By Diana Fletcher, International Banker
For excursionists hunting for adventure in a location brimming with diverse natural and architectural wonders but also ample luxury accommodations, Peru is the perfect fit. After visiting Peru, no one will deny that South America’s third-largest country deserves its position amongst the world’s 17 megadiverse countries. The Andes, the world’s longest continental mountain range, runs through Peru’s centre, splitting it into three regions with distinct habitats: the western arid coastal region bordering the Pacific Ocean, the central Andean highlands and the eastern Amazon rainforest. Known as the “Land of the Incas”, Peru is royally rich in historical significance as the home base of not only the Incas but also several other civilisations in ancient and mediaeval times, such as the pre-Columbian Caral-Supe, the oldest-known civilisation in the Americas. Every corner of this multi-diverse country has a story to tell.
Travellers flock to Peru in June as it enters its dry winter season, when the skies clear and temperatures moderate. Exploring is at the top of every tourist’s to-do list—whether it’s unearthing the ancient ruins of the Inca Empire, conquering the majestic peaks of the Andes or scouting the biological reservoir of the Amazon rainforest. Best of all, visitors will find the country as well-endowed with luxury resorts as it is with adventures.
Las Casitas, a Belmond Hotel, Colca Canyon, Fundo La Curiña s/n Yanque, Arequipa
© Las Casitas, a Belmond Hotel
Las Casitas, a Belmond Hotel, Colca Canyon is a five-star resort 170 kilometres north of Arequipa, Peru’s second most-populated city, offering a serene retreat in the picturesque Colca Canyon, considered one of the world’s deepest gorges. The resort’s 20 sumptuous private casitas (villas) are furnished with such amenities as fireplaces, marble bathrooms, private terraces and heated plunge pools. Guests dine at the Curiña restaurant or the Puccq’io bar and then relax in the Samay Spa. Animal lovers delight in interacting with the resort’s resident animals, such as alpacas; plant lovers relish the extensive gardens; and adventurers waste no time in touring the Colca Valley, whether horseback riding or hiking, with their eyes peeled for an Andean condor, the world’s largest bird of prey.
South of the resort is Arequipa, the White City, flanked by volcanoes including El Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. This unique city enchants travellers with its stunning white volcanic sillar-stone buildings. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its blend of colonial and indigenous architecture.
Puno, 300 kilometres east of Arequipa, is well worth the drive. Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, this pivotal city has its share of attractions, such as the Puno Cathedral, and is famous for its lively celebrations, such as the Festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria. The city serves as a gateway to Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, where tourists can visit the approximately 40 floating islands built by the Uros people or the island of Taquile, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, inhabited by the Quechua-speaking Taquileños.
Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, Av. Paracas S/N, Paracas
© Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Nearly 300 kilometres south of Lima (where most international flights land at Jorge Chávez International Airport), visitors will discover Hotel Paracas, a five-star Luxury Collection resort featuring 120 extravagant rooms and suites showcasing pre-Incan décor and equipped with furnished terraces overlooking the ocean or private gardens, four dining options, two swimming pools and the AQU spa, as well as a programme geared for children, Koni Camp.
The accommodation faces the Paracas National Reserve, a coastal protected area in the country’s arid zone. The Ballestas Islands provide excellent opportunities to glimpse South America’s diverse wildlife, including penguins and sea lions, from the resort’s 52-foot yacht.
About an hour’s drive southeast, the city of Ica sits on the border of the Atacama Desert, considered the driest slice of real estate on Earth. The Regional Museum of Ica is popular with tourists, as is the nearby Huacachina oasis, which captivates dune buggy and sandboarding enthusiasts. The Canyon of the Lost is another remarkable natural attraction. Southeast of the city lies what is regarded as one of the world’s greatest mysteries: the Nazca lines—approximately 700 geoglyphs and line drawings of animals and plants etched into the surface of the desert thousands of years ago.
But things aren’t all dry. The region is one of the best places to enjoy wine and pisco, a tasty liquor that originated in Peru.
Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, Calle Plazoleta Nazarenas 223, Cusco
© Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
East of Ica, a gratifying treasure awaits tourists in the five-star Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, located in the heart of Cusco, regarded as the centre of the ancient Andean civilisations. Each of the 55 colonial-style suites is enhanced with amenities such as butler service and oxygen, needed by some due to the high altitude. The accommodation, a restored convent, also features the Hypnôze Spa, an outdoor heated pool, the Mauka restaurant and the Senzo Bar, with the library displaying Peruvian artefacts.
Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once the capital of the Inca Empire, sits in the southern part of the Andes and serves as the gateway to the Altiplano, the world’s second-most extensive high plateau after Tibet. The central square, Plaza de Armas, is enriched with outstanding architectural wonders, such as the Cathedral of Cusco and the Church of the Society of Jesus. The bustling San Pedro Market showcases handmade crafts, colourful textiles and local foods. Museums such as the Planetarium Cusco, Inca Museum and Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, along with the Sacsayhuamán citadel north of the city, provide invaluable glimpses into past times.
The town of Pisac, about 35 kilometres northeast of Cusco, hosts another popular artisan market. Just a short drive away, the Pisac ruins, perched high on a mountain, bestow stunning panoramic views. For supreme vistas, the most adventurous tourists will want to take on the colourful 5,000-metre-high Vinicunca, the Mountain of Seven Colors, southeast of Cusco.
Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Valle Sagrado, Avenida Ferrocarril S/N, Sacred Valley, Urubamba
© Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
Having reached Cusco, visitors will want to explore the neighbouring Sacred Valley to the north, which stretches from Pisac to Ollantaytambo within the towering Andes peaks. Tambo del Inka, an expansive five-star establishment located in Urubamba along the Inca Trail on the Urubamba River, is equipped with 128 rooms and suites, the Kallpa spa and a fitness centre. Guests are welcome to enjoy cocktails at the Kiri Bar or Andean cuisine at the Hawa restaurant.
The hotel’s private train connects guests with Machu Picchu, an Incan royal citadel and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively, the hardy can hike the Inca Trail—a four-day trek that includes several ancient ruins and ends at Machu Picchu.
Other popular sites include Ollantaytambo and its impressive ruins, which stand as a timeless testament to Inca engineering. The Salt Mines of Maras and the Moray ruins are each about half an hour west of the hotel.
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It’s little wonder that so many royal families of ancient civilisations chose Peru as their home site. Today, tourists can feel like royalty in one of the country’s high-end accommodations and take their pick of adventures, from wildlife safaris in the Amazon and surfing on the Pacific Ocean to high-altitude sightseeing in the Andes.