Estancia Santa Cruz

José Ignacio, Uruguay

PERSONALITIES

Polo enthusiasts. Equestrian explorers. Birdwatchers. Slow travelers. Countryside romantics. Culinary naturalists. Writers in retreat. Estancia Santa Cruz is a perfect destination for countryside weddings, family reunions, and corporate retreats.

MOMENTS

Panoramic ocean views that stretch to the horizon. Horseback rides across rolling pampas. Sipping mate on a villa terrace overlooking Laguna José Ignacio. Cycling along coastal trails. Polo matches under the golden afternoon sun. Sunset cocktails by the fire pit. Walking barefoot through wildflower-strewn pastures. Stargazing over quiet, open skies.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

October to April, when Uruguay’s countryside is at its most lush, warm, and alive, perfect for horseback rides, outdoor meals, and tranquil afternoons under the shade of ancient trees.

COST

WHY STAY

Tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the rolling countryside, Estancia Santa Cruz is a hotel where coastal vistas, abundant wildlife, and authentic Uruguayan ranch culture converge, creating a rare harmony of privacy, natural abundance, and understated luxury. Guests enjoy exclusive access to Laguna José Ignacio, a rare protected wetland alive with flamingos, herons, and black-necked swans. The surrounding countryside is a patchwork of sandy pastures, palm groves, and native grasslands, where migratory birds trace the wind and the rhythms of rural life unfold at their own pace.

The estate is composed of five standalone wooden villas and the Santa Cruz Polo Club, where guests can watch professional matches or take private lessons to experience Uruguay’s equestrian heritage firsthand. Each villa is designed for privacy and offers direct views of the rolling pastures and Laguna José Ignacio, with interiors reflecting Uruguay’s understated elegance: handcrafted wood furniture, linen textiles, and locally made ceramics. Every space is framed by wildflowers, open fields, and the distant sound of the Río de la Plata, creating a tactile connection to the land. The estate also features an Olympic-sized pool with jacuzzi, a full spa and wellness center, and a state-of-the-art gym, ensuring that every stay balances relaxation, activity, and immersion in nature.

Estancia Santa Cruz offers a rare sense of intimacy. It’s not a hotel so much as a home, where guests are invited to slow down, share meals, and feel the land through its textures and sounds. Days unfold gently: rides at dawn, swims in the lagoon, long siestas, and quiet nights under constellations rarely seen in city skies.

WHY WANDER

The region surrounding Estancia Santa Cruz is a mosaic of ocean, lagoon, and countryside. Just 15 minutes away, José Ignacio embodies Uruguay’s coastal energy: wild beaches, refined simplicity, and a creative pulse that draws artists, designers, and chefs from around the world. Wander its cobbled streets lined with whitewashed houses and blooming bougainvillea, stop by the iconic lighthouse for panoramic ocean views, and spend long afternoons at beachside institutions like La Huella or Marismo, where wood smoke, sea salt, and slow living define the rhythm of the day.

Nature lovers can kayak across the Laguna José Ignacio, explore the wetlands with a local naturalist, or birdwatch in the early morning when herons, ibises, and flamingos gather at the water’s edge. The surrounding countryside reveals small vineyards and olive groves that open their doors to visitors—places like Bodega Garzón, where rolling hills meet the Atlantic breeze, offering tastings paired with sweeping views of the Uruguayan landscape. For wellness seekers, beach yoga sessions, spa treatments inspired by local botanicals, and guided meditations by the lagoon provide grounding moments.

At the heart of the property lies the Santa Cruz Polo Club. Guests can watch professional matches or take private polo lessons guided by seasoned instructors, learning the art and precision of the sport in a relaxed, scenic setting. After a match, champagne and local wine flow freely as the sun drops low behind the fields; a timeless ritual that embodies the camaraderie and charm of country life in Uruguay.

INDULGE IN

Enjoy Estancia Santa Cruz’s signature barbecue and fire pit, the perfect setting to watch the sunset while sipping handcrafted cocktails, local wines, or sharing wood-fired pizzas and the estancia’s famous Flammkuchen. For a more formal dining experience, visit La Sierra, the estate’s on-site restaurant. La Sierra serves farm-to-table cuisine using organic, locally sourced ingredients from the estate’s own gardens and draws inspiration from the rich culinary traditions of Germany and Bolivia.

GETTING THERE

Estancia Santa Cruz is accessible via Punta del Este Airport, which offers daily flights from Argentina and Brazil. The airport accommodates private jets 24 hours a day and is located a 30-minute drive from José Ignacio. Alternatively, guests may arrive via Montevideo, approximately 1.5 hours away, traveling along Uruguay’s scenic coastal route through farmland, forest, and sea views.

WILD INITIATIVES

The retreat integrates regenerative practices that restore both guests and the environment. Organic vegetable gardens nurture soil health through composting and crop rotation, while vineyards sequester carbon and support biodiversity. Low-impact activities such as yoga, cycling, and non-motorized water sports on the protected Laguna José Ignacio minimize ecological disruption.

Wellness therapies including infrared sauna and contrast water therapy enhance the body’s natural healing processes, while horseback riding and guided garden tours deepen guests’ understanding of regenerative land management.

Photos by Estancia Santa Cruz

Sacromonte

Maldonado, Uruguay

THE PERSONALITIES

Slow-living seekers. Natural wine lovers. Design-conscious nomads. Couples in search of quiet. Writers chasing stillness. Architects drawn to mirrored forms.

MOMENTS

Waking to sunrise through floor-to-ceiling glass. Forest walks among eucalyptus and wild herbs. Cooking with fire, eating with your hands. Wine tasting at golden hour. Stargazing from your plunge pool.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

Sacromonte is beautiful year-round, but spring through autumn (September to April) brings the most color and calm.

September–November: Wildflowers bloom. The vineyards begin to wake. Perfect for hiking and open-air meals.

December–February: Warm, dry summer days. Harvest celebrations. Long evenings under the stars.

March–April: Grapes are picked. Fires are lit. A slower, more contemplative rhythm sets in.

COST

WHY STAY

Sacromonte isn’t just a hotel—it’s a vineyard embedded in landscape and light. Tucked into the rolling Sierra de Carapé hills in Uruguay’s Maldonado region, this is a place where architecture doesn’t interrupt the land, it vanishes into it. The mirrored cabins reflect the grasses and sky, offering privacy, stillness, and a sense of being in the hills rather than looking at them.

Each of the shelter-like retreats was designed to tread lightly—built with local materials, clad in reflective glass, and set on stilts. Inside, the palette is minimal and warm: natural wood, stone, leather, and linen. Expect wood-burning stoves, outdoor firepits, private plunge pools, and sweeping views of vineyards and valley.

The hotel’s own organic winery sits at the heart of the experience, producing natural wines from native and European varietals. There’s also a fire-driven kitchen that celebrates seasonal produce grown right on site. At Sacromonte, food and wine aren’t amenities—they’re rituals.

This is a place for slowing down, looking out, and breathing with the rhythm of the land.

WHY WANDER

While it’s tempting never to leave your cabin, Sacromonte’s surroundings invite exploration. Walk through wild olive groves and native grasslands. Follow trails that weave past grazing sheep and up toward panoramic hilltop views. Take a guided vineyard tour and learn about biodynamic farming in Uruguay’s lesser-known wine country.

Nearby, you’ll find the Atlantic coast, with its quiet beaches and art-filled enclaves like José Ignacio and Pueblo Garzón. Visit local cheesemakers and olive oil producers, or explore the region’s growing food scene, which draws global chefs seeking simplicity and soil.

Evenings are best spent back at Sacromonte: a glass of wine in hand, your toes in the grass, and the sounds of the countryside all around.

INDULGE IN

Farm-driven meals cooked over flame. Wild herbs from the hills. House-made cheeses. Wood-fired sourdough. Organic wines from Sacromonte’s vineyard—including crisp whites and earthy reds. Slow breakfasts. Sunset tastings with the winemaker.

GETTING THERE

Fly into Punta del Este or Montevideo, followed by a 1.5–2 hour drive inland through rolling countryside. The final approach is unpaved, but worth every bump.

WILD INITIATIVES

Sacromonte was designed with minimal impact: the mirrored cabins blend with the landscape and reduce visual interference. The organic vineyard follows sustainable, low-intervention practices. Native vegetation is preserved throughout the property, and food is grown on-site or sourced from nearby farmers. Guests are invited to learn about regenerative agriculture, slow architecture, and how hospitality can live lightly on the land.

*Photos property of Sacromonte; Leonardo Finotti, Tali Kimelman