Best Independent Style Hotels in Peru

Relais and Chateaux’s Cusco property is a 16th-century Colonial mansion house, an early home to the conquistadors, that’s been sensitively restored to retain its original glory. Ideally located at the Plaza de las Nazarenas, it has just 11 beautifully appointed suites arranged around the central patio, with decor blending antiques and artefacts. Sustainability is key to the ethos at Inkaterra La Casona, with ‘zero carbon’ organic products and local suppliers that support biodiversity. Chef Rafael Casin operates an earth-to-table dining room. His cuisine respects native ingredients and cooking traditions served in atmospheric surroundings with exposed stone walls.

Dating back to 1927, this building is a Peruvian Cultural Monument; guests are greeted by palm trees, a grand white frontage and polished marble floors in the lobby. It’s found in the San Isidro district, a residential area away from the central hubbub, allowing for a more refined and classic ambience conducive to fully relaxing. Those staying in one of the 83 bedrooms and suites receive exclusive access to the hotel’s Lima Golf Club and the Yaku Spa, and can dine at its gourmet establishment, the four-time winner of the Summum Award for the best restaurant in Lima, Perroquet.

Introducing the Destination by Hyatt brand to Latin America, The Legend Paracas Resort offers an immersive retreat between the Pacific Ocean and the dramatic dunes of the Paracas Nature Reserve. Just three hours south of Lima, the newly renovated all-suite resort features 124 spacious two-room accommodations, each with private balconies or terraces and interiors inspired by the desert-meets-sea landscape. Suites include kitchenettes, living areas with sofa beds, and views of the ocean, gardens or pool—perfect for couples, families or extended stays.

Dining highlights include Azul, the resort’s signature restaurant and bar offering Peruvian and international dishes, Rey de Las Olas for casual beachside fare, and a Pool Bar serving cocktails with local twists. Guests can also enjoy Café Zokya’s house-blended Peruvian coffee. Wellness is centred around a tranquil spa with milk baths, wraps and ocean-view pools. Activities range from kitesurfing and paddleboarding to buggy rides and nature tours of the Ballestas Islands. With its coastal charm and cultural richness, The Legend Paracas Resort is a gateway to Peru’s natural and historic wonders.

Set on the bank of a gently flowing river in the charming town of Aguas Calientes, the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel offers rustic-chic guestrooms as well as excellent in-house guides. The hotel is set in a densely wooded reserve at the foot of the misty mountains and serves as a real haven for nature lovers. The hotel complex consists of low-slung colonial-style buildings, which are connected by a series of rough cobbled footpaths, while the interiors are elegant with subdued lighting and décor and splashes of colour provided by Andean and tartan alpaca blankets. True luxury lovers will want to make sure that they book one of the huge villa rooms, which come complete with wood-burning fires, large dining areas and cosy living spaces. The onsite Café Inkaterra has a roof thatches with palm leaves and provides guests with views over the railway line as they enjoy dishes such as causas, lomo saltado and alpaca meat.

As much a museum as a hotel, this 16th-century mansion holds an impressive range of chandeliers, pillars, polished wooden and stone floors, antique furniture and in excess of 300 pieces of colonial artwork – some of which are priceless. 43 bedrooms come with an innovative intelligent oxygen system, iPod docks, DVD players, minibars, organic toiletries, bathrobes and slippers – some have wooden four poster beds and sitting rooms. Visit UNNO spa to gain a balance of mind, body and soul. Dine at the Mishti for a taste of Peru and at the Khasikay Bar for tapas and pisco based cocktails.

This elegant establishment has a reputation for being one of the finest hotels in the whole of Peru due to its sumptuous guestrooms and gourmet dining opportunities. The hotel can be found on the edge of Aguas Calientes and provides guests with stunning views across the steamy valley all the way to Machu Picchu. The polished wooden floors and hardwood furniture that can be found throughout the hotel is accented by colourful Peruvian rugs and bright and bold paintings. Guests are treated to huge marble bathrooms, while the rooms that face out onto the valley are especially stunning and should not be missed.