Gaspar es un genio.

The man’s got a knack for finding amazing, tucked away places for us to stay. This is one of them. We’d spent a night at Casa Los Jazmines in the past and adored it. In his infinite wisdom, G made us a reservation to stay here our first night after leaving Buenos Aires, to help soothe my sorrow. It worked.

Casa Los Jazmines is in Colonia del Sacramento, a town in southwestern Uruguay on the Río de la Plata. It’s the oldest town in Uruguay, and I’ve always loved its quaint, historic charm. Some find it a bit too sleepy for their tastes, and as a destination it’s certainly no Miami Beach. But if enjoying nature and relaxation in a historic setting is your cup of tea, you’ll love it as much as we do.

The bed & breakfast is nestled in the rolling countryside about 9km outside of the city proper. Marcial, the owner, is living my dream. He has opened up his home to guests, cooks all the meals, and is an excellent and attentive host. The property is sprawling, with a pool, a garden, and acres of land dotted with horses and lemon trees. There are currently five rooms available to guests, each one in its own wing of the house, which gives you the illusion that this could practically be your own personal manse.

My favorite part of the property is the main terrace, where we like to eat breakfast and dinner. Marcial will prepare your meal at a time of your choosing, and serve it wherever on the property you’d like. There’s a communal table in the dining area, where you can watch dinner come together in the large open kitchen. Or you also have the option of enjoying your meals on your room’s private terrace.

Dinner is good, nothing too fancy. We started with wonderfully garlicky tomato bruschetta and a bottle of tannat, a Uruguayan red wine varietal. Two options are typically offered for dinner, so we ordered one of each: chicken breast fillets in a mustard sauce with sweet potatoes, and cuadril (rump steak) served with mashed BBQ sweet potatoes.

Collapsing into the luxuriously soft bed is such a treat. And in the morning, just the sight of the breakfast setup makes me sigh with satisfaction. Moist homemade banana bread, fresh-squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit, and toast begging to be smothered in creamy dulce de leche.

Our two stays here have been short-lived, as a brief overnight treat to recover from/prepare for long road trips. For a longer stay there would be no shortage of options to keep you busy. Bicycles are available to guests looking to explore the countryside, check out a local winery, ride into town, or take a tour of Colonia. If relaxation’s more your style, massages and beauty treatments can be arranged poolside or in your room. True to their mantra, “Todo es posible.”

I need to take lessons from these guys.

CASA LOS JAZMINES – Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

Check them out on TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice 2013 list, where they were just selected as one of the Top 25 B&Bs and Inns in South America. And they’re pet-friendly!