The Best Beach Resorts in South America in 2025: Year-End Wrap-Up

As 2025 draws to a close, South America’s coastlines revealed a striking spectrum of beach experiences — from Brazil’s bohemian-chic enclaves to Colombia’s mangrove-framed Caribbean waters and Uruguay’s art-forward Atlantic hideaways. This wrap-up of the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 spotlights the properties that blended style, nature, and culture into stays that lingered long after checkout.

Across the continent, travelers gravitated toward resorts that offered more than just sand and sea. They looked for character-rich design, local craftsmanship, and deep connections to community and landscape. Our year-end look at the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 highlights the destinations that felt both soulful and sophisticated — escapes that captured the rhythm of the region and became defining stays of the year.

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Why These Resorts

To shape this South America–focused wrap-up, we looked for properties that didn’t just sit on beautiful beaches, but embodied the spirit, creativity, and natural depth that define the continent’s coastal experiences. These are the resorts that resonated throughout 2025 — places where design, culture, and landscape came together with intention.

Here are the criteria behind the selection:

• Beach Quality & Setting: Coastal beauty varies widely across South America, so we prioritized swimmability, scenery, privacy, and shoreline character — from Brazil’s golden crescents to Uruguay’s wind-polished Atlantic shores and Colombia’s calm Caribbean bays.
• Design & Authenticity: Resorts that reflect local materials, regional artistry, and a strong sense of place. Many of the top stays are deeply tied to community crafts, indigenous influences, and architecture shaped by their environment.
• Service & Hospitality Culture: Genuine warmth, local connection, and intuitive service — whether in boutique eco-stays, design-led hideaways, or intimate private bungalows.
• Sustainability & Environmental Integration: Conservation programs, thoughtful sourcing, low-impact building, and respect for fragile coastal ecosystems were major considerations, especially given South America’s diverse environments.
• 2025 Relevance & Momentum: Consistent guest acclaim, meaningful upgrades, standout dining, unique experiences, or cultural programming that made these resorts part of the year’s travel conversation.

These factors helped us surface the beach resorts that defined South America’s coastal luxury in 2025 — soulful, stylish, and deeply rooted in the rhythms of their surroundings.

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#10 – Hotel Alaia (Punta de Lobos, Chile)

Opening the list at #10, Hotel Alaia offers a rugged, surf-forward escape along Chile’s dramatic Pacific coastline. With black-sand beaches, powerful waves, and minimalist wooden structures perched above the shoreline, it became a go-to for travelers ending their year with a raw, wind-swept version of coastal beauty.

Why It’s in Contention

Hotel Alaia earned recognition as one of the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 for its authentic connection to Punta de Lobos’ surf culture and its thoughtful, eco-conscious footprint. Guests appreciated its laid-back atmosphere, striking natural backdrop, and the sense of being plugged directly into Chile’s coastal soul.

Best For

Surfers, adventure travelers, and guests who want a minimalist, nature-driven escape rooted in community and wave culture.

Fun Fact

Punta de Lobos is a world-class left point break, drawing elite surfers from around the globe — and it’s just steps from the resort.

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#9 – KiChic (Mancora, Peru)

Taking the #9 spot, KiChic offers a boutique, adults-focused sanctuary on Mancora’s sun-drenched coastline. Rooted in natural materials and a slow-living ethos, it became a year-end favorite for travelers seeking a peaceful, design-forward escape framed by warm Pacific waters.

Why It’s in Contention

KiChic stood out among the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 for its intimate scale, wellness-led atmosphere, and gentle beachfront setting. Guests appreciated its mindful approach to hospitality — from organic dining to its bohemian-meets-coastal aesthetic that feels effortlessly soothing.

Best For

Couples, solo wellness travelers, and guests who want a quiet, adults-only environment centered on simplicity, relaxation, and warm ocean breezes.

Fun Fact

The resort was originally a private beach house before being transformed into a boutique retreat — many original handcrafted elements remain.

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#8 – Arennas Mancora (Mancora, Peru)

Arriving at #8, Arennas Mancora brings a polished, contemporary warmth to northern Peru’s most beloved stretch of beach. With its clean architectural lines, wide-open views, and calm waves, it offered a soothing year-end escape that leans into barefoot luxury without losing its laid-back coastal character.

Why It’s in Contention

Arennas Mancora earned its place among the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 for its modern design, spacious beach frontage, and quietly attentive service. Guests enjoyed its balance of simplicity and comfort — a resort that feels stylish yet unpretentious.

Best For

Design-minded couples, beach lovers, and travelers who want a relaxed, sun-filled retreat with understated luxury and excellent swimming conditions.

Fun Fact

Mancora averages more than 300 days of sunshine each year, making it one of the most reliable beach destinations on the continent.

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#7 – Playa Vik José Ignacio (José Ignacio, Uruguay)

Claiming the #7 spot, Playa Vik José Ignacio blends cutting-edge architecture with Uruguay’s effortlessly cool beach culture. Perched above Playa Mansa with sweeping Atlantic views, the resort’s striking titanium-and-glass design and intimate scale made it a standout for travelers ending their year with art, style, and soft-sand serenity.

Why It’s in Contention

Playa Vik earned recognition as one of the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 thanks to its gallery-like atmosphere, dramatic coastal setting, and access to José Ignacio’s relaxed yet sophisticated beach scene. Guests loved the fusion of contemporary art, natural textures, and oceanfront calm.

Best For

Art lovers, style-driven travelers, and guests who want a boutique beach retreat with personality, exclusivity, and a subtle dose of glam.

Fun Fact

The resort’s iconic infinity pool is inlaid with thousands of tiny fiber-optic lights, mirroring Uruguay’s starry night sky as it illuminates after sunset.

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#6 – Bahía Vik José Ignacio (José Ignacio, Uruguay)

Landing at #6, Bahía Vik José Ignacio brings a breezy, art-infused beachfront experience to one of Uruguay’s most coveted coastal towns. Spread along Playa Mansa with low-slung bungalows, soft dunes, and expansive Atlantic views, it became a year-end favorite for travelers craving design, nature, and the easy rhythm of José Ignacio.

Why It’s in Contention

Bahía Vik stands out among the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 for its blend of contemporary art, relaxed luxury, and an unbeatable beachfront location. Guests consistently appreciated its open, light-filled spaces, barefoot atmosphere, and the way it captures the understated sophistication José Ignacio is known for.

Best For

Design lovers, families, and travelers seeking a stylish yet laid-back oceanfront retreat with wide beaches and a breezy, social energy.

Fun Fact

Each bungalow features works by prominent Uruguayan and Latin American artists, creating a resort-wide open-air gallery experience.

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#5 – Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort (Barú, Colombia)

Entering the top five, Sofitel Barú Calablanca blends French elegance with Colombia’s Caribbean warmth along one of Barú’s most inviting stretches of beach. With bright, contemporary architecture, gentle waters, and refined service, it became a favorite for travelers closing out their year with comfort, style, and sun.

Why It’s in Contention

The resort stood out among the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 for its polished beachfront setting, strong culinary identity, and consistent guest satisfaction. Visitors loved the calm, clear water, modern design, and the way the property balances sophistication with Caribbean ease.

Best For

Couples, families, and travelers who want a resort-forward beach experience with reliable service and direct access to Barú’s peaceful shoreline.

Fun Fact

The resort features one of the largest pools in the region, complete with shaded cabanas overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

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#4 – Las Islas (Barú, Colombia)

Arriving at #4, Las Islas offers a lush, eco-luxury escape set between mangroves, turquoise shallows, and the dense greenery of Barú. With a mix of treetop bungalows and beach-level casitas, the resort became a standout year-end choice for travelers craving a Caribbean retreat that feels both immersive and effortlessly relaxed.

Why It’s in Contention

Las Islas earned its place among the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 thanks to its nature-driven design, strong sustainability ethos, and the calm, swimmable waters that define this part of Barú. Guests consistently loved its balance of privacy, gentle adventure, and Colombian coastal warmth.

Best For

Eco-minded travelers, couples, and guests who want a quiet, tropical retreat wrapped in mangrove forests, calm beaches, and easygoing island energy.

Fun Fact

Many of the treetop bungalows offer elevated Caribbean views — giving guests the feeling of staying in a luxurious treehouse above the jungle canopy.

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#3 – Kenoa Resort (Barra de São Miguel, Alagoas, Brazil)

Stepping into the #3 position, Kenoa Resort brings an intimate, design-forward touch to one of Brazil’s most pristine stretches of coastline. With its golden sands, calm emerald waters, and discreet luxury framed by eco-conscious architecture, it became a favorite for travelers ending their year with quiet sophistication.

Why It’s in Contention

Kenoa earned recognition as one of the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 for its finely balanced blend of sustainability, contemporary design, and warm, intuitive Brazilian hospitality. Guests were especially drawn to the resort’s privacy, thoughtful details, and serene natural surroundings.

Best For

Couples, honeymooners, and design-minded travelers who want a peaceful beachfront escape with understated luxury and strong environmental principles.

Fun Fact

The resort’s architecture was led by renowned Brazilian designer Osvaldo Tenório, known for blending organic forms with minimal, nature-integrated lines.

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#2 – Ponta dos Ganchos Exclusive Resort (Santa Catarina, Brazil)

Taking the #2 spot, Ponta dos Ganchos delivers an ultra-private, adults-oriented escape on a forested peninsula along Brazil’s Emerald Coast. With panoramic bays, secluded coves, and villas that feel suspended between jungle and sea, it became a defining year-end favorite for travelers seeking intimacy, refinement, and cinematic coastal views.

Why It’s in Contention

Ponta dos Ganchos secured its place among the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 through its exceptional privacy, impeccable service, and one-of-a-kind setting on a protected peninsula. Guests consistently praised its serene beaches, thoughtful attention to detail, and the sense of exclusivity that permeates every aspect of the stay.

Best For

Honeymooners, couples, and privacy-seeking travelers who want an elevated, adults-only beachfront retreat wrapped in quiet natural beauty.

Fun Fact

The resort has its own tiny private island — accessible by a short footbridge — often used for ultra-romantic private dinners.

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#1 – Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa (Trancoso, Brazil)

Claiming the #1 spot, Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa embodies the soulful, barefoot-chic spirit that has made Trancoso one of Brazil’s most coveted coastal destinations. Blending artisan-crafted casas, lush tropical gardens, and a stylish beachfront lounge on the Quadrado’s iconic golden sands, it delivered the most memorable year-end escape for travelers seeking authenticity and elevated simplicity.

Why It’s in Contention

Uxua’s top placement among the best beach resorts in South America in 2025 comes from its fusion of design, community, and nature. Guests consistently celebrated its handcrafted details, meaningful connection to Bahian culture, and the serene yet stylish beachfront that makes Trancoso so magnetic.

Best For

Design lovers, couples, and travelers who value immersive local culture, understated luxury, and a beach scene that feels both chic and unhurried.

Fun Fact

Much of Uxua’s furniture and decor was created by local artisans — including some pieces designed with former creative director Wilbert Das of Diesel.

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Final Thoughts

As 2025 comes to an end, South America’s coastal landscape proves once again that beach luxury here is as much about soul and culture as it is about sand and sea. This year’s standout resorts invited travelers into experiences shaped by community craftsmanship, ecological respect, artful design, and landscapes that remain wonderfully varied — from Brazil’s boho enclaves to Colombia’s mangrove-wrapped Caribbean and Uruguay’s quietly glamorous Atlantic shores.

What united these properties was their ability to blend authenticity with ease. Guests sought escapes that felt intimate, grounded, and expressive of local identity — and these ten resorts delivered that balance beautifully. They shaped the conversation in 2025 and set a benchmark for what meaningful, stylish coastal travel looks like across the continent.