AMPM Newsletter: Five Under-the-Radar Summer Destinations

Edition | February 2025 

Summer vacation doesn’t have to include jostling with crowds at overrun beaches or sweating through soaring temperatures. Passionate travelers should take note of these five under-the-radar destinations, offering dramatic landscapes, immersive cultural experiences, pleasant climates, and thrilling outdoor adventures—from stargazing in the world’s driest desert to paragliding over Swiss lakes.

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Once you’ve ticked off Marrakech and Fez, discover Morocco’s spectacular Mediterranean Coast at Tamuda Bay, where the Royal Mansour Collection — the country’s first luxury brand — has recently opened a spectacular beachfront resort. Set on 25 lush acres fronting 2,300 feet of white sand, Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay encompasses 55 guest suites and villas kitted out in Moroccan Riviera style (think: zellige tiles, marble mosaics, shell-lined walls), complete with views of the sea and the Rif mountains. Property highlights include a nearly 47,000-square-foot medi spa and an array of restaurants helmed by Michelin-starred chefs including Éric Frechon, Quique Dacosta, and Massimiliano and Raffaele Alajmo. The hotel can coordinate half- or full-day excursions to delve deeper into the region — from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tétouan, where guests will wander the meet with local artisans and artists, or the Jebel Zem-Zem mountains, where a 4×4 Land Rover trip culminates with a picturesque cheese tasting and an immersion into Jbala culinary traditions.

With its high altitude and arid climate, Chile’s Atacama Desert boasts some of the clearest night skies in the world. While stargazing is excellent year-round, a visit during the South American winter (June-August) promises even crisper, drier air and longer nights, making conditions even better for viewing the Milky Way. At Nayara Alto Atacama, guests can marvel at the star-spangled sky on their large private terrace, or they can visit the on-site observatory to view the constellations through telescopic lenses. The South American winter also means milder daytime temperatures, making it easier to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and spotting such wildlife as vicuñas, foxes, and flamingos. Back at the property, take a relaxing soak in outdoor mineral baths at the sanctuary-like Puri spa; tuck into an asado-style feast at the outdoor barbeque pavilion; or stroll through the property’s Andean garden, planted with native vegetation including lush alfalfa bushes.

Switzerland’s Jungfrau region is an outdoor playground, home to some of Europe’s most spectacular hiking trails—many of which are only accessible in summer. The town of Interlaken, widely known as Switzerland’s adventure capital, unlocks the full range of adrenaline-pumping activities, from paragliding above Lake Thun to white-water rafting on the Lütschine River or tackling the high-altitude Via Ferrata Mürren climbing route (don’t forget to stop and smell the alpine roses). Check into the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, a Belle Époque landmark with commanding views of the Jungfrau and amenities for the whole family, including six tennis courts, an outdoor saltwater pool, and a 5,500-square-meter spa with a vaulted indoor swimming pool and kid-friendly treatments. The hotel’s Michelin-starred Radius by Stefan Beer restaurant—awarded a Green Star for sustainability—offers tasting menus using ingredients sourced within a 50-kilometer radius, fostering deep partnerships with independent farmers and showcasing unexpected regional flavors.

Want bragging rights for staying on a gorgeous, lesser-known island in the Cyclades? Look no further than Folegandros, where Gundari, the destination’s first luxury boutique hotel, completes the second phase of its official opening with the unveiling of three exclusive villas — clifftop havens perfect for privacy-seekers—and a wine bar housed inside an original farmhouse. Set amid a wildlife reserve on Folegandros’ rocky southeastern coast, the property takes its aesthetic cues from the wild and wind-carved landscapes. It comprises just 30 bioclimatic, Cycladic-style suites and villas set on a 100-acre property framed by dramatic limestone cliffs. Each suite features a private solar-powered heated infinity pool that appears to drop into the Aegean Sea below. The EarthCheck-certified hotel boasts a fleet of eco-friendly toys including 12 electric bikes and Fiat 500e Cabrios for exploring the island’s pebbly coves and time-preserved traditional villages, including whitewashed Chora, considered one of the jewels of the Cyclades. Attention nature lovers: Gundari is also dedicated to the protection of the threatened Eleonora’s Falcon, one of the island’s rare native species. Best of all: while Gundari may feel far from the well-trodden path but is, in fact, easily accessible via a 2.5-hour ferry from Athens or a quick helicopter ride from any of the nearby islands, including Mykonos.

Blanketed with dense rainforests, pristine beaches, and colorful colonial-era towns, Brazil’s Bahia Coast combines spectacular natural beauty with rich Afro-Brazilian culture. The creative crowd tends to flock to the jewel-like town of Trancoso, where the former creative director of fashion brand Diesel, Wilbert Das, opened the eco-retreat UXUA inside a series of restored centuries-old fisherman homes. The property’s recent eco-centric developments have included the launch of the 50-acre UXUA Roça farm, the UXUA Maré nature sanctuary, and the VIDA LAB nutritional research laboratory. And now, UXUA debuted its most eco-conscious accommodation yet: Casa Azul. The century-old casa (a former farmhouse originally located in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais, about 740 kilometers from Trancoso) was painstakingly remounted in the middle of the UXUA Maré nature sanctuary and modernized by a team of local builders and craftspeople. Casa Azul is fully solar powered and features its own groundwater wells, a light-filled kitchen, and a rainforest-facing swimming pool, in addition to original details like the cedar and cinnamon floorboards. Since its inception, UXUA has been a small but mighty example of sustainable travel done right, with a zero-waste philosophy and a focus on the preservation of local cultures and indigenous knowledge. Thanks in part to the hotel’s support of a local capoeira school, the ancient martial art has seen a resurgence in the community.