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Estancia Vik José Ignacio
José Ignacio, Uruguay · VIK Retreats · Grand Luxury
Norwegian billionaire Alexander Vik and his wife Carrie opened this 4,000-acre cattle ranch in 2009, hiring Uruguayan architect Marcelo Daglio to build a Spanish colonial mansion of white adobe and red tin roof around courtyards and covered walkways. Its great room holds a 12-foot marble sculpture by Pablo Atchugarry beneath a hand-painted ceiling fresco of Uruguay seen from above, and the estate's swimming pool is set with fiber-optic lights that mirror the southern night sky.
- 12 rooms
- Opened 2009
- Rooms from 500 sq ft (46 m²)
- Architect: Marcelo Daglio
About Estancia Vik José Ignacio
- Estancia Vik occupies 4,000 acres and was the first of the Viks' three José Ignacio retreats, opening in 2009 ahead of Playa Vik and Bahía Vik.
- The 50,000-square-foot main house is more than half open-air, patios, courtyards, and covered walkways connecting its 12 suites across two wings.
- David Rockefeller, the banker and philanthropist, made an annual visit to Estancia Vik to mark his birthday, according to Robb Report.
- MICHELIN awarded Estancia Vik a Key in 2025, praising its edgy South American art collection assembled by more than twenty artists and architects under Enrique Badaró Nadal.
- Entry-level rooms start at 500 sq ft (46 m²).
Restaurants and bars
- El Asador — Restaurant · Uruguayan barbecue
- Brick barreled dining room — Restaurant
Experiences
- El Asador barbecue dining — Authentic Uruguayan barbecue around a central open fire called fogón, with tin walls and artwork by Marcelo Legrand.
- Horseback riding across the pampas with gauchos — Horseback ride on one of the Estancia's Criollo and Quarter horses across open pampas with gauchos.
- Wildlife, birds and nature exploration — Explore wildlife, birds and nature on the estate.
- Mountain biking and hiking — Mountain bike and hike on the estate.
- Canoeing and fishing — Canoe and fish in the Arroyo de José Ignacio and Laguna de José Ignacio.
- Water sports — A variety of water sports.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Fitness center
- Tennis
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- Travel + Leisure World's Best Hotels (2026)
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More VIK Retreats hotels
- Bahia Vik José Ignacio — José Ignacio, Uruguay · Grand Luxury
- Playa Vik José Ignacio — José Ignacio, Uruguay · Core Luxury
- Viña Vik — San Vicente de Tagua Tagua, Chile · Grand Luxury
- Puro Vik — Millahue, Chile · High Luxury
- Galleria Vik Milano — Milan, Italy · Core Luxury
More hotels in José Ignacio
- Bahia Vik José Ignacio — VIK Retreats · Grand Luxury
- LUZ Culinary Wine Lodge — Independent · Core Luxury
- Playa Vik José Ignacio — VIK Retreats · Core Luxury
- Posada Ayana — Independent · Core Luxury
- Posada del Faro — Independent · Accessible Luxury
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