Last minute luxury family getaways for Christmas and New Year to Latin America

For families looking for last minute luxury getaways this Christmas to escape the winter, there are still some great options available to Latin America, offering a welcome respite from the dark and damp back home.

“Families may not want to be away from home for Christmas every year, but for time poor families wanting some added sunshine and to maximise their holiday time, Christmas and New year spent overseas is always a popular option,” says Kirsty Williams, director of Latin American specialist, Bespoke Latin America.

Bespoke Latin America and our sister brand Bespoke Brazil offer a range of luxury holidays throughout the continent so whilst it's a good time to visit Patagonia or Antarctica, those looking for sunshine need to head to the north of the continent where Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Costa Rica offer some fabulous escapes this festive period.

Plus, after all the focus on Rio de Janeiro this year and after an incredible Olympic Games there is still good availability for those looking to visit the Marvellous City and share in their spectacular New Year's Eve celebrations.

Below are 3 great ideas for families looking to explore over Christmas plus 7 superb villas for families looking to fly and flop;

Where? Costa Rica

Fly direct with British Airways to San Jose on the 20th December and head for 3 nights to the fabulous El Silencio Lodge where there is abundant wildlife and activities before driving to the foothills of the Tenorio Volcano for 4 nights at Rio Celeste Hideaway. In Tenorio you can try your hand at zipling and visit nearby Lake Arenal plus a variety of other activities before you head to the beach for a week over New Year by the Pacific at the luxury resort of Andaz Papagayo, landing back to the UK on the 4th January.

What's the cost?

£27,465 based on a 14-night holiday for a family of four travelling with direct British Airways flights from London Gatwick, private tours and transfers and luxury accommodation.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

Where? Peru

Fly direct with British Airways to Lima on the 18th December and have 2 nights in the capital at the stylish Hotel B with a private tour of the capital. Then fly to the altitude of Arequipa, the white city, where you can explore before venturing higher to the Colca Canyon. The family will love the sight of condors soaring high over the canyon and here you can stay at the idyllic Las Casitas del Colca, the perfect place to unwind. You will continue to Cusco where you can spend Christmas at the historic Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, a former convent, and visit Machu Picchu on the luxury Hiram Bingham train on Boxing Day. You will explore the Sacred Valley and it's many Inca sights and stay at the relaxed Sol y Luna hotel prior to finishing your trip at Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world and enjoying 3 nights at Titilaka, the best hotel in the area where all your activities and meals are included. You'll land back to the UK on the 2nd January.

What's the cost?

£26,385 based on a 14-night holiday for a family of four travelling with direct British Airways flights from London Gatwick, private tours and transfers and luxury accommodation.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

Where? Brazil

Fly overnight to Brazil with British Airways on the 20th December and stay for 3 nights at Iguassu Falls in the fabulous Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas, the only hotel located inside the national park allowing 24 hour access to the waterfalls. Here you can also enjoy a guided tour to the Argentine side of the falls and a close up view of the falls on the speedboat which gets you very wet! Then fly over to Rio de Janeiro and head straight on to Buzios for 5 nights over Christmas on the beach at the wonderful Hotel Casas Brancas. No trip to Brazil over this time would be complete without a visit to Rio de Janeiro for New Year so we suggest a stay at the 5 star Copacabana beach front Hotel Miramar. Here you can view the fireworks over the bay from your hotel room or join the thousands of revellers on Copacabana Beach, all dressed in white. Whilst in the city a private guide will show you the best sights and you will land back to the UK on the 3rd January.

What's the cost?

£26,385 based on a 15-night holiday for a family of four travelling with British Airways flights from London Heathrow, private tours and transfers and luxury accommodation.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

Looking to fly and flop? There is still some great villas available for Christmas and New year in Brazil and Uruguay and below is a select few;

Villa Santa Teresa (Rio de Janeiro - Brazil)

This grand five-bedroom house is set within a private, guarded estate in the hills of the Santa Teresa neighbourhood. Built in 1940 and owned by one of the oldest families in Rio, the house epitomizes elegance and luxury. The hill-top location gives the house unrivalled views of Sugarloaf Mountain and Guanabara Bay, and the charming restaurants, shops, and cobblestone streets of Santa Teresa are just moments away.

The exquisitely decorated mansion has five vast air-conditioned ensuite bedrooms. All bedrooms come with large bathrooms and walk-in closets, and two of the bedrooms and a reception room have an outdoor terrace where you can admire the amazing view. Beyond the five bedrooms, there is also a TV room leading out to the terrace that can be turned into an additional sixth bedroom with three single beds if needed. Depending on where you are in the house, you have a choice between the view of Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer or even the Maracanã Stadium.

What's the cost?

£22,650 based on a 7-night stay including Daily maid service and housekeeper plus 24/7 support and a customised pre-arrival grocery shopping (only the cost of the groceries will be charged separately). The price doesn't include flights, transfers or tours however these can easily be arranged too.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

Villa Luz (Buzios - Brazil)

Built in 2006, Villa Luz is a luxurious five-bedroom modern house built on three levels over an incline, with some of the most stunning sea views in Búzios. Set on top of a hill at the point where the neck of Ferradura Bay opens to the Atlantic, the house offers dramatic views of the ocean and the nearby hills that slope down to the sands of the horseshoe-shaped bay. The house is blissfully peaceful for Búzios, with a distinctly Mediterranean feel coming from the natural light and sounds, the birdsong, waves and the breeze in the palm fronds. The beach is only a 10-minute walk away down a sloping track.

The heart of the home is a two-level integrated living room, dining room, kitchen and entertaining area. The large double height living area has huge sliding glass doors that can be completely opened up to the garden and infinity edge pool, which appears to empty into the bay below, famous for its amazing sunsets. An additional living area and a bar also share the modern

space with a 14-seat home theatre in the mezzanine. The five bedrooms are accessed via a courtyard garden replete with gurgling fountains and gentle waterfalls, and come with white linens, air-conditioning, bathrooms and private balconies commanding breathtaking natural ocean views.

What's the cost?

£25,890 based on a 7-night stay including assistance of an English-speaking host on day of arrival, Meet & greet and house orientation, Daily maid service and housekeeper plus 24/7 support and a customised pre-arrival grocery shopping (only the cost of the groceries will be charged separately). The price doesn't include flights, transfers or tours however these can easily be arranged too.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

Casarao Amarelo (Paraty - Brazil)

Casarao Amarelo is a beautiful colonial-style beachfront property with its origins dating back to the 19th Century. Facing the islands of the Paraty Bay, it is located just a few minutes walk from the bars, restaurants and shops of the lovely historic town of Paraty. With the Jabaquara River on one side and a beautiful forested hillside on the other, the house and its beach, swimming pool, and gardens, offer guests complete privacy.

The house was recently remodelled, and the colonial architecture is perfectly in keeping with its environment. The property sleeps up to 10 guests, with five bedrooms spread throughout separate structures on the property- a main house, guest house, and pool house. Inside the main house you will find one master suite with a double bed, and one twin bedroom (with two wide single beds), both with ensuite bathrooms and air-conditioning. There is also a study, large kitchen, dining room, guest bathroom, and a sitting room with French doors that open onto a veranda the length of the house. On the veranda you can enjoy drinking your morning coffee at the breakfast table, relaxing in the day beds while enjoying the ocean view, or sipping cocktails during sunset.

What's the cost?

£16,505 based on a 7-night stay including Full staff including daily maid, English-speaking house manager, good local cook to prepare lunch and dinner, maintenance man and night guard

plus 24/7 support and a customised pre-arrival grocery shopping (only the cost of the groceries will be charged separately). The price doesn't include flights, transfers or tours however these can easily be arranged too.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

Casa do Morro (Trancoso - Brazil)

Casa do Morro is a stunning five-bedroom beach house decorated with local antiques and natural fibers, emphasizing the outdoors with the fantastic ocean views, a pool and the nearby beach. A short walk down the hill from the house is the beach, which extends for miles in either direction, and the bars and restaurants of the Quadrado are also just a five-minute drive away.

The beautifully decorated main house has a large open-plan sitting and dining area, a fully-equipped kitchen, a TV room, four ensuite bedrooms, and a spacious outdoor veranda running across the entire length of the house, with multiple seating areas and great ocean views. The house also has a ping pong table and a record player. From the main house there are steps down to the garden where you will find a large infinity swimming pool, a wet-bar and BBQ area with a wood-burning pizza oven. There is also a charming outdoor lounge covered by a bougainvillea-clad pergola, and a separate pavilion slung with hammocks that is perfect for an afternoon siesta

What's the cost?

£50,385 based on a 10-night stay including Daily maid service, good local cook and maintenance man plus 24/7 support and a customised pre-arrival grocery shopping (only the cost of the groceries will be charged separately). The price doesn't include flights, transfers or tours however these can easily be arranged too.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

Villa Las Dunas (José Ignacio - Uruguay)

This superb beachfront villa is located on the golden sands of Santa Monica Beach - an exclusive coastal strip five minutes away from José Ignacio. Villa Las Dunas features a level of décor, furnishing and equipment that is second to none in the area, including state-of-the-art split air conditioners in each bedroom and in all living areas, central floor heating (in the unlikely event it is required), an exquisite mix of vintage and designer furniture and fittings, large plasma TVs with home theatre systems, alarm system, pool heating system, screen and blackout curtains, and the list goes on.

A wooden staircase in front of the main entrance leads to a glass mezzanine lit by a large skylight, providing access to four ample bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. To the right there's a guest toilet, a well-appointed playroom, a modern fully equipped kitchen and laundry, and a fifth bedroom with an ensuite bathroom that can accommodate an additional guest or a nanny. The beach can be enjoyed from both inside and out, thanks to the large floor-to-ceiling windows that adorn the living and dining rooms, creating a sense of fusion with the deck, beach and sea beyond. Its large wooden deck is an oasis in itself, featuring an outdoor lounge, traditional parilla, and best of all, a sail-shaped heated pool surrounded by sun loungers - all just a moments walk from the directly accessible beach.

What's the cost?

£43,450 based on a 10-night stay including Assistance of an English-speaking host to help you run the house and book other activities for you, Daily maid service, Chef and assistant to prepare lunch and dinner plus 24/7 support and a customised pre-arrival grocery shopping (only the cost of the groceries will be charged separately). The price doesn't include flights, transfers or tours however these can easily be arranged too.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

Villa Casa Negra (José Ignacio - Uruguay)

This glamorous five-bedroom beachfront villa is set right on the sand of one of the most sought after areas and exclusive coastal strip, Santa Monica Beach. It is just 5 minutes away from the chic fishing village José Ignacio that is home to many fabulous restaurants and boutiques.

The property is spaced over three floors and has been finished to the highest standard. On the ground floor there is a kitchen and a large open plan living-cum-dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows, which open on to semi-covered galleries and a large wooden deck offering spectacular sea views. There are two bedrooms located on the ground floor, both with en-suite bathrooms. Downstairs in the basement there is even a gym! The outdoor living areas of this property are second to none and overlook the Atlantic Ocean. This house is perfect for entertaining with its semi-covered gallery with big sofas, a barbeque with a U-shaped casual dining area and an al fresco dining area. There is an L-shaped heated swimming pool surrounded by a large wooden deck, which has both parasols and sun loungers and direct access to a quasi-private beach with its own palapa.

What's the cost?

£67,490 based on a 10-night stay including Assistance of an English-speaking host to help you run the house and book other services, Daily maid service (two maids), Chef and assistant to prepare lunch and dinner plus 24/7 support and a customised pre-arrival grocery shopping (only the cost of the groceries will be charged separately). The price doesn't include flights, transfers or tours however these can easily be arranged too.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

La Laguna (José Ignacio - Uruguay)

The estate is a haven of peace, hidden away on the shore of the Laguna Garzon, just a few minutes from the bustle of José Ignacio. There are 6 suites in total spread between the main house and two identical cabins which are reached through the garden. There are views of the lagoon all around - from the main house there are especially spectacular sunsets from the deck; from the garden and quincho, a lovely open-sided thatched bbq pavilion; and form the two bedroom cabins.

The main house is an innovative structure of white-painted wood with panoramic views of the surrounding unspoilt landscapes. With its wide elevated terrace and wrap-around deck, open plan living space and high breezy ceilings the houses succeeds in being both traditional and unique, a property that is perfectly in harmony with its surroundings. Uruguayan architect Mario Connio, responsible for many of the most important houses on this stretch of the South American coast,

originally conceived and built the house as his holiday getaway home and was uncompromising about the location he chose which is at once an oasis celebrating the region's beauty yet only a short bike ride to the chic centre of the action in José Ignacio. Built following simple materials of wood and corrugated iron, the house appears planted in the landscape as it sits of stilts on three sides of the 200m2 construction and this elevation helps to make the most of the staggering views, best seen with a frosted glass in hand from the deck at sunset.

What's the cost?

£49,920 based on a 10-night stay including Assistance of an English-speaking host to help you run the house and book other activities for you, Daily maid service (two live-in caseiros and an extra maid, as the house will be full), Chef and assistant to prepare lunch and dinner plus 24/7 support and a customised pre-arrival grocery shopping (only the cost of the groceries will be charged separately). The price doesn't include flights, transfers or tours however these can easily be arranged too.

What will it be like? - See our IMAGE GALLERY

For bookings or more information about Bespoke Latin America, please visit www.bespokelatinamerica.com or call T. 01603 340680.