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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Set only three blocks from the Plaza de Armas, this 18th-century building is a gem of Arequipa's colonial architecture, with a sheltered courtyard that leads you away from Calle Mercaderes's humdrum trappings to a sumptuous lobby with a traditional rounded-pebble floor adorned with large paintings of characters from the past. The chapel-like breakfast area is right next door and offers a remarkable à la carte menu. Guest rooms are set at the back of a separate building and have modern yet simple decor, with windows facing a serene garden decorated with lounge chairs.

On a quiet street about a five-minute walk from Jirón Lima, this is an affordable, cozy place to lay your head after a day on the lake, with basic but clean and comfortable rooms. Private baths are large, beds are comfy, and all rooms have individual space heaters. In the morning, a large breakfast spread is served, and, at night, the hotel restaurant provides tasty dinner options so you don't have to head out to eat if you're tired.

In the up-and-coming Vallecito neighborhood, a short walk from the center (and removed from its noise), this boutique hotel has a resortlike pool area, leafy gardens, and a terrace with views over the city to the mountains. The straightforward rooms, all with balconies, are equipped with modern perks like LCD TVs and mini-refrigerators, and there's a full-service restaurant and bar and a cozy sitting room with library and fireplace.

Part of a trendy hosteling and coworking-space franchise, Arequipa's branch of Selina earns points for its stunning location set around a well-manicured garden filled with birds and artsy installations. Definitely aimed at the younger traveler, Selina has a very cool, creative, relaxing vibe that is best appreciated while chilling in the charming tree house or sipping a cocktail at the side of the swimming-pool bar. Beyond dormitory accommodations, the best choices here are the private doubles set in a separate compound at the back of the garden. Additional amenities include daily yoga classes and air-conditioned common rooms for coworking.

Weavings, polished wood, and Indigenous art lend character to this thoroughly modern hotel, one of Puno's original upscale options, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. It's 4 km (2½ miles) from the center of town and has lovely outside seating, where you can really enjoy the grounds rather than just look out at them. Rooms are decorated with Pucará bulls and Andean textiles and feature top-notch electronics. The hotel's restaurant, Inkafé, serves international and Peruvian cuisines and has large picture windows offering a panoramic view of the lake. It's one of few hotels in town that has accessible rooms for people with disabilities.

For the best views, ask for a second-floor room.

This hotel, which is surprisingly modern given the remote location, has rooms that are as comfortable and up-to-date as you can find in the city. Suites include a fireplace and whirlpool bath. Amenities include an indoor pool, sauna, and Jacuzzi. This location is especially useful if you want to prolong the journey along the lake before heading into Bolivia.