The first-ever hammocks wereused by to escape snakes, biting ants, and other creatures they’d prefer not to wake up next to. For most of us today, however, hammocks are the embodiment of hold-my-calls rest and relaxation. Here’s where to make that happenno matter your budget.
Roughing It
Parque Tayrona, Colombia
From $6
For the price of a few ,you can sleep to the sounds of crashing waves on an open-air hammock overlooking the beautifulwhite-sandbeaches of. Locatedon Colombia’s Caribbean, the park isknown for its snorkeling, butalsocheck out the 1.5-mileuphill hike into the jungle to the ,a perfect precursor to the three-day that begins in Santa Marta, about 30minutes away. Shell out $95 for a private room that also comes with a hammock.
Paratay, Brazil
From $30
Paratay is a tropical beach town about four hours from bothRioԻSao Paulo. Base at this bare-bones mansioncumguesthouse, about a 20-minute water shuttle from the town center, and you’llget a clean, basic room and quiet beachfront bliss with hammocks.In Paratay, you can trail bike, kayak, dive, snorkel, or hike through the rainforest on the three-hour Gold Trail through.
Antigua, Guatemala
From $40
This hillside escape of treehouses overlooking Guatemala’s vast volcano rangeis a 15-minute taxi ride fromAntigua’s center. Get the “deluxe room” andyou’ll have two private hammocks with views. Feeling social? Crawl out of your arboreal home to snag one of six hammocks scattered about the grounds. Orgrab a trail map from the front desk and enjoy wandering the surrounding countryside.
Sharing Community
Topanga Canyon, California
From $95
Topanga Canyonis one of L.A.’s more bohemian reaches, as well as a paradise for . This is a home’s guest wing (with a private entrance) surrounded by anative-plant garden where you’ll finda cushion- and blanket-strewn hammock over a Mexican-tile patiowith views of the Santa Monica Mountains.
El Zonte, El Salvador
From$315
Incredible breaks and uncrowded beaches make El Salvador one of the most up-and-coming surf destinations. After riding your last wave, unwind with a swing on one ofthe three hammocks at this 12-person, five-bedroom cliffhouse. It’s located along the western surfing corridor and comes with a pool.
Big Island, Hawaii
From$350
If you’ve never road-tripped around Hawaii’s Big Island, put it on your to-do list. From the turtlediving in Kona and hiking in to the hidden falls near Hilo and sightseeing in, it’s one of the most incredible drives in the United States. Afterward, park yourself in thishammock with unobstructed views of . The housecomes with its own private beach, Jacuzzi, and swimming pool, and sleeps up to eight.
Splurge
Guadeloupe
From $130
One of the lesser-traveled islands in the Caribbean, Guadeloupe is known for its spectacular beaches, great diving inthe, and top-notch hiking up the 4,049-foot, still-activeLa Soufrière volcano. Base out of,set on a rainforested hill overlooking the sea.All the brightly colored rooms are openair and equipped with hammocks for spontaneous napping.
Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, Belize
From $279
In the open-airFrancis Ford Coppola Villa at the, one of the walls is actually a hammockaffording private rainforest views and sounds from the river below.Coppola’s intimate hideaway in the , the first national park in Belize,is a great base for visiting Mayan sites like (in nearby Guatemala) and exploring the mysterious.
Sumba, Indonesia
From $900
This new, much-buzzed-about retreat on the island of Sumba offers surfing, sportfishing, diving, and sunbathing on a private 1.5-mile white-sand beach—all the pleasures that drew travelers to nearbyBali (a 90-minute flight away) before it became overrun. The best spot for après-adventure lounging: one of ’scolorful hammocks, which staff set up with pillows and towels, and then deliver freshly picked coconuts with ediblepapaya straws.
Three Free Hammock Parks for City Slickers
Governor’s Island, New York
Governor’s Island isNew York City’s favoritequirky summer playground. It’san uninhabited island a from Manhattan with a garden ofred rope hammocks—aperfect break between biking around the island and kicking back at the (man-made) beach club.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,a lawn of 38hammockson the , isrelaxing way to end your daydown lively South Street from the University of Pennyslvania campus to Penn’s Landing.
Vienna, Austria
The Viennese sure love their hammocks—the city has a four-story installation in the and a in the . But for pure open-air swinging bliss,the place to go is , where a slew of hammocks have been installed every May to Octobersince 2011.