Peru is ancient yet vibrant. While some of its treasures remained hidden in dense overgrown jungles for thousands of years, some of them are still very much in evidence. Ancient traditions and mythical beliefs are kept alive here in colourful festivals, and there’s much merging of mythologyies and crossover between ancient Incan deities and Christian saints. There’s also plenty of cross-fertilisation when it comes to cuisine. Borrowing from their own traditions and from Spanish colonisers and African immigrants, fusion food has been the norm here long before it became fashionable in the West. The best places to stay in Peru echo this fusion, blending the old and the new.
The landscape, too, is often astonishing. Peru has the Amazon, Lake Titicaca, volcanoes, the Andes and the Pacific, boasting grand canyons, jagged mountain peaks and lush jungles. Plus a lost city or two... The challenge here is planning your itinerary - there is so much variety and so much to see. Below we have listed a selection of our top picks of the best places to stay in Peru.
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Lima is a graceful and sophisticated modern city built atop a pre-Colombian settlement. It boasts colonial buildings alongside ancient temples and modern cafes and bars, sandwiched between crumbling cliffs and the Pacific Ocean.
Cusco - aka Cuzco or Qosq’o - is the cosmopolitan former capital of the Inca Empire. And, as well as being arguably one of the most fascinating cities on the continent, it's also the closest city to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. It showcases beautifully preserved colonial architecture as well as much older Incan structures, many extremely well preserved.
For Machu Picchu itself, you might also consider staying in the smaller Aguas Calientes nearby. The spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu have become a recognisable symbol of Peru, and one of the great wonders of the world. For many people, seeing the city - which was lost for hundreds of years - is enough, but for others the journey to get there, through the mountainous jungles of the Inca trail is part of the experience. Aguas Calientes is a good jumping off point for the trek.
Peru’s next most famous sight is probably Lake Titicaca. Puno makes a great base for exploring the lake and has a rich history of its own, too. Puno also has a feeling of the seaside - the lake is enormous. It too has a wealth of pre-Incan ruins.
Once you have seen Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca, the next step on your Peruvian adventure - if you have time - might be Arequipa, the former capital. Surrounded by volcanoes, it sits majestically beside the Socobaya river, near the Colca Canyon and the Aguada Blancas National Park. It’s architecture is breathtaking too.
The Best Places to Stay in Peru
In the capital, Lima
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Second Home is a five room boutique hotel perched on top of a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Formerly the home of a sculptor, there’s plenty of bright, contemporary art on the walls. The breakfasts are luxurious and drinks are served in the peaceful gardens.
- The Country Club Lima Hotel in San Isidro has been converted from a 1920s built English mansion and has 83 elegant rooms and suites, a pool, gym, golf course and a superb restaurant which has won the award for the best restaurant in Peru.
- As well as five star luxury, the Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel offers stunning ocean views from many of its 81 rooms and suites. There’s a great rooftop pool, plus a spa and gym and an Asian-Peruvian restaurant.
- The Atemporal Hotel is a retro boutique nine room hotel in the quiet neighbourhood of Miraflores. The decor features a good selection of black and white photography.
Cusco
- The Palacio del Inka is an elegant 203 room hotel right in the historic centre of town. The decor is colourful, from the smallest room to the excellent Andean restaurant. There’s also a range of spa treatments available.
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El Mercado offers a fabulous mix of tradition and contemporary decor in the centre of Cusco. There are exposed beams and white washed walls as well as great modern art. There are 31 rooms plus a gorgeous terrace, perfect for drinks in the evening.
Machu Picchu
- The Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is an incredibly luxurious way to experience Machu Picchu. Located just outside the site’s entrance, the hotel offers great views and fantastic food in a unique setting.
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Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel sits at the edge of the town and is a great example of the best of Peruvian architecture. Traditional buildings house cosy public areas and beautifully decorated rooms with working fireplaces. Also a renowned restaurant.
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Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel is located next to the river that runs through Aguas Calientes. Traditional decoration merges with contemporary architecture, and there's a good Andean-Asian fusion restaurant.
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El Abergue is a chic and comfortable hotel situated within the Ollantaytambo train station where trains take you directly to Machu Picchu and Cusco. With intimate and rustic rooms offering great views over the lush surroundings, it’s the perfect starting point for any adventure.
The Sacred Valley
- The startlingly modern architecture of Tambo del Inka comes as a surprise against the backdrop the Sacred Valley, but it’s a beautiful and elegant building, inside and out. It promises a luxurious stay, with marble bathrooms, indoor and outdoor pools and extensive spa facilities. There’s an Andean restaurant and 128 rooms.
- The Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is a refined eco-lodge in a stunning spot in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Decorated throughout with Incan designs, antiques and colourful woven fabrics, floor to ceiling windows steal the show. Their organic garden fuels their restaurant and the herb treatments in their spa.
- The Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado is a small but supremely comfortable luxury property with a choice of spacious rooms and villas, and a great spa. The surroundings are magical.
Lake Titicaca
- Stay on your own island at GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca. Attached to the mainland by road, this hotel offers luxurious accommodation, fantastic views over the water and a restaurant showcasing the best of Peruvian cuisine.
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Titilaka is a treat, but worth it for the location, directly overlooking the lake. The design of this hotel, too, is impressive. You feel like you are on the edge of the world.
Romantic places to stay in Peru
- You might recognise the name, because yes, the Belmond Hotel Monasterio is the same Belmond as the Orient Express, so you can expect a similar level of romantic luxury. Built in the 16th century, this converted Cusco monastery with its leafy courtyard gardens, antique furnishings and original art and features is a really memorable place to stay.
- Also in Cusco, the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas offers another spin with the same service and luxury, but this time in a remodelled palace with walls made of stones carved by the Incas. There are 55 rooms and suites, unremittingly elegant, and the suites come with their own bar and butler. There’s also a wonderful spa.
Heritage places to stay in Peru
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Inkaterra La Cason is an 11 room hotel in a beautifully converted colonial mansion. If you’re interested in the history of this city then this is the place to stay, decorated with antiquities dating back to the days of the Spanish Empire. The Peruvian restaurant is superb. And you’re just two minutes walk from Cusco’s cathedral.
Best value places to stay in Peru
- In Lima the Antigua Miraflores is a charming, traditional 77 room property with beamed ceilings, tiled floors and a laid-back Peruvian restaurant. Great for seeing the slights, and excellent value.
- Right in the heart of Cusco, just a short walk from the Plaza de Armas, Unaytambo is a large historic house with 14 rooms - many with private balconies. There’s a beautiful terrace and the decor is colonial.
- The much larger Costa del Sol Ramada Cusco is in a converted 17th century mansion in the centre of the city. There’s something rather splendid about this 90 room hotel, arranged around an arcaded central courtyard. There’s an excellent Peruvian restaurant here too.
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Le Foyer Hostel is another great choice for an inexpensive stay, this time in Arequipa. It has 24 rooms and a wide range of configurations, ranging from dormitories to simple double rooms. There’s also a fabulous roof terrace with city views.
For an Apartment, casa or Villa
- If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.
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