11 Best Hotels in Puno, The Southern Andes and Lake Titicaca

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.

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.

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.

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.

An ecological paradise for those who can afford it, this exclusive hotel is on Isla Suasi, 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.

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.

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 a 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.

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.