9 Rainforest Resorts That Put You Right in the Jungle
Nothing lights up the imagination quite like the thought of traversing the jungle. Standing under towering canopies, surrounded by dense foliage and avian symphonies, rainforests elicit a sense of wonder and connectedness with nature unlike any other biome on earth. While they only cover three percent of the planet, rainforests are home to more than half of Earth’s animal and plant life, making them a top destination for adventurous nature lovers.
A journey to the jungle may seem like a fantasy, but we’ve researched a handful of hotels that make it possible—without compromising environmental responsibility or luxury amenities. Read on for nine upscale resorts that transport guests into the rainforest. Whether your travel plans are taking you to the Amazon, remote regions of equatorial Africa, or tropical island escapes, we have an accommodation for you.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden TrianglehotelFour Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
$$$ |
Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2021The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, a luxury resort peeking out of the jungle, borders both Burma and Laos in Northern Thailand. Tented accommodations mesh with the surrounding environment, with private outdoor hot tubs, river views, and infinity pools to make relaxing in nature a seamless experience. Foraging for food and medicinal plant walks are just some of the ways the hotel connects guests to this unique jungle environment.
James Walsh/SinamatellaBwindi Lodge
The jungle experience doesn’t get much more immersive than the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Volcanoes Safari’s Bwindi Lodge is perched just above the forest canopy, offering dramatic views of the primeval forest and access to trekking with the mountain gorillas that live within. The luxury lodge prioritizes the preservation of this exceptional ecosystem, in part by working with the local community through its Partnership Trust. Ten bandas are available for booking, and they each include butler service and a 30-minute massage for each guest.
Géraldine BruneelHBD Sundy Praia Príncipe Island
At first glance, the idyllic coast of Príncipe, a tiny island off the west coast of Africa, only reveals white sand beaches, cerulean water, and copious palm trees. But that’s the way the HBD Príncipe’s hotel founder Mark Shuttleworth designed it. Take a closer look, and you’ll find that Sundy Praia’s 15 luxurious tented suites are inconspicuous among the foliage. HBD’s guests are immersed in Príncipe’s rainforest, which was moments away from being converted into a palm oil plantation before tourism arrived a decade ago.
Maruia River RetreatMaruia River Retreat
The South Island of New Zealand is the country’s adventure hub, and the Maruia River Retreat capitalizes on the expansive nature of the region. The retreat features seven luxury villas nestled among a 500-acre nature estate, on which guests can privately enjoy the surrounding beech forest. There is no shortage of gourmet food and luxury treatments to help guests kick back—forest bathing, guided walks, and restorative spa treatments are just some of the ways retreat-goers can expect to facilitate their rejuvenation in the jungle.
- DestinationsHow to Do Napa Without Breaking the Bank
Copal Tree Lodge, a Muy'Ono ResortCopal Tree Lodge
The tiny Central American country of Belize has a wide range of environments—including reefs, caves, Mayan ruins, and waterfalls—but its densest jungle is found in the southern region of the country near the town of Punta Gorda. Barely visible among the lush treetops is Copal Tree Lodge, a luxury eco-resort surrounded by 22,000 acres of preserved rainforest. Guests stay in one of 16 suites or a three-bedroom villa, and can expect to spend breakfast with howler monkeys and toucans. The property is also home to a 3,000-acre sustainable farm that produces chocolate, coffee, and Copalli Rum.
Silky Oakes LodgehotelSilky Oaks Lodge
$$$ |
Gold List 2024 
Hot List 2022Australia isn’t just home to a vast red desert and metropolitan cities—there is also plenty of dense jungle to be found. In Queensland, the Daintree Rainforest is a tropical destination home to the Silky Oaks Lodge, a luxury hideaway with 40 treehouse suites that integrate guests into the landscape. Keep an eye out for any one of the 315 mammal species living in the Daintree, 13 of which are endemic, like the Boyd's forest dragon. Signature experiences include exploring the Mossman River, and taking a dreamtime walk with a guide from the Kuku Yalanji community, who were the original stewards of this land.
- DestinationsHow to Do Napa Without Breaking the Bank
Mashpi LodgeMashpi Lodge
Sixty miles northwest of Quito is Mashpi Lodge, a luxury escape built around the topography of Ecuador’s cloud forest. Every room has floor to ceiling windows, which when combined with the lodge’s open-air terrace, a canopy-skimming sky bike, and nature activities, means guests never forget that they are enmeshed in the rainforest. Some 400 wildlife species—including 36 endemic ones—call the reserve around Mashpi Lodge home. The dining is another highlight of the Mashpi experience: flavors of the Ecuadorian forests are utilized, such as wild garlic and chillangua. The hotel takes its responsibility to the region seriously, and as such, the staff is predominantly local to the area.
Courtesy Belmond Hotel das CataratashotelHotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023Belmond’s Hotel Das Cataratas is the only accommodation within the bounds of Iguazú National Park, home to the impressive Iguazú Falls. This pink hotel with 187 rooms has a picture perfect view of the falls, but the surrounding rainforest and its lush wildlife are not to be overlooked. This is a place to get submerged in orchids, serenaded by toucans, and pampered by Belmond, a brand known for its attention to luxury details. An experience exclusive to guests that should not be missed is the sunrise hike through the jungle to the falls.
- DestinationsHow to Do Napa Without Breaking the Bank
Christian Horan/Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Bali at SayanhotelFour Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
$$$ | Gold List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020The Sayan Valley is home to a sacred forest from which the floating lotus pond of the Four Seasons Sayan emerges. This hotel is world-renowned for its stunning architecture, and is built out of a lush hillside overlooking the Ayung River. A sense of being one with the surrounding jungle is evoked in the hotel’s terraced restaurant and pool, and in suites designed with Balinese decor. This iconic property has hosted the likes of the Obamas, and Julia Roberts stayed there while shooting Eat, Pray, Love.