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We've compiled the best of the best in The Southern Andes and Lake Titicaca - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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.
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.
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.
The best guesthouse in Cabanaconde has a homey and warm feel—probably thanks to its wood-fire oven, which constantly churns out the finest pizzas in the region. The private en suite rooms are simple and yet well decorated and comfortable; there are also well-kept dorms for the budget minded. But the real reason to stay here, beyond the fusion food, is the young and friendly atmosphere and the excellent trekking information that Ludwig, the owner and an experienced trekking guide and travel photographer, has distilled into the best free Colca Canyon trekking map available. Drop by for a pizza, a cocktail, or a friendly chat.
A great base for tours, this modern hotel has comfortable rooms with orthopedic beds, heating, and Indigenous weavings that inject color and local flair. Single rooms have ample queen-sized beds.
