I have been spending some time in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico, taking advantage of smaller-than-usual crowds and checking out some new resorts that have sprung up this year.

My first stop was Hacienda Tres Rios, a new all-inclusive hotel with a heart. Most of the land was kept as a nature reserve and the hotel is built upon pilings to minimize the impact on the existing environment. You can tour the reserve by bike, kayak, or on foot. I took a great excursion where I jumped into a cenote and then floated down the river to the ocean. With a mask on, I could see fish, some underground caves, and crabs. The hotel itself has all the comforts you would expect, however, plus food that is a major step above the usual all-inclusive fare. The staff is a bit thinner than it should be in this current time of crisis, especially around the pool and snack bar, but overall this is a solid upscale option with well-equipped rooms and very good restaurants.

Next up was the long-anticipated Banyan Tree Mayakoba, the first outpost of this chain’s in the America’s. Take my word for it that it was worth the wait. This is one of the most spectacular hotels I have seen outside of Asia and it’s a standout in every way. The architecture is stunning and the spacious villas—all with their own pool—are some of the best “rooms” you can find anywhere in Latin America. Although this is a new hotel, you wouldn’t know if from the exemplary service throughout. Even the security guards speak English well, most of the staffers greet you by name, and the masseuses and Thai restaurant cooks were shipped in from Thailand. Consider the bar officially raised now in this hemisphere.

I consider the Grand Velas in Puerto Vallarta to be the best all-inclusive hotel in Mexico, so I was looking forward to seeing its new sibling in the Riviera Maya, a walk down the beach from the two mentioned above. This new addition to the local scene does not disappoint, especially when it comes time for dinner. If you could choose between eating at the five best restaurants in Playa del Carmen town or eating at five restaurants here instead, the Grand Velas would win hands down. These are some of the most attractive (and expensive looking) dining rooms on the coast, with food that lives up to the surroundings. These spots, and the hip clubs attached to them, wouldn’t be out of place in Mexico City. Here though, some come with a view of the sea. With one of the longest stretches of beachfront any hotel in the area can claim, there’s plenty of “grand” in this Grand Velas.

Watch for full reviews of these three new resorts in the coming weeks.

I recently got the chance to tour around the historic center of colonial Mexico, in some of the oldest Spanish settlements in the Americas. This was also the region where Mexicans started their independence movement, plus it was the center of the silver mining that fed the crown, so all kind of tangles and turns over the centuries.

I’ve been looking forward to seeing the Quinta Real Zacatecas for quite a while. This is a truly unique hotel in a great city. It’s built around a former bullring, with the bar in the area where the bulls and matadors used to enter and a restaurant overlooking the whole ring. See our full review of the Quinta Real Zacatecas.

I also got to spend some time at the Quinta Real Aguascalientes. This is not a city that attracts many tourists, but it’s a big business center and it does have a few interesting museeums in town, including the Museo de los Muertos (Museum of the Dead).

See our review of the Quinta Real Aguascalientes.

The Quinta Real chain is a domestic Mexican one that delivers consistently high quality. It’s usually a safe bet that if they have an outlet in a location, it’ll be the best hotel in town.

Panama has been an interesting Latin American real estate story over the past two decades. At first nobody knew about it, then the government started offering amazing incentives to lure foreign investors. That did the trick, especially after publications like International Living started talking up the country as the best retirement option out there. Then when rich Venezuelans and Colombians started fleeing from problems at home, the market got even more frothy.

Things have started to level off now with the global economic slump, but prices are still a bit out of whack in popular spots. There are others though that are still off the radar of most investors. This is a story about one of those: Real Estate in the Azueros Peninsula.

This is a prime waterfront area where things are still sleepy and there’s not much development. The centerpiece is the Azueros development itself, part of a wide-reaching plan that includes the luxe hotel Villa Camilla. This is an area to keep an eye on and if you’re in property-scouting mode right now, take a detour from the capital and see it for yourself.

Jamie Schectman spent his whole adult life in Lake Tahoe, California but now enjoys living full time in the Lakes District of Argentina, just outside of Bariloche. He and his wife Shanie manage a wide range of private and fully-equipped properties and they offer personalized service to all guests. Check out our their Living In Patagonia blog for more information on the area and Bariloche Vacation Rentals for property rundowns. We caught up with him to get the scoop on renting a house in Argentine Patagonia.

For our readers who have never been there, what’s special about the Bariloche region of Argentina?
Bariloche offers and endless array of outdoor activities. In addition, the natural beauty and dining options are truly world-class. The Andes Mountains are usually topped by snow and they surround a long lake. A major ski resort, Catedral, is near Bariloche.

Why rent a house there instead of staying at a hotel?
All of our properties are located in the most beautiful parts of the area. The homes are all fully stocked, offer wireless internet and offer a nice, spacious, good-value alternative to a cramped hotel room. (Plus very few of the hotels have a view like the one below.)

What are the differences between Bariloche town itself and the lakeside areas where most of the rental houses you represent are located?
People sometimes make the mistake of visiting Bariloche and staying in the city center. In reality, almost all of the sites and attractions, as well as the best restaurants, are located to the west of the city, towards Llao Llao and Ruta 77 (Circuito Chico). The area outside the city is far more attractive to the eye and is quieter.

How do the prices of rental homes in this area of Argentina compare to those in comparable areas of North America, such as Colorado, Montana, or British Colombia?

…full interview continued after the jump

One of our correspondents recently had the tough job of going on a custom tour in the northern Patagonia area of Argentina with the premier upscale agency Mai10. Hey, somebody’s gotta do it.

She started in Buenos Aires at the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, but then stayed at a range of intimate estancias and fishing lodges in the countryside after she headed south.

It’s a tale of panoramic views, fly fishing, horseback riding, nature parks, and spas, taking in the best of the best that northern Patagonia has to offer. Of course that includes lots of fine wine and wonderful food.

Read the full story here: A Tailor-made Tour of Argentine Patagonia’s Lake District.