Armenia, Colombia
Opened
2018
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness LocalOutside the door
The house
AKEN Hotels & ResortsStilted canopy lodge
The lodge sits high on an Andean ridge, trading televisions for total immersion in the surrounding cloud forest.
What it’s good at
Notable
Morning yoga on the contemplation deck and a thermal wet circuit with Turkish baths.
Notable
Guided birdwatching along native forest trails, bordered by traditional Quindío coffee plantations.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Here there are no mere accommodations, but Habitats — most of them suites, designed in an unapologetically modernist style, with vast picture windows
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Circasia sits ten minutes away, and the towering wax palms of the Cocora Valley are a half-hour drive.
The rooms
Elevated Aviary cabins have glass on all four sides, suspending your bed directly inside the forest canopy.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A glass-walled swimming pool looks out over the Andean valley, and select cabins have private stone plunge pools.
The spa & gym
At the table
Basto Resto Bar serves seasonal Colombian recipes made from local produce, and weekends bring evening DJ sets.
How it began
Architect Julián Escobar and engineer Jorge Andrés González planned private housing here before deciding to preserve the native forest.
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.