Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.
Today: Top 10 best luxury hotels in Peru
From the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu to the distant horizons of Lake Titicaca, Peru delivers world-class destinations through a wild coastline, jagged Andes peaks and a lively Amazon jungle. Peru is a place of astounding proportions and diversity, and its beauty can be seen through a wide variety of experiences: dreamy landscapes, mystical roads, ancestral traditions, epic hikes, world-famous archeological sites, and exquisite gastronomy. Besides Machu Picchu, Peru is also home to three other celebrated sites: the Amazon (the world’s largest rainforest), Lake Titicaca (the world’s highest navigable lake), and the Colca Canyon (the world’s deepest canyon). The country is also home to some stunning hotels and here’s my selection of the best luxury hotels in Peru.
There is more information below the slide show. Think I missed one? Share your favorite Peru luxury hotel in the comments section.
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10. HOTEL PARACAS, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, PARACAS
Located three hours south of Lima and facing Paracas National Reserve, Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paracas is an upscale property with a private dock, exquisite local and international cuisine, rare nature experiences near Raspon Beach and one of the only luxury spas in Paracas, Peru. Reserve a grand hotel room or suite designed to ensure the greatest level of comfort and care. Each accommodation boasts a furnished terrace with views of the sea or the hotel’s enchanting gardens. Paracas offers a plethora of personal activities for nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts, and many of these experiences are available to hotel guests with our kayaks, catamarans and sand bicycles.
9. PALACIO DEL INKA, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, CUSCO
Considered a historic landmark, Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel is housed within a 500-year-old mansion in the heart of Cusco, Peru. Inca emperors and Spanish conquistadores once made their homes here. Today, the historic mansion offers a conquering experience with its handcarved furnishings, deep jewel tones, Peruvian textiles, and colonial-era artworks. Even the original walls stand intact. Set across from the ancient Koricancha Temple and just minutes from the main square, the 203-room hotel is ideal for exploring this foot-friendly city. More sensuous discoveries are made at the spa, which combines Andean wisdom with modern techniques. Organic and locally sourced ingredients go into the regionally influenced fare at Inti Raymi.
8. LAS CASITAS, A BELMOND HOTEL, COLCA CANYON
The Colca Canyon, one of the world’s second-deepest canyons, is home to ancient, terraced fields, timeless traditions, countless treks – and Las Casitas. Giant Andean condors are found close to this secluded, 20-room sanctuary and its tiny farm (home to the requisite llamas and baby alpacas). Las Casitas draws upon the warmth and authenticity of the valley’s local communities, harnessing the traditional beauty of this Peruvian valley. There’s an organic garden as well, its bounty transformed daily into tasty, authentic dishes. You can hike, ride horses, or take a guided bicycle tour; fish the quiet trout ponds, then turn your catch over to the chefs for your evening meal. You may also join them for a hands-on class to learn the secrets of Peruvian cooking.
- Hotel website: Las Casitas, a Belmond Hotel
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a complimentary 50 minute massage for up to two people, per room, once per stay).
7. TAMBO DEL INKA, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT & SPA, SACRED VALLEY
Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa features lavish accommodations with views of stunning Andean peaks and the Vilcanota River. Modern amenities, including LCD televisions and Wi-Fi, are found in each of the 128 gracefully designed guest rooms and suites. Stay active in the premier fitness center, be sure to visit the beautiful emerald lagoon, and take time for a stroll in the riverside gardens, especially when they are in bloom. Enjoy refined dining and cuisine infused with indigenous flavors at Hawa Restaurant. The therapeutic spa features treatments with ancestral Inca ingredients. This luxury hotel – one of the most famous in Peru – is nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and provides you with a gateway to the vast cultural richness of this region.
- Hotel website: Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and complimentary round-trip private airport transfers).
6. PALACIO NAZARENAS, A BELMOND HOTEL, CUSCO
Set within a peaceful plaza just behind Cusco’s main square, Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco has been transformed from a 17th-century palace turned convent into a 55-suite, urban escape, complete with the city’s first outdoor swimming pool. The romance of the former nunnery comes alive in impeccable details such as floral accents and Cusquenian hand-crafted flair. Escape from the rest of the world amid cloistered terraces embellished with fountains and flowers, or head to the Hypnôze Spa. Back in your balcony suite, you’ll enjoy original Inca and colonial features, an iPad upon request – and butler service. Book a table at Mauka restaurant, by the hand of renowned Peruvian Chef Pía León, for a blissful dinner or lunch.
- Hotel website: Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a complimentary 50 minute massage for up to two people, per room, once per stay).
5. RIO SAGRADO, A BELMOND HOTEL, SACRED VALLEY
Designed to resemble an authentic Andean village and enjoying a reputation as one of Peru’s best luxury hotels, Rio Sagrado, a Belmond Hotel comprises just 21 guest rooms and suites, along with two sumptuous villas. All afford views of the Urubamba River, and the clean, minimalist decor is accented with vibrant Peruvian textiles and artwork. Spa treatments utilize native healing plants and flowers, and the flavorful cuisine features organic ingredients from the on-site garden. Authenticity is key at Rio Sagrado, where you can participate in traditional activities from open-fire ‘pachamanca’ cooking to blessing ceremonies to Mother earth. Other activities range from pisco tastings and horseback riding to rafting and enjoying a delightful picnic lunch by the river.
- Hotel website: Rio Sagrado, a Belmond Hotel
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a complimentary 50 minute massage for up to two people, per room, once per stay).
- Review: coming soon
4. TITILACA, LAKE TITICACA
The mere mention of Lake Titicaca is enough to conjure up a dramatic, mysterious world. At an altitude of 3,812 meters (12,507ft) in the Andes, on the border between Peru and Bolivia, this cradle of Inca civilization is still home to one of the oldest communities in South America. Titilaka Lodge – Relais & Châteaux retreat – is tucked away in this unique landscape, totally off the beaten track on its own private peninsula, in a refurbished building. The rooms, each with a splendid lake view, are decorated in a contemporary style with touches of local heritage, in symbiosis with the luxuriant natural setting. Go beyond the magic of the lake and venture through ancient trails, acquaint yourself with traditional communities, and explore the Uros Floating Islands as part of the complimentary excursions.
- Hotel website: Titilaka
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a complimentary 50 minute massage for up to two people, per room, once per stay)
- Review: coming soon
3. CIRQA, AREQUIPA
Cirqa is a Relaix & Chateaux luxury hotel in Arequia, Peru’s second largest city, and echoes the wonders of 1540 — the year in which Arequipa was founded. This recently restored former monastery embodies Arequipa’s traditional architecture by flaunting its original sillar volcanic rock walls, which were carefully sculpted by local stonemasons. The captivating decor adds a modern touch, creating a unique balance between the past and present. The eleven rooms, some with restored vaulted ceilings, surround the main terraza & patio. At the hotel’s Salón, the cuisine is an innovative reinterpretation of the region’s gastronomic soul and iconic picanterías, and can be enjoyed while admiring the prodigious lunar landscapes that surround this delectable haven of peace.
- Hotel website: Cirqa
- Review: coming soon
2. PUQIO, COLCA CAYON
Puqio Hotel, a luxury hotel nestled deep in Peru’s captivating Colca Valley, offers an extraordinary retreat that celebrates the simplicity and beauty of nature. The tented camp invites you to slow down, embrace the Andean-style exploration, and immerse yourself in the surrounding landscape and local traditions. Three distinct room categories – Pirca, Carpa, and Carpa Refugio – offer alternative ways to experience the valley with distinct views of the surrounding terrain. Gastronomic experience include sauthentic Andean flavors prepared in clay ovens and over open flames. Fuming volcanoes, sweeping grasslands, and untrodden pathways await daily exploration. At night, rustic elegance rejuvenates body and spirit of the experienced traveler.
- Hotel website: Puqio
- Review: coming soon
1. EXPLORA VALLE SAGRADO, SACRED VALLEY
Located halfway between Cuzco and Machu Picchu, Explora Valle Sagrado was designed as a headquarters from which to explore a remote and spectacular destination. More than 30 explorations immerse guests in the colonial history of Cuzco and the architectural magnificence of the Inca in Machu Picchu, isolated villages, archaeological sites, and the Andean Pampas and mountains. Public spaces and rooms, with their humble stylishness, pay homage to the ancient cornfields and peaks outside. Walkways lead to a colonial mansion housing the spa and pool, and don´t miss the new gastronomic experience. The lodge is managed by Explora, South America’s best luxury hotel brand.
- Hotel website: Explora Valle Sagrado
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).
- Review: coming soon
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