Estancia Vik opened its doors back in February 2009, the first of the Vik hotels. It is located just ten-minutes inland from its seaside sisters on a 4,000-acre private estancia (accessible by horseback, bicycle or vehicle). The impressive white structure was built by Uruguayan architect Marcelo Daglio and is reminiscent of the colonial style with its columns and terracotta tiles.

Open air courtyards are adorned with foliage and sculptures, and there’s the ubiquitous Vik 20-meter granite swimming pool with LED lights mirroring the evening sky. The most intimate of the four Vik hotels, Estancia Vik has just twelve suites, each one designed and decorated by a different Uruguayan artist. As for what to do – take your pick from polo, golf, kayaks, spa, gym, bird watching, picnics and taking trips down to the beach.

The artists featured throughout Estancia Vik are celebrated for their vision and individuality. Each has been selected by the retreat’s owners through their involvement with art in Uruguay over many years, and in partnership with Marcelo Daglio and curator Enrique Badaró Nadal. Some highlights include the Estancia’s vast central living room which showcases a statuary white marble sculpture by world renowned Pablo Atchugarry; standing 3.5 meter or 12 feet tall. The acclaimed Uruguayan sculptor’s creation rises to meet the 300 square meter ceiling and frieze painted by Clever Lara, another leading Uruguayan contemporary artist. This work is a “satellitescape” view of Jose Ignacio and Uruguay, inspired by Google Earth. Eight very large semi-precious stones in their natural state hang from the walls between sets of glass doors, which the owners discovered in the far north of Uruguay. Colorist Carlos Musso has painted the Estancia’s unique garden chapel in his beautifully spiritual manner. These are just a few examples of what has become the central theme of the Estancia.

Estancia Vik José Ignacio has become one of the world’s first environmentally-conscious luxury properties through its use of a variety of sustainable measures and innovative green technologies. Inspired by the magnificent landscape of José Ignacio, its vast rolling hills, rugged countryside and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Estancia Vik has been designed to preserve the remarkable beauty of its natural surroundings. The property operates in an environmentally sensitive manner through its use of natural resources, solar energy, innovative design and water collection, maximizing natural resources to heat, cool, ventilate and irrigate. Fireplaces throughout provide additional warmth, and with the addition of three new windmills, Estancia Vik has also become the first luxury resort of its kind to have the capability to operate entirely off the grid.