Best hotels in Peru: ten places to stay in Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and at Machu Picchu

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.