Windward and Crown

06/04/2026

What does the most ultra-private, most exclusive island resort in Southeast Asia actually look like? This.

Amanpulo sits on Pamalican Island in the Philippines, in the Sulu Sea, accessible only by chartered flight from Manila. Here's what you can expect at one of the world's most exclusive addresses:

42 private casitas spread across the island, a house reef you can snorkel directly from the beach, dive sites with some of the most remarkable visibility and coral cover in Southeast Asia, and not a single day visitor in sight. The beach is yours, the schedule is yours, and the only transportation on the island is a golf cart.

This is one of the most exclusive trips we plan. Reach out if you'd like to be next. ?

06/04/2026

Along Lake Atitlán, each village brings Maya heritage to life through language, textiles, and ancestral flavors, all set against breathtaking views of the surrounding volcanoes. 🌋 🌄

Read more, then reach out to plan a trip that pairs lakeside adventure with meaningful cultural encounters.

📷: Luis García

Luxury tours of Central America’s deepest lake visit bastions of Indigenous heritage in villages including San Pedro, San Juan, Santa Catarina Palopó, and Santiago Atitlán.

06/03/2026

Think of them as the B-sides of travel: the places that aren't at the top of anyone's must-visit list but that leave travelers wondering why they didn't go sooner. Fewer crowds, more locals, better availability, and a sense of what travel used to feel like before everyone started going to the same places at the same time.

A few we're recommending right now:

Milos over Mykonos. Same stunning coastline, a fraction of the crowd, and boat-access-only beaches, unlike anything else in the Greek islands.

The Faroe Islands over Iceland. Dramatically remote, dramatically beautiful, and far less visited. The sea cliffs and puffin colonies are the point.

Bacalar over Tulum. Turquoise lagoon water in seven distinct shades, a fraction of the development, and none of the crowds.

Koh Kood over Phuket. Dense jungle, white sand beaches, and a pace that Phuket hasn't been able to offer for years.

Franschhoek over Cape Town. World-class wine estates, long lunches, mountain scenery, and a small town that punches well above its weight.

Ready to flip your record? Let's start planning..

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06/02/2026

In Ecuador, luxury travel is helping protect some of the world’s most extraordinary ecosystems. At Mashpi Lodge, guests can support cloud forest restoration efforts, while Galápagos voyages aboard the National Geographic Delfina contribute to projects bringing giant tortoises back to Floreana Island. 🌎✨

Read more about the journeys featured on Virtuoso’s 2026 Impact List, then let’s plan your trip.

The best trips are more than just a great time – they also do good. Virtuoso’s 2026 Impact List celebrates travel experiences that make a positive impact in the world.

05/31/2026

South Africa is one of the most itinerary-flexible destinations in the world. Here's how we recommend experiencing it:

Cape Town first. It's one of the most visually striking cities on earth, and the design hotel and restaurant scene here has matured significantly. Table Mountain, the Atlantic Seaboard, the Cape Peninsula. Most clients who go for a few days wish they had more.

For wildlife: the private reserves around Sabi Sands share an unfenced border with Kruger National Park. Big Five sightings are among the most consistent on the continent, and the private reserve experience means dramatically fewer vehicles per sighting than in the public park.

For wine: Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are genuinely world-class. The estate stays in Franschhoek in particular, with long lunches, cellar visits, and mountain scenery that doesn't match most people's image of Africa at all.

Most itineraries we design for South Africa cover all three. If Africa is on your travel bucket list, let's talk through what makes sense for your trip. ?

05/30/2026

Europe gets all the attention. South America gets all the rewards. And right now, it's the best-kept secret in luxury travel.

While everyone is fighting for peak-season availability in Italy and France, South America offers world-class hotels, extraordinary food, and a fraction of the crowds. And the destinations have never been better.

Peru has a food culture that has surprised the world, and properties around Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley that rival anything in Europe for design and experience.

Colombia has gone from under the radar to genuinely unmissable: Cartagena's old city, the coffee region, and Medellín's food and design scene are drawing travelers.

Argentina rounds it out with Buenos Aires, one of the great city experiences anywhere, and Mendoza wine country, which competes with the best regions in the world.

Three countries. Extraordinary experiences. If South America has been on your radar, this is the year to stop waiting.

Let's plan it properly. ?

05/28/2026

Set on a reimagined sheep farm turned luxury lodge, Eleven Deplar Farm is made for travelers who want big days and beautiful nights, featuring puffin-filled cliffs and heli-accessed adventures. 🏔️🍷

Read the five reasons this off-grid escape is worth a visit, then reach out to plan your adventure in Iceland’s north.

05/28/2026

Raise your hand if you're overdue for a real break. If so, there's a Forbes Five-Star resort in Southern California with your name on it.

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is 45 acres of citrus groves and Mediterranean architecture just north of San Diego, and it has collected some of the most serious recognition in domestic travel. Forbes Five Star. AAA Five Diamond. Ranked the number one resort in California by U.S. News & World Report. The spa alone is worth the trip.

What makes it stand out: it has the intimacy of a boutique hotel with the amenities of a much larger resort. Fresh-squeezed orange juice delivered to your casita every morning. A Bentley fleet available to borrow. World-class tennis across 20 courts, including red clay. The Pony Room restaurant, serving coastal ranch cuisine that is significantly better than resort dining has any right to be.

If you’re looking for a California trip that doesn't involve LAX or the usual resort experience, this is the one we come back to. ?

05/27/2026

The Chobe River basin has one of the highest concentrations of elephants on Earth. Watching that from the water is an experience of its own.

The Zambezi Queen is a luxury houseboat that cruises the Chobe River on the border of Botswana and Zimbabwe. Fourteen suites, a small group, and days built around the river.

Elephants crossing right in front of the boat is a regular occurrence. So are hippos, crocs, and some of the best birding on the continent. Game drives go alongside the river experience, so guests cover both water and land during the journey.

Advisor insight: This experience pairs naturally with a private game reserve stay in Botswana or Zimbabwe to complete an itinerary that covers the full range of a southern Africa trip.

If Africa is on your list, this is one of the most unique ways to experience it. ?

05/26/2026

Puerto Rico’s cocina criolla is all about comfort, culture, and bold flavor. Rooted in Taíno, Spanish, and African influences, the island’s Creole cuisine tells its story one bold bite at a time 🌴🍽️

Read more below, then let’s plan a journey where food, culture, and beach days go hand in hand.

📷: Getty Images

Mofongo, asopao, frituras, and more Puerto Rican dishes, plus where to try them in San Juan, Piñones, and beyond.