Arapey Thermal Resort & Spa

Termas del Arapey, in the Salto department of Uruguay, is the setting for this five-star resort, built around a set of natural hot springs. The property is arranged to work with the surrounding landscape rather than against it, so the springs, gardens and golf course read as one continuous ground rather than separate zones. It is the only resort in the country to bring together thermal springs, a golf course and a spa under a single all-inclusive system. Guests move between mineral pools and fairway with little in between. The water stays warm year-round, drawn from the springs themselves. A spa sits close to the pools, built for the same slow pace as the baths. Service runs on an all-inclusive basis, covering meals as well as access to the grounds. It is a quiet corner of Salto, well outside the capital. The golf course threads around the thermal complex, giving players views back toward the pools between holes. Rooms are arranged to keep the springs and greens within easy reach, so the resort works equally as a base for golf or for the baths alone.