For desertscapes and ancient ruins, beautiful beach breaks and tropical rainforests, there’s nowhere like Peru. Better yet, there are fabulous hotels around just about each and every corner, so you can spend your days exploring knowing there’s an idyllic spot to rest your head each night. With everything from city chic stays to magical jungle cruises, this is our list of the best Peru lodges – and this is only the beginning…
Inkaterra La Casona
Cusco
If Cusco is a city of romance, then Inkaterra La Casona embodies it perfectly. The colonial manor oozes elegance and historic charm, and you can expect graceful hand-painted murals, original architecture, handsome furnishings, and more than a touch of Peruvian heritage. Once in situ, work out any travel knots with a massage using local products, sample Peruvian fusion cuisine at the guests-only restaurant, and, on chilly nights, curl up in front of your very own stone fireplace. Location is also key in this ancient city and Inkaterra La Casona scores highly there too: just a three-minute amble and you’ll arrive at the picture-perfect Plaza de Armas and the famous cathedral. Find a seat at a local restaurant and sip a pisco sour (or two), and simply enjoy the buzz of the city.
Explora Valle Sagrado
The Sacred Valley
Even in the middle of nowhere, Peru provides in the luxury hotel stakes and in the Sacred Valley, there are plenty to choose from. A favourite is the stylish Explora Valle Sagrado. Adorned with modish design details, it’s the mountainside escape of dreams and the high ceilings, wood-clad walls, and vast windows offer astonishing views over the unique landscape should you momentarily forget where you are. There’s a heavy focus on adventure so expect hiking, biking, and high-altitude climbing, all organised by the incredibly knowledgeable guides. And once you’ve had your fill of excitement, head back to the lodge for a treatment at the spa and a gastronomic journey through Andean cuisine and local ingredients, from a menu designed by world-famous chef Virgilio Martínez no less!
Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel
Machu Picchu
Location, location, and again, location, are probably the three best words to describe Sanctuary Lodge. The exquisite hotel sits right at the entrance of Machu Picchu, allowing access to the ancient citadel the moment the gates open in the morning. With views over the mystical mountains, you can’t help but feel wrapped up in the magic of the area, and whilst the unbeatable location is clearly the main drawcard, there’s so much more to love. Think manicured gardens, filled with peaceful birdsong, massages and spa treatments based on ancient Incan techniques, and the culinary stylings of Tampu restaurant, all of which will keep you more than content between visits to the world wonder. And, if you’re thinking of embarking on one of the famous treks, book to stay here afterwards for a very well-deserved rest.
Aria Amazon
Pacaya Samiria Reserve
Gracing bucket lists of travellers the world over with its luscious jungle, totally off-the-grid location and animals that you might only dream about seeing, the Amazon is a once-in-a-lifetime destination. And for such a trip, why not do it in style on an all-out cruise? The Aria Amazon is luxury personified, its sleek interiors and rooftop Jacuzzis offering the perfect place for some R&R on a wild and wonderful trip. Head to the top-floor observation deck and look out for sloths in the overhead jungle canopies and pink dolphins in the water below, then disembark for a nature walk or kayaking expedition in forgotten corners. Return to a fully-stocked bar and a meal in the floating restaurant, and then head to the herbal spa for a spot of pampering. If you want to see the Amazon from the lap of luxury, this is the way to do it.
Titilaka Hotel
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is like nowhere else on earth and standing on the edge of the vast expanse of water, watching it stretch as far as the eye can see, is sure to take your breath away. Nowhere makes the most of those vistas quite like the Titilaka Hotel, built right on the lip of the lake. This boutique bolthole is not only a perfect jumping-off point to explore the lake, but also an idyllic spot to unwind, take a break, and reset. Take to the deck and indulge in a book (if you can tear yourself away from the views), sleep with the curtains open and wake up to sunrise over the lake (top tip: choose a dawn-facing room), and at the end of the day, sip on locally produced wine to really get a flavour for the area. If you can peel yourself away from the comfort of Titilaka, there’s a whole world to explore on the lake; the floating islands with their communities and markets are not to be missed.
Hotel B
Lima
Lima is a noisy, expressive and exciting city that just cries out to be explored, and having a relaxing haven to return to at the end of each day is the cherry on top of the experience. Roll up Hotel B, a 1920s mansion that was once the summer home of a wealthy Peruvian family, and is today a beautiful boutique hotel that offers R&R by the bucket-load. Filled with opulent furnishings, the walls are lined with stunning works of art whilst the high ceilings, marble decor and wooden floors speak to an elegant past and will whisk you into a fantasy of old. There’s also a rooftop terrace gazing out over both the mountains and sea – it’s the ideal spot to take in the sunset, cocktail in hand – and the beautifully-decorated rooms and suites to collapse in after a busy day seal the deal.
Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica
Tambopata National Reserve
Requiring a 45-minute boat journey to reach it and perched high amongst the vivid green trees of the Amazon, Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica is a high-altitude hangout with a difference. Built in a typical Ese’Eja style, the wood-and-thatch-buildings blend perfectly into the surroundings, and the 35 eco-cabins are linked by winding tree-trunk walkways complete with scurrying agouti and twinkling tapers at night. With private plunge pools and swaying hammocks, the suites are dreamy but even the rooms are rustically luxurious with their crisp cottons and rainfall showers. Back at the main lodge, there’s a spa overlooking the Madre de Dios river, and lip-smacking meals inspired by local produce. During the day, head out with a guide and test their encyclopaedic knowledge of the area’s 550 local bird species, or join a hike and spot monkeys, tapirs, anteaters, anacondas and the pig-like wild peccaries.
Hotel Paracas, A Luxury Collection Resort
Paracas
Paracas is Peru’s answer to sun, sea and sand and if you’re looking for a beachside escape to end a South American adventure, this is your place. The coastal town has all the turquoise waters, sandy beaches and ocean vistas that you could want and Hotel Paracas embodies that laid-back, beachside spirit. With a private beach, two pools and a spa, it’s relaxation personified – and then add in a sprinkling of lush gardens, elegant suites with private pools, more water-sports than you can shake a stick at, and a choice of three restaurants (our favourite sits at the end of a private dock and serves freshly caught seafood) and it’s almost impossible to not visit!
CIRQA – Relais & Châteaux
Arequipa
Arequipa feels like a hidden gem in Peru. Whilst it might not be as famous as its sisters Cusco and Lima, it offers so much to those willing to seek it out, from Spanish architecture to a unique volcanic topography. Nowhere will ensure you feel more in touch with the city’s history than CIRQA, a converted and beautifully-restored monastery that was originally built in 1540. Exquisite design touches bring the centuries-old building to life and today’s luxuries and comforts are always at the forefront. With only 11 rooms, the focus is on top-notch hospitality and service, with the team only too willing to help with any request. And whilst there are plenty of local foodie hangouts to explore, it will be hard to tear yourself away from the Salón’s impeccable offerings of local flavours. It’s city chic – and then some.
Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel
Colca Canyon
For an insight into rural Peruvian life, head to Colca Canyon, where lush green farms are dotted along the canyon, farmers tend to their crops, and people live as they have for millennia. In the middle of it all is Las Casitas, a special spot that manages to both mirror its humble surroundings whilst still offering a sophisticated experience for travellers. Peace and quiet are the order of the day as you find yourself on an eight-hectare oasis peppered with mud-brick buildings hiding an indulgently comfortable interior. Days are to be spent exploring on horseback, fishing, and dabbling with local cooking lessons, before heading back for a massage in the spa or simply sitting back and taking in that view.
