Investments in unconsolidated companies - Narratives (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) hotel option	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2007 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment and other assets		$ 4,931	$ 8,216	$ 1,007
Number of hotels and resort properties | hotel		36
Rail joint venture in Peru
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Rail joint venture in Peru | Guarantee of Governmental Concession | Variable interest entity, not primary beneficiary
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Debt obligations guaranteed		$ 11,586
Eastern and Oriental Express Ltd.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		25.00%
Buzios
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%			50.00%
Cash consideration					$ 5,000
Initial expropriation period	5 years
Hotel and rail joint ventures in Peru
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Peru Belmond Hotels
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment and other assets		$ 2,074
Ferrocarril Transandino S.A.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Impairment of property, plant and equipment and other assets			29,266
Term of concession		16 years
Number of options | option		6
Option term		5 years
Peruvian hotel joint venture
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Number of hotels and resort properties | hotel		5
Peruvian hotel joint venture | Contingent Financial Guarantee Additional Debt 2018
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Debt obligations guaranteed		$ 14,001
Maximum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Minimum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		20.00%
Minimum | Hotel and rail joint ventures in Peru | Guarantees
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Joint Ventures | Peru Belmond Hotels
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment and other assets		$ 4,149
Joint Ventures | Ferrocarril Transandino S.A.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment and other assets			$ 58,531
Previously Reported | Ferrocarril Transandino S.A.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Term of concession		30 years
Adjustments | Ferrocarril Transandino S.A.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Term of concession		35 years