Playa Vik José Ignacio

Character and identity

Playa Vik sits directly on Playa Mansa at the western edge of José Ignacio, the discreetly glamorous Uruguayan beach village where Argentine and Uruguayan elite decamp each summer. Carlos Ott designed the property around a titanium-and-glass Sculpture building that doubles as a contemporary art space, with works by Turrell, Kiefer, Hadid and Atchugarry scattered across the grounds. Nineteen suites are split between the central building and six freestanding casitas, none identical. Dining centres on a parrillero terrace with daily-changing catch-of-the-day menus and Vik wines. Service runs warm and barefoot-informal rather than starched.

Who's it for

Bottom line

This is essentially a private contemporary art collection you can sleep inside, on one of South America's loveliest stretches of beach, run with the informality of a friend's house. Book a casita if you're travelling as a group or want maximum privacy, a Sculpture-building suite if the art is the draw. Aim for shoulder months (November or May) for calmer crowds and softer rates.