The Report
Have you heard the word?! Jose Ignacio is a small village on the Southern Coast of Uruguay. It is often referred to as the Hamptons of South America. Over the past few years it has become known as as a celeb hideout and one of the coolest destinations in Latin America. For the trendsetting bride or party thrower, this would be the new coastal paradise hotspot to host a wedding.
Located in sleepy fishing town turned socialite stomping ground is Estancia Vik José Ignacio, one of South America’s most exclusive retreats. This ranch combines incredible design, personalized service, eco-friendly practices and an unparalleled collection of contemporary Uruguayan and international art. For those in search of peace and privacy, the property sits on 4,000 acres and boasts a traditional Spanish colonial structure with white adobe walls and a red tin roof. The building is 50,000 square feet, with more than half of that space made up of interior patios of outdoor space – courtyards, gardens, covered walkways and an herb garden located within the Estancia walls. There are a plethora of venue spaces to host a shindig and photo-ops from every angle. From the front this may look like your average Estancia, but don't be mistaken, not only is Estancia Vik filled to the brim with interesting art from Uruguayan artists, but also has as a full sized polo field overlooking the Laguna de Jose Ignacio .
HOW WILL MY GUESTS GET HERE?: Estancia Vik is accessible via the Punta del Este airport, which is serviceable by daily flights from airports in Argentina and Brazil. Punta del Este is an international airport that accommodates private jets 24 hours a day. José Ignacio is a thirty-minute drive along the coast. Alternatively, guests may fly to the capital city of Montevideo one and a half hours away
The Scoop
Estancia Vik José Ignacio can host events ranging from an intimate gathering of 10 guests to a large wedding of up to 1,000 people. As events take place outdoors under tents, the ranch resort can build out the venue as needed along the rolling pastures of the Estancia. Also ideal for private events, the property offers a stunning backdrop to any special occasion with views of the rolling Uruguayan pampa, weaving rivers, and the Laguna Garzon. A traditional Uruguayan barbeque has been built at the north side of the Estancia featuring a central fireplace, or “fogon.” On the south side of the Estancia, the magnificent vaulted brick wine cellar is filled with exceptional South American wines, including VIK from Millahue, Chile.
PARTY TIP: Located directly below the grand dining room you can seat forty to fifty of your guests, allowing them to peer into the cellar through glass windows embedded in the dining room floor. Another cool party feature of the property? On on the south side of the Estancia is a large relaxing garden with a 20-meter Absolute Nero stone pool dotted with fiber optic lights, which mirror the Southern hemisphere’s constellations above. Let guests mingle around this magical setting with cocktails in their hands and music playing in the background.
In addition to throwing beautiful bashes on the property, the ranch is wonderful for getaways, providing an unparalleled location for a vacation with family and friends
PILLOW TALK:Estancia Vik has 12 suites on the resort ranch, with six at each wing ranging in size from 500 square feet to 900 square feet. The retreat can host up to 30 guests for overnight accomodations.
Bonus
Estancia Vik is located a mere 5 miles from its sister property, Playa Vik. Working in tandem, the properties offer a coastal, beachfront experience at Playa Vik and a country ranch retreat in the rolling oceanfront hills of José Ignacio at Estancia Vik.
Your experience at either of these retreats promises to be one of the most unique in the world, with horseback riding across open pampas with gauchos, wildlife, bird and nature exploration. You can play a game of polo on Estancia Vik’s private polo field, or delve into the local nature with mountain biking, hiking, canoeing and fishing at your fingertips. The surroundings also offer a variety of water sports, tennis on Estancia Vik’s grass courts and golf. You and your friends can also dive into the game rooms of both properties that feature table tennis, billiards, foosball, Wii and gaming!
Minutes away from Estancia Vik by foot, a stunning earthen chapel (see bottom right photo above!) created by artist Carlos Musso can be used for weddings, christenings and special events such as concerts or torch-lit dinners.
STYLE FOR YOUR SETTING
Estancia Vik is both artful and elegant at the same time. The eclectic design of art and the rustic ranch setting lends itself to very simple event decor so as not to take away from the surroundings. 1. We love the idea of simple setting the table with a ton of taper candles. This DIY via Once Wed would be the perfect addition to a tablescape here. These are a creative DIY so you will fit right in with the other art showcased at the venue, and they are small/easy to pack! 2. Give your guests Dulce de leche cookies as favors. These are a popular treat in South America and it means it means "candy of milk" or "milk candy". Sweet and simple for your setting. 3.Send invitations to guest filled with vintage stamps from Uruguay to set the tone for the colorful, artsy venue and destination!
Inside Scoop
The artists featured throughout Estancia Vik are celebrated for their vision and individuality. Each has been selected by the retreat’s owner, Carrie and Alex Vik, through their involvement with art in Uruguay over many years. The location, Jose Ignacio, is truly the Hamptons of South America. As a town it has remained pretty low-pro until recent years. It used to be the playground for the uber chic trendsetters of South America, but others have been catching on and it has become a hideaway for celebs like Ralph Lauren, Naomi Watts, and famous fashion photographer Mario Testino. GREEN IS GOOD: The resort is powered by windmills, solar panels and water collection which makes the resort self sustaining. And all of the food they serve is either locally sourced or comes from their organic garden.Highlight Reel
- The incredible earthen Chapel located on the property that can be used for weddings
- Self sustainability and eco-friendly
- Much of the food served on the premises comes from their organic garden
- You and your guests can attempt a game of Polo on their private polo field!
- The food is sourced from their organic garden and local farms
- There is art, art, everywhere! The resort is also a ranch and art gallery!
- The venue is very flexible. You can host events ranging from an intimate gathering of 10 guests to a large wedding of up to 1,000 people.
Around Town
This property is the beach version of the Estancia Vik and has won multiple design awards. Playa Vik is only 5 miles from Estancia Vik. Working in tandem, the properties offer a coastal, beachfront experience at Playa Vik and a country ranch retreat in the rolling oceanfront hills of José Ignacio at Estancia Vik.
You can play a game of polo on Estancia Vik’s private polo field. How fun and funny would it be for you and your guests to try playing a game?! If Polo proves a bit difficult then you are only mere minutes away from sand dune beaches, trendy South American restaurants, art galleries, funky boutiques and nightlife.
Argentine chef Francis Mallmann has created a menu full of food cooked with old Andean techniques called “infiernillo” (little hell) where food is cooked in between two wood fires on different sized iron griddles, that are delivered to the table while sizzling. Food here reaches as close as possible to the soul of south-American produce & history.
