Hotels
Best hotels in Peru: ten places to stay in Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and at Machu Picchu
In Cusco you sleep in a 16th-century monastery with Inca walls in its foundations, and a few days later you wake up right by the gates of Machu Picchu. Peru has hotels that are part of the experience, and your route decides where you should stay.
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Most trips to Peru follow the same route: a few nights in Lima, then Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Altitude is the main thing to plan for. Cusco sits at around 3,400 metres and the Sacred Valley a little lower, so many travellers spend their first nights in the valley to adjust.
We have picked ten hotels along the route and say who each one suits. All have a guest rating of at least 8.8 out of 10 and more than 50 reviews on Expedia. Our links go there, and the hotel is always chosen before the link. Many of the hotels in Cusco occupy colonial monasteries and mansions built on top of Inca walls. The hotels in the Sacred Valley are calmer and greener, with gardens and mountains around them, and at Machu Picchu you choose between the village and the gates themselves.
Quick answer: where should you stay in Peru?
In Lima, stay in Miraflores, on the cliffs above the Pacific. In Cusco, stay in the historic centre near the Plaza de Armas. In the Sacred Valley, stay near Urubamba, and at Machu Picchu stay in Aguas Calientes or right by the gates. Consider spending your first two nights in the valley.
Best in Cusco: Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel
Best in Lima: Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel
Best at Machu Picchu: Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel
Best in the Sacred Valley: Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel
Best for nature: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
How to choose the right hotel in Peru
Altitude: start in the Sacred Valley, which is lower than Cusco. Several hotels in Cusco offer oxygen-enriched rooms.
Machu Picchu: stay one night by Machu Picchu so you can see the ruins early in the morning, before the day visitors arrive.
Trains and tickets: book train tickets and Machu Picchu entry before you book hotels, as they can sell out.
Lima: Miraflores and Barranco are the safest and most pleasant districts, with restaurants and a clifftop promenade.
Season: May to September is the dry season in the mountains and high season. Book early.
The ocean view
A view of the Pacific from a room at Miraflores Park in Lima.
Lima
Lima is the capital on the Pacific and one of the world's great food cities. Most visitors stay in Miraflores, on the cliffs above the sea, with restaurants, parks and the Malecón promenade. Many spend only a night or two here before flying on to Cusco, but the city deserves more time, especially if you love food.
Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel: above the Pacific
Miraflores Park sits on the cliffs of Miraflores, with Pacific views from the rooms and a rooftop pool high above the sea. It is a small, elegant hotel with very high guest ratings.
This is our pick in Lima, if you want the ocean and the restaurants of Miraflores right outside. Walk the Malecón at sunset, and have ceviche for lunch, as the people of Lima do.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel
The facade and gardens
The facade and gardens of the Country Club Lima Hotel in San Isidro.
Country Club Lima Hotel: a classic from 1927
The Country Club Lima Hotel opened in 1927 in the district of San Isidro, next to a golf course. It has large rooms, a big art collection and gardens around the outdoor pool.
It suits you if you want a classic, quiet stay away from the tourist crowds. Miraflores is a short taxi ride away. Have a drink in the bar, one of Lima's classic meeting places.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Country Club Lima Hotel
The cloister
The 16th-century cloister at Monasterio in Cusco.
Cusco
Cusco was the capital of the Inca empire, and the Spanish built churches and mansions on top of the Inca walls. The centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the best hotels are in old monasteries and colonial houses within walking distance of the Plaza de Armas.
Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel: a 16th-century monastery
Monasterio occupies a former 16th-century seminary, with a cloister around an old tree and a baroque chapel. Many rooms can be enriched with oxygen to ease altitude sickness.
This is our pick in Cusco, if you want to stay in one of the city's most famous buildings. The Plaza de Armas is a few minutes away. Sit in the cloister with a cup of coca tea after a long day.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel
The courtyard
The courtyard with balconies at Palacio del Inka in Cusco.
Palacio del Inka: by the Temple of the Sun
Palacio del Inka occupies a colonial mansion next to Qorikancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun. The hotel has courtyards with balconies, a spa and several restaurants.
It suits you if you want a historic setting with high standards. Visit Qorikancha and the Santo Domingo monastery, built on top of the temple, just across the street.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Palacio del Inka
The cloister
The old cloister at JW Marriott El Convento in Cusco.
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco: a convent and Inca walls
The JW Marriott occupies a 16th-century convent, with a large cloister and remains of Inca walls that you can see inside the hotel. The rooms are modern, and there is a spa.
It suits you if you want a historic setting with reliable standards. The old town is right outside. Walk up to San Blas, the artists' quarter, for the view over the rooftops.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
The courtyard
The courtyard of the colonial house at Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel.
Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel: art and colonial style
Aranwa occupies a 16th-century colonial mansion, with art, paintings and courtyards. Rooms can be enriched with oxygen, and guests give it one of the highest ratings in the city.
It suits couples who want a personal, beautiful stay near the San Pedro market. Visit the market in the morning and taste the fruit and juices.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel
The hillside
The buildings on the hillside at Rio Sagrado in the Sacred Valley.
The Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley lies between Cusco and Machu Picchu, along the Urubamba River. It is lower than Cusco, with Inca terraces at Pisac and Ollantaytambo and villages with markets. The trains to Machu Picchu leave from Ollantaytambo. Many hotels here have large gardens, and it is good to rest for a day before Machu Picchu.
Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel: on the Urubamba River
Rio Sagrado sits on the Urubamba River, with small houses on a slope, a spa and gardens running down to the water. It is quiet and green, with the mountains all around.
This is our pick in the Sacred Valley, for a calm start before Cusco or after Machu Picchu. Visit the ruins at Ollantaytambo and the salt terraces at Maras.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel
Among the mountains
Aranwa Sacred Valley among the mountains, seen from the air.
Aranwa Sacred Valley: a hacienda among the mountains
Aranwa occupies an old hacienda near Urubamba, with large gardens, ponds and the mountains around. The hotel has a spa and several restaurants.
It suits families and anyone who wants space and peace. It sits in the middle of the valley, so both Pisac and Ollantaytambo are within reach. Visit the Pisac market on a Sunday.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Aranwa Sacred Valley
The view of Huayna Picchu
The view of Huayna Picchu from Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes is the village at the foot of Machu Picchu, where the trains stop. Buses climb to the ruins in around 25 minutes. There is only one hotel up at the entrance itself.
Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel: at the gates of Machu Picchu
Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel at the entrance to Machu Picchu. From the garden you look out over the mountains, and you can enter the ruins in the morning before the buses arrive.
This is our pick for the big occasion. It is expensive and the rooms are smaller than at the luxury hotels in Cusco, but the location is unique. Go in early and watch the sun rise over the mountains. In the afternoon, once the day visitors have left, it is quiet around the hotel again.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel
In the cloud forest
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in the cloud forest at Aguas Calientes.
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel: in the cloud forest
Inkaterra sits in a large cloud forest garden in Aguas Calientes, with small houses among the trees, orchids, birds and its own nature walks. It is a few minutes from the train station.
This is our nature pick, if you want peace and greenery around you after a day at the ruins. Join a guided walk in the garden to see the orchids and hummingbirds.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
When should you book?
May to September: the dry season and high season. Book hotels, trains and Machu Picchu several months ahead.
April and October: fewer visitors, lower prices and mostly good weather.
December to March: the rainy season in the mountains. The Inca Trail closes in February.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Peru
How many nights do I need in Peru?
With ten days, spend two nights in Lima, two in the Sacred Valley, one at Machu Picchu and three in Cusco. Add a couple of spare days for the altitude.
Should I stay in Cusco or the Sacred Valley?
Both. Start in the valley, which is lower, and finish in Cusco. That makes the altitude easier.
Is it worth staying at Machu Picchu?
Yes, especially if you want to see the ruins early in the morning. One night is enough, either at the gates or in Aguas Calientes.
What are oxygen-enriched rooms?
Several hotels in Cusco can add oxygen to the room at night. It can help you sleep better during your first nights at altitude.
Is Palacio Nazarenas in this guide?
Palacio Nazarenas is a famous hotel in Cusco, but it had no overall rating on Expedia when we made this guide, so we have not included it.