House of Jasmines

A charming and intimate boutique hotel with luxurious rooms and a superb little spa, just outside the colonial city of Salta

Down a long drive of magnificent eucalyptus trees a low colonial building emerges: white adobe walls covered in jasmine, a tiled roof and colonnaded terraces. Step inside and you’ll find a calm haven of intimate rooms separated by heavy white curtains: a cosy lounge with open fires, a bright breakfast room looking onto the grounds, a romantic dining room and an airy garden room. All are exquisitely decorated in whites and creams, with bold rugs giving a splash of colour, while indigenous weavings and cow hides hint at the origins of this 120 year-old estancia building.

Upstairs, there are 7 bedrooms with views over the tranquil lawns to the foothills of the Andes. There are 3 junior suites in a nearby annexe, with 4 more to come in future years, but this still feels very much like a small hotel. With a heated pool in the grounds and an excellent little spa, this is the treat at the end of your stay in Argentina's north west: discreet, exclusive and pampering.

Highs

• The exquisite interiors are beautiful and soothing; the upstairs bedrooms are particularly romantic
• It’s in a great location: a 20-minute drive south of the colonial city of Salta, close to the airport and handy for routes to Cachi and the Quebrada del Toro gorge
• With a superb spa offering an extensive menu of excellent massages and facials, this a lovely place to unwind after a long flight or at the end of your tour of the northwest
• The setting is extremely peaceful and the views are wonderfully tranquil

Lows

• This is not a working estancia - muddy boots definitely stay outside! But the hotel will arrange horse riding in the San Lorenzo valley, 30 minutes’ drive away
• This isn’t one of those estancias where you're a guest of the hosts: it offers the privacy of a small hotel and you're unlikely to mingle much with other guests
• The service can be friendly but is pretty casual - avoid leaving it late to ask for your bill
• The food is simple rather than elaborate, but it’s delicious nonetheless
• Many rooms lack air conditioning and can get very warm in the summer months
• You’re 20 minutes’ drive from Salta itself - slightly too far for a night on the town