House of Jasmines, Salta

Location

Salta, tucked away in Argentina’s rugged northern tip, is famous for its well-preserved colonial architecture and plazas lined with cafés and live folk music venues. And, just 20 minutes from the town, the House of Jasmines enjoys 247 acres of parks and gardens where you can drink in the smell of its eponymous flowers from under century-old trees. It’s also ideally positioned for excursions to the vineyards of Cafayate, pretty salt lakes and Purmamarca’s ‘Mount of Seven Colours’. Closer to home, there are plenty of adventure activities that range from hiking with llamas and trekking to rafting and mountain biking. This being Argentina, you’ll also find polo as well as golf nearby. The airport is also just a ten minute drive away.

Accommodation

Warm, earthy beiges and light browns are complemented by ivory touches and colourful accents in rooms that are as peaceful and almost as spacious as their location. All Standard Rooms are located in the estancia’s main quarters overlooking the grounds. They feature king sized beds topped with cushion piles and hand embroidered linen as period fittings make for charming stays. In Junior Suites, guests can relax to mountain views from private terraces or in their separate living area. Larger Suites also come with separate entrances and are scented by fresh flowers from the garden. For groups, the Higher Room can be adjoined to suites. Guests can also communicate via the high speed WiFi, available throughout.

Dining

It won’t come as a surprise that much of the restaurant’s ingredients are sourced from the estate’s very own gardens. Home grown vegetables and herbs garnish asado (barbecued) Argentinian meats such as lamb and cabrito (kid). And, snacking on steamed tamales and humitas accompanied by balcony views out over to the Andes is an unforgettable experience. Back indoors, an open kitchen shows chefs at work on the clay oven and open fires as cold nights are extinguished by a crackling fireplace and summer evenings are spent under the stars.

Facilities

While you’ll find a conditioned swimming pool, a solarium and a paddleboard court, one of our favourite things to do at Jasmines is to simply take a walk through its gardens. Alternatively, borrow a mountain bike to explore orchards fresh with light aromas and flower beds sprinkled with colour and scents. If that’s not enough, there’s also an excellent spa whose 300 square metres of cabins, relaxation areas and terraces are host to steam rooms, dry saunas and an impressive range of treatments. The detoxifying herbal drinks and selection of tea are a particular pleasure.