Private Homes & Full Buyouts: Unique Options in Latin America

While we don’t currently represent any standalone, independent villas in our collection, several of our properties have either a multi-room suite or a private home on site that is ideal for exclusive use by a group of friends or a multigenerational family. And in a few cases, the small nature of a particular property also lends itself to private takeover. Following is a quick overview of these options within the Clark Kotula Representation Collection.

The Master Villas at Awasi Patagonia & Awasi Iguazu

Best For: An Epic Family Trip Combining Two Iconic South America Destinations
Occupancy: 4 people total

Ideal for families with older children (minimum age is 10) or two couples traveling together, the Master Villas at Awasi Patagonia and Awasi Iguazu and boast two separate en suite bedrooms, a spacious living room and a large balconies. Awasi Patagonia includes an extra large soaking hot tub while Awasi Iguazu has a plus size plunge pool for refreshing dip in the rainforest.

Room Configuration: Each Master Suite has one bedroom with king bed and one bedroom with twin beds.
Awasi Patagonia Master Suite Layout
Awasi Iguazu Master Suite Layout (page 12)

Price: Awasi Patagonia - From $13,200 for a three night stay for 4, all inclusive
Awasi Iguazu - From $7160 for a two-night stay for four, all inclusive

Unique Selling Points: A private guide and 4x4 vehicle is allocated to the Master Villa, so you can choose what to do and when while exploring the most iconic Patagonia national park; “Torres del Paine”, or venturing far beyond the Falls at Awasi Iguazu, where the possibilities are endless. A family will have their own private guide and 4x4 vehicle at their beck and call to explore the falls, go on kayak and hiking excursions seeking out nature and wildlife as well as visit with local Guarani communities for cultural interaction.

Combining the 2 or 3 of Awasi’s lodges (Atacama, Patagonia, Iguazu Falls) utilizing the master suites makes for one of the most epic family trips in South America imaginable and offers guests additional savings over staying at just one property. See all AWASI COMBO PROMOTIONS here

Feel small at Estancia Cristina, surrounded by Patagonia’s soaring, jagged peaks

Cabin Buyout at Estancia Cristina, Argentine Patagonia

Best For: This most remote and wild of Patagonian outposts appeals to travelers with a pioneering spirit (like the Masters family, owners of historical Estancia Cristina) who want to spend their days hiking and exploring from dawn till dusk but be cozy and comfortable at night.

Occupancy: 2 per room or 8 adults per intact cabin.

Room Configuration: Estancia Cristina’s 20 rooms are distributed among 5 individual building, each with 4 private ensuite bedrooms off a shared living room. Rooms are configured as either two twin beds or one king bed, and can be booked together as an intact house for 8. See CABIN LAYOUT here

Price: From $8600 for a two night stay for 8 people, all inclusive

Unique Selling Points: Hike your heart out far from the maddening crowds of Perito Moreno (and increasingly, El Chalten as well) to see the largest glacier spilling off the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap, the Upsala, and get a taste of Patagonia’s pioneer history at this authentic outpost established by English immigrants in 1914. Horseback riding and fly fishing are also a draw.

One of two Suites at Hacienda Bambusa, overlooking the gardens and pool

Hacienda Bambusa: Rustic Farmhouse in Colombia’s Coffee Country

Best For: Exclusive buyouts. Round up between 7 to 15 of your closest friends and make Hacienda Bambusa your private home base for an immersive getaway in Colombia’s Coffee Country that is well off the trodden tourist path.

Occupancy: 19 total: 16 adults, 3 children

Room Configuration: 8 ensuite bedrooms with 300-550 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor living space (3 standard, 3 Superior, 2 Suites). See ROOM DESCRIPTION document for complete details on each room. The three Superior Rooms can accommodate an extra bed for a child.

Price: From $2,000 per night for the 8 rooms

Unique Selling Points: Hacienda Bambusa is a delightful rustic farmhouse surrounded by fields of banana, coffee and cacao. The highlight here is the wealth of experiences that are at your fingertips, and the warm hospitality of being welcomed into a beloved family home, which starts with Hacienda Bambusa’s on-site managing director, Diego. Bambusa is an excellent option for an artist, writer or a yoga retreat; Colombia has gifted the world with an inspiring array of creatives, from Gabriela Garcia Marquez to Botero, and Hacienda Bambusa has its own in owner Santiago Montoya, one of Colombia’s best known contemporary artists.

Galapagos Safari Camp owners stand with their children on the terrace of the 3-room family suite

Family Suite at Galapagos Safari Camp

Best For: Families - this non-tented option is great for parents who prefer to have their little ones under the same roof, or a small multigenerational group.

Occupancy: 6 people

Room Configuration: One king bedded master bedroom and two twin bedded rooms, all interconnected. See all FAMILY SUITE photos here.

Price: From $25,320 for a 6day/5night family safari including accommodations, meals and guided excursions.

Unique Selling Points: If you value flexibility (so important when traveling with kids) and the option to be privately guided, a land “based” exploration of the Galapagos with the Galapagos Safari Camp might be for you. Utilizing the three bedroom family suite and charting smaller day yachts for explorations of the Galapagos islands and its wildlife by day is the perfect family trip for children of all ages.

Terrace views from the upper floor at Casa Grande

Casa Grande at El Otro Lado, Portobelo on Panama’s Caribbean Coast

Best For: Multigenerational Families or Private Buyout of Entire Resort.

El Otro Lado on Panama’s Caribbean Coast was originally conceived as a private retreat away from the big city for owner Aurora Eleta and her extended family, so the colorful & whimsical rooms are uniquely configured to accommodate families and multigenerational groups. Casa Grande Suites on the second floor open to a wide shared veranda with sweeping vies of Bahia Portobelo and downstairs blends open air and enclosed AC living spaces large enough to accommodate groups for meals.

Occupancy: 10 people in Casa Grande (6 adults, 4 children/teens) or 16 adults, 6 children/teens for Full Resort Buyout.

Room Configuration: Casa Grande: Suite 2 (2 queen beds downstairs, 2 twin beds in the loft), Suite 3
(Fixed King bed downstairs, 2 twin beds in the loft) Suite 4 (Two queen beds)

Full Resort: Casa Grande + Forest House (fixed king), Sea House (fixed king), Sun House
(fixed king + rollaway bed), Spirit House ( 2 king beds + rollaway bed)

Price: From $2,300/night for Casa Grande and $6,400/night for Full Resort. Includes meals, local boat transfers, select guided on-site activities & cultural experiences + daily Rustic Beach Club. Click here for BUYOUT RATES

Unique Selling Points: The rustic beach club at tropical Puerto Frances is a nice bonus, but the main attraction here is the vibrant creativity of the local Congo people, Afro-Panamanians descended from the Cimarrons. It seems that every resident of Portobelo was born with an artistic gift, and guests can share in their dancing, painting styles, percussion and singing through workshops with the Bahia Portobelo Foundation - all exceptional experiences for families. This nonprofit predates El Otro Lado and was founded by the Eleta Family to enable the local residents to showcase and share their culture with a larger audience.

Villa Estate with private pool at Isla Palenque

Villa Estate at Isla Palenque, Panama’s Gulf of Chiriquí

Best For: Two larger families traveling together or a multigenerational family group. A wild, tropical island just off of Panama’s undeveloped Pacific Coast, bohemian Isla Palenque is a laid back rustic beach retreat for nature lovers and anti-resorters.

Occupancy: Up to 14 total: 12 adults and 2 children or teens

Room Configuration: Click here for VILLA ESTATE LAYOUT. Two Master Suites (Fixed King + extra bed for two adults and 1 child or teen), three Jungle Rooms (1 fixed queen/jungle views) and 1 Garden Room (smallest room with a fixed queen) are spread across three levels, accessed via stairs

Price: From $3050 per night for 12 adults, inclusive of meals, roundtrip boat transfers between Isla Palenque and Boca Chica, on-island guided excursions, yoga and use of SUPs & kayaks.

Unique Selling Points: A private retreat to share meals, play games or enjoy the private beach and pool as an entire family group, but still enough space to escape and find privacy. The Villa Estate enables guests to participate in all of the excursions and amenities offered on the island and mingle with other travelers staying in the Beachfront Casitas. Fully catered meals in the Villa (lunch and dinner) + privately guided excursions are available for an additional supplement.