The 50 Most-Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2026
Posted on February 9, 2026 · Alia Akkam
Explora El Calafate, Patagonia, Argentina
Design: José Cruz Ovalle
What we’re looking forward to: Explora ramps up its collection of South American lodges with the 20-room El Calafate. The remote hideaway, set within an estancia near Lake Argentino, blurs into the southern Patagonian steppe landscape. With more than 30 personalized excursions overseen by Explora guides included in each stay, much time is spent wandering the region. Those who remain at the property partake of Argentinean cooking from the open-fire kitchen, relax in outdoor hot tubs, and catch glimpses of Perito Moreno Glacier.