If you like to explore some luxury travel ideas in Peru, let’s say us that luxury in Peru is a very unexpected term, it can manifest itself when an Andean condor majestically flies over the Andes, when one tastes the unknown and exciting flavor of a Peruvian dish or when one witnesses the first rays of sunlight in Machu Picchu. Luxury in Peru is not only found in its hotels, spas or restaurants. It is also found in the stories you will be able to tell once you visit this majestic country.
Join Auri to explore some of the luxury travel ideas for a unique luxury experience in Peru.
Sleep in an authentic colonial palace with Inca foundations
In Peru you can sleep as if you were a member of the nobility. Some of the country’s best hotels are palaces and mansions that have been converted centuries ago and even retain Inca units and foundations. Today, these buildings have been renovated and adapted to include all kinds of services: Egyptian cotton sheets, colonial paintings of the Cusco school, large bathrooms lined with local stone, not to mention mini-basins filled with chilled champagne. And for altitude sickness, the rooms have oxygen enrichment.
An example of such a hotel is the luxury hotel “Palacio del Inka”, a five-century-old mansion located in the heart of downtown Cusco, right in front of the Qoricancha, “The Temple of the Sun”, once the most important religious center of the Inca Empire.
The hotel preserves stone arches, authentic Hispanic art and ornate gilded antiques. Indulge in a delicious meal at Inti Raymi, the hotel’s restaurant serving a variety of epicurean cuisine and a selection of wines curated by our Master Sommelier. Each of the rooms and suites is designed with traditional colonial décor and a rich color palette that evokes the local Peruvian heritage.
Some other examples are the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, also located in the heart of the historic center. Another option further north is the Manco Capac Palace, in the historic neighborhood of San Cristobal just before reaching Sacsayhuaman. Although the building itself is not technically a palace, this place has the singularity of having been an authentic Inca palace, the palace of Colcampata. It was given to the dynasty of the Inca founder of the Inca empire, Manco Capac. In the enclosure are still preserved Inca remains that you can stroll through.
Explore the Peruvian South on a Luxury Train
Peru has two of the most luxurious trains in South America, luxury cars equipped in detail to provide the best service to its visitors.
Let’s start with the Belmond Hiram Bingham luxury train to Machu Picchu. This train category is the most luxurious service of the Peru Rail Company, its cars are finely decorated. It features welcome cocktails, gourmet food, an observatory car, dancing and live music on board.
Going further south, we will come across the Belmond Andean Explorer, another luxury train service also belonging to the Peru Rail company that was launched in 2017. This train is the first luxury sleeper train in South America. It covers the route between Cusco, Puno and Arequipa. Its rooms sport white linen and contain champagne all the way. It has an observatory car, two bars, a spa and charming leather-lined cabins with private bathrooms and windows.
Luxury cruises on the Amazon river
In the waters of the mysterious jungle of the Amazon, boutique cruises sail into the nooks and crannies of the flooded forests to get a closer look at the vastness of flora and wildlife while sailing in peace and tranquility surrounded by exclusive services.
One of these cruises is Aqua Expeditions’ elegant Aria Amazon, a 16-suite ship where you can enjoy a culinary experience created by renowned chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. On the other hand, Delfin Amazon Cruises, the first cruise company in the world part of the Relais & Chateaux association, offers three vessels: Delfin I with 4 exclusive suites, Delfin II with 14 suites and Delfin III with 22 suites. The trips, on both vessels, include activities such as wildlife watching, canoe or kayak trips, fishing, jungle hikes, visits to communities, swimming near pink dolphins, picnics on the beaches, among others.
Recharge yourself with luxurious spas to heal body and soul
Peru is a generous country, capable of positively and radically changing the lives of those who visits it. As soon as the traveler sets foot on our land, he can attest to this truth, for he senses, if he does not know it for sure, that Peru is a cosmos always to be discovered.
Massages, water circuits, Jacuzzi baths and even makeovers. Indulge yourself with the care provided by the most relaxing and luxurious spas in Peru. Take for example UNNO SPA at the Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, this spa is an escape into the enigmatic world of the ancestral wisdom of the Incas. Pink salt is incorporated into the treatments, in addition to traditional herbs. Many spas in Cusco offer oxygen therapy, convenient if you suffer from altitude sickness.
Cirqa Hotel, the sillar boutique hotel in Arequipa
Let’s first define that “Sillar” is the name used locally in the Peruvian region of Arequipa to designate the block of rock, of volcanic origin, typically and historically used for construction, sculpture and ornamentation.
The Cirqa Hotel in Arequipa boasts traditional Arequipa architecture, in which the arches and columns, as well as the ceilings and floors, are made of sillar; the white volcanic rock so beloved and characteristic of the area. This historic building is located a few meters from the Plaza de Armas and Cathedral in the historic center.
The experience of sleeping in a hotel whose infrastructure is composed of a rock so appreciated and historical is totally unique. The hotel has 11 rooms, a picanteria-style restaurant (picanteria is a traditional Andean Peruvian restaurant), a large terrace with a heated swimming pool, a therapeutic spa room and private car service, among other amenities.
Tasting the best of Peruvian cuisine and cooked by yourself
A Peruvian cooking class in Lima, Cusco or Arequipa is one of the most delicious opportunities to get to know the textures, flavors and aromas of the endless
delicious opportunities to learn about the textures, flavors and aromas of the endless pantry of Peruvian ingredients that have been combined with ingredients from all over the world, evolving and shaping one of the most awarded gastronomies in the world, Peruvian cuisine.
Generally, classes begin with the preparation of an appetizer, then a main course accompanied by a traditional beverage. Explaining the history of the ingredients and their main properties, this experience explores the products that make up the flavors of Peru. Nothing like tasting ceviche, lomo saltado, aji de gallina and other stars of Peruvian gastronomy. These experiences can be enjoyed in the region of your choice while traveling in Peru. Many of these experiences even offer visits to traditional markets.
Glamping in the Andes
Glamping is a natural fit with the ancient Inca trails that run through Cusco and the nature trails that skirt the slopes of the imposing Salkantay mountain (the second highest in the Cusco region).
On the Salkantay trek, travelers walk for five days to reach Machupicchu and cross different altitudinal floors from 2000m/6561ft to 4600m/15092ft. These travelers spend the night in ecocamps or domes that run on solar energy and wind turbines, work with certified products and recycle their waste, thus reducing the impact caused by the high traffic of visitors. The food at these exclusive camps is one of the most awaited moments, as it is made to satisfy the most demanding palates as well as the hungriest adventurer.
Peru has many incredible places to discover. With many years of working in the travel industry, Auri Travel is happy to help with your travel plans to Machu Picchu and other places around Peru. Come and enjoy your Peruvian Adventure with us!
