, the resort also houses a sea turtle monitoring station that guests can visit to learn about sea turtles and watch hatchlings scramble toward the ocean. 

Estancia Peuma Hue, Argentina

Estancia Peuma Hue is a luxury lodge in the heart of Argentina‘s Nahuel Huapi National Park. The otherworldly beauty of Patagonia will be right at your doorstep. Come during the ski season and take advantage of the lodge’s close proximity to Catedral ski resort. 

All reservations include the cost of 3 meals a day plus an appetizer and cocktails with dinner. Wine and beer are extra. Fixed menus have been expertly curated by some of the country’s best chefs. 

Adventure packages include meals and accommodation plus guided horseback riding excursions into the forest, kayaking in glacial lakes, or hiking through the mountains. Wellness packages come with daily yoga classes, guided meditation, and massages. 

Log cabins with private sleeping quarters dot the property. For more private lodging, yurts provide single occupancy and come with comfortable king-size beds, deep bathtubs, and glorious views. 

Decameron El Pueblo, Peru

Decameron’s Peru location, Decameron El Pueblo, is located barely half an hour from Lima and welcomes guests to relax on their 15-hectare property. Cheerful yellow buildings that replicate the traditional architectural style of the native Peruvians house 230 comfortable rooms and suites.

There are a grand total of 7 refreshing swimming pools in the resort. The Casuarinas pool has a tall waterslide and a bar nearby that’s open all day until 6:00 p.m. There are daily shows and activities for children, sports courts, a gym, a game room, and a spa. Evenings are reserved for shows geared toward adults, and there is a karaoke bar and a nightclub. Families can watch a movie in the on-site theater or enjoy an a la carte dinner or international buffet. 

Just a stone’s throw from the resort is the Plaza de Armas, an artisan market where you can browse a huge selection of traditional handmade products, dried herbs and spices, and textiles to take home as a souvenir. 

Royal Decameron Golf & Beach Resort, Panama

Royal Decameron Golf & Beach Resort in Panama is a massive all-inclusive hotel comprising 852 rooms, 370 villas, and plenty of amenities to keep guests entertained during their stay. If you feel like getting out and exploring, many tourist destinations are easily accessible, including Panama City which is less than 2 hours away. 

The villas are located on the resort’s beautiful 18-hole golf course, providing easy access for couples looking to take in the sea air on the green. The resort is set on Panama’s Pacific coast and is less than 3 kilometers from the gorgeous Farallon beach. There are also 11 pools located throughout the property, including 8 adult-only pools and 3 wading pools for kids. 

During the day, couples can play a game of golf, attend any of the various organized daily activities, or book a treatment at the spa. Once the sun goes down, enjoy a delicious dinner at one of 10 restaurants, dance at the nightclub, or try your luck at the casino. 

Royal Decameron has a second-tier all-inclusive plan called All-inclusive Plus, which comes with preferred rooms in one of the resort’s nicer locations, exclusive dining options and entry to private lounges, and upgrade to premium drinks. 

Now that you’ve read our picks for 10 all-inclusive resorts in South America, which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!