38 Best Hotels in The Southern Andes and Lake Titicaca, Peru

Although the exterior of this upscale resort and spa along the Colca River feels more condo than boutique, the rooms are modern and airy, the amenities are superb, the restaurant and bar are among the best in the area, the get-away-from-it-all location is stunning, and it features authentic Peruvian hospitality and culture. All bathrooms are huge and have tubs; suites and chalets have Jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces (it can get cold here at night). The grounds have a variety of landscaping features, from waterfalls and pools to terraced gardens and a water mill, and the setting offers plentiful flora and fauna. The lovely full-service spa includes a heated pool, sauna, steam, skilled massage therapists, and more. The restaurant and bar, which serves Novo Andino dishes and wood-fired pizzas, is superior to other dining options in the area. 

At the most luxurious property in the Colca area, with service and amenities to match, each thatched bungalow has its own outdoor terrace with a private heated pool, heated smooth-stone floors, and deep bathtubs beneath skylights for after-dark soaking and stargazing (though you can get an even better view from the outdoor showers). Rooms are bright and comfortable, with leather armchairs and wrought-iron beds piled with elegant bedding and harkening to days gone by. You can join cooking and pisco-sour-making classes, baby-alpaca feedings, and familiarization tours of the vegetable garden, and—for an additional fee—activities such as fly-fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and spa treatments can be arranged. The Quiriña restaurant serves creative Peruvian fusion dishes using vegetables from the garden.

Set in the city's former coin mint, a national historical monument, this midsize hotel features massive colonial-era common rooms with arched stone walls, oil paintings, and period furnishings. The modern section of the hotel has rooms and suites featuring Andean weavings, contemporary furniture, and plush beds and bedding. Many rooms have romantic views of the city. The best rooms in the house are colonial suites that will make you feel like royalty in your private palace. Alma, the on-site gourmet restaurant, serves creative Novo Andino cuisine in its chic yet historic dining area.

The individually designed rooms at this neoclassical boutique hotel are all decked out in luxuriously high-quality motifs and bedding—every last detail has been considered, and it's all so personalized that a stay here is almost like a stay with your best friends. Filled with antique furnishings typical of the region, the hand-carved beds feature 400-thread-count sheets, and each room comes with heating to counter the cool Andean air. The extra charm comes from the hospitable staff, who'll retrieve your luggage from the airport if it's delayed, iron your clothes, and even throw you a birthday party. A lavish breakfast buffet includes an assortment of coffee, tea, breads, fruits, and eggs, served on a rooftop nook with views of El Misti.

This simple hotel, the friendliest in Cotahuasi, has two stories of basic yet clean and well-maintained en suite rooms set around the pleasant garden of a local household. The structure's wooden balconies and mezzanines are a nice touch, and there's safe private parking for those who arrive driving.

An ecological paradise for those who can afford it, this exclusive hotel is on Isla Suasi, a private island on a remote end of Lake Titicaca (a 5½-hour boat ride from Puno, including a stop at Uruos). The remote location and absence of TVs in the rooms does not mean you will be bored: activity options include hiking among wild llamas, canoeing, studying astronomy, learning Andean spirituality, taking in flower-filled terraces, learning about ecosystems, and relaxing with a massage. Rooms are comfortable, and most have balconies. All meals are provided in the gourmet restaurant (or barbecue pit), and for an extra-special treat, there's a private cottage that comes with its own butler.

A boutique lodge with rustic-chic decor, Killawasi—which is in the countryside but close to the small town of Yanque—provides the perfect balance of escape to nature and access to local culture. With a swimming pool and a newer wing that also includes two large deluxe family rooms with large mountain-facing terraces, the lodge also has wooden floors, beams, and minimalist blond-wood furnishings. Rooms are accented with local weavings and mural art that blends well with their warm, pastel-colored hues, creating a light and unfussy feel that's appropriate to the setting. An afternoon hike to nearby ruins and hot springs is included in the price of your room if you arrive before 3 pm, and the on-site restaurant Quinua has plenty of Peruvian and international dishes on offer.

Part of the luxe Relais & Châteaux brand, this is the best hotel on the lake, period—a stylish all-inclusive ecotourism resort with contemporary flair and an off-the-beaten-path location. Overlooking the lake next to the Chucuito Peninsula, it's about a 40-minute car ride from Puno. The brick exterior resembles a lake house rather than a boutique hotel, but the interior is classic Euro-contemporary, with hints of Peruvian color, making this a truly unique place. All rooms have high-quality furnishings and linens, plasma TVs, heated floors, and lake views. Activities include trips to the islands and remote weaving communities, bird-watching, kayaking, and massage services. Room service is available 24 hours.

Out of the two Casa Andina properties in Puno (the other is a less expensive Casa Andina Standard property), this pricier lakeside hotel is the best, offering comfortable rooms with great natural light and all the modern amenities you need. Be sure to request one of the lake-view rooms, which are a bit more expensive but worth it. You'll be a taxi ride away from the center of town, so it's worth noting that the restaurant serves good Novo Andino food, and the bar is well-stocked.

You don't get any more central than this midlevel hotel with modern rooms, excellent service, and a superb location right on Plaza de Armas. Ask for one of the big, comfortable rooms overlooking the square to view the constant stream of activities. Enjoy a dip in the rooftop pool, followed by dinner on the long patio overlooking the plaza. You can even keep up with your exercise routine in the hotel gym.

As with Casa Andina properties elsewhere in Peru, the Arequipa branch offers comfortable but basic rooms, nicely decorated with Andean textiles. The bathrooms are modern and clean. The free breakfast is good, and the bilingual staff is very helpful. It's a good value for your money if you just want a place to lay your head at night without a lot of frills.

Part of the national Casa Andina chain, this hotel is much quainter than the company's typical urban properties, with stand-alone bungalow-style cabins built of locally quarried rock, thatched roofs, and wood flooring. The medium-size rooms with rustic furnishings have private baths with hot water. If you don't feel like walking into town, the hotel restaurant serves excellent Peruvian fare that is as good, if not better, than what you might find in Chivay.

One of the most complete resorts in Colca, with its own hot springs and solar heating, this hotel is at the same time relaxing and family friendly, with an understated look thanks to its adobe and clay walls and thatched roof, and a natural location on a bend of the river filled with quinoa fields and grassy meadows. There's plenty to do, including canyon hikes, biking, horseback riding, and visits to the property's own Rancho Alpaca. Kids will love the nonstop on-site activities. Rooms are spacious and well appointed, decorated in a minimal, country-home style with a Peruvian flair. Adobe suites come with large bathrooms, and the on-site restaurant serves flavorsome meals that rely on zesty local trout and alpaca meats. Above all, this hotel has the best hot springs around, located right next to the river. Relax in the therapeutic waters, and then indulge in one of the on-site spa's therapies, which include an aromatic steam bath and a thermal Jacuzzi set right above the crashing Colca River.

Located about five minutes from Chivay and set in a stunning landscape hugged by mountains and lush greenery alongside a rushing river—the sound will lull you to sleep at night—this peaceful hotel allows you to take refuge from the world without compromising comfort. Private thermal baths are right on the premises. Rooms have a modern-rustic decor that fits in perfectly with the surroundings, which can be enjoyed from each room's small terrace. The on-site restaurant assures there's no need to leave this little bit of paradise, unless you want to head out for a tour or local activities. Plan on spending at least a couple of nights here, because you won't want to leave.

Housed in a 200-year-old traditional arequipeña house, this hostel is a real keeper, as in addition to the ultra-affordable but basic dorm units, it has some excellent private rooms nestled around two luminous yellow-and-indigo-tinted courtyards, one sporting a fountain. These private units are all equipped with traditional Peruvian furnishings, original sillar roof fittings, bathtubs, and LED TVs.

Although it may look a little institutional from the outside, inside this low-rise hotel, which functions more like a resort, is the most luxurious stay close to the city—just 5 km (3 miles) away on Isla Esteves, an island in Lake Titicaca that's connected to the mainland by a causeway. Rooms and bathrooms are all comfortable, large, clean, and modern, with stunning views of the lake, especially on the sunrise side. You can get a taxi into town, but the hotel also has an upscale international restaurant and a cozy bar that has beautiful night views, good pisco sours, and a fireplace.

Situated in a quiet corner on San Lazaro's main square, this upscale five-story hotel is a great choice to experience Arequipa in style while staying right outside the city’s walls, enjoying one of its most underrated districts. The suites are worth considering for their whirlpool tubs and large private balconies, but the large standard rooms, with their warm wooden floors and plush beds, also have a lot going for them. The terrace restaurant has a large balcony on which you can have breakfast over postcard-perfect views of the city and the volcanoes.

Panoramic views of Lake Titicaca and its surroundings can be viewed from the endless windows that line the restaurant atop this Spanish colonial hotel with an old-world feel, and some of the rooms share the view. All rooms are spacious, bright, and clean, and come with heaters. The bedding—especially the pillows—is plush, and electric blankets are provided. Most rooms have big bay windows for a view of the city or lake. A grand spiral staircase extends through all six floors.

What it lacks in refinement or luxury, this simple, rustic property, hemmed by green mountains, more than makes up for with its stunning location. The two floors of simple rooms and dorms—equipped with charming stone porches or wooden mezzanines and individual touches like lamps with old irons as stands—are decorated with homey care and have private bathrooms. The central garden is a delightful spot to enjoy a romantic dinner or the tasty breakfasts, which are served with local avocados and fresh jam. Alpacas and animals round out the farmlike atmosphere.

The comfortable rooms here are modern, but the hotel is also full of local flavor, thanks to plenty of Indigenous art and artifacts. Rooms have neutral color schemes, flat-screen TVs, plush bedding, and polished hardwood floors. Stained-glass windows, which permeate light from the hotel's large atrium, line the hallways. A service-oriented staff is helpful and can help plan local trips and place hot-water bottles in bed prior to arrival.

If you're passing through and want to save on your lodging budget, this quiet hotel in the countryside offers great value for basic rustic-chic rooms, many of which have gorgeous views. The restaurant is large but manages to be cozy at the same time, with a fireplace that is often lit in the evening. Many people stop in just for the set menus (S/35 per person), as the food is considered some of the best in the area. The staff is friendly, attentive, and interested in ensuring you enjoy your stay. Horseback riding and hikes can be arranged daily.

In a beautiful tiled courtyard surrounded by fragrant blossoms and dotted with trees, this 18th-century home is believed to have been a onetime temporary residence of Mariano Melgar, Peru's most romantic 19th-century poet. Each room in this Spanish colonial has its own historic charm, such as towering, vaulted brick ceilings, and original walls, doors, windows, and some furnishings dating from colonial times. An Italian-style trattoria just off the lobby offers homemade pastas and pizzas.

For a quiet hotel with old Spanish colonial charm and modern amenities, opt for a superior room with a view at this traditional hacienda. The white sillar walls and wraparound terrace surround a central courtyard where glorious bougainvillea blossoms; it's a delightful spot to have breakfast or update your travel journal. Rooms have a mix of antique furnishings and contemporary touches like bathroom skylights and flat-screen TVs; some have stone fireplaces. There's also a Roman bath on site.

Half a block from the Plaza de Armas, this stylish boutique hotel offers practical, comfortable rooms with a homey atmosphere, thanks to arched wooden doors that open to cozy interiors featuring dark tiled floors and cream-colored walls. Dishes served at the free breakfast are made entirely with local ingredients such as papaya arequipeña and kiwicha (superfood grain). An intimate terrace delivers postcard-perfect views of the San Agustín church and the cathedral's towers jutting against the volcanic background.