The Best Luxury Resorts in Peru

We’ll let you in on a secret: Máncora, on Peru’s sand-rimmed north coast, is a hush-hush sort of place. It’s visited by whales and turtles offshore, lined by sandy beaches and studded with standout, bohemian-style hotels that offer yoga, meditation and more. If you like the sound of that, but want to dial up the luxury a little, this resort is the place to spoil yourself. The beachfront retreat blends into the natural surrounds, with its simple wood and palm palette. An outdoor restaurant offering northern Peru’s famous fish dishes, plus an outdoor bar, massage area and beachside pool are all serenaded by the Pacific waves.

Not many foreign visitors make it up to Peru’s northern tip at Tumbes, but Punta Sal offers compelling evidence that they should. The area is framed by stunning powdery white beaches (indeed, the longest beach in Peru is here) and this resort hugs the sand, flanked by a long line of palms. Rooms are contemporary and tiled, with substantial en suite bathrooms and minibars. A games room, fitness center and tennis courts await when you’re done enjoying the coastline.

Three hours south of Lima, Paracas is renowned for jaw-dropping sea life in the nearby marine reserve, featuring pelicans, dolphins and whales. This address is Paracas’ most luxurious and most arresting when viewed from the sea, with its impressive private dock ushering guests into a serene oasis of fecundity. The 120 rooms boast either sea or garden views from their fetching terraces; the area’s finest spa and dining out on the ocean at Chalana Restaurant complete the dream.

Few hotels in Peru, or anywhere else for that matter, have their own railway station. You’ll immediately be delighted by this terracotta-roofed place, set in landscaped grounds beside the Urubamba river. Your stay begins in the lofty Inca-inspired colonnaded lobby with its whopping stone fireplace. Come hungry: the restaurant serves Novo-Andean cuisine, garnished by morsels from the on-site organic garden. When you need to relax, one of Peru’s foremost spas is on-site to abate the chilly mountain weather.

On an attractive tract of the Colca river valley, in southern Peru’s canyon country, this resort is inspired by pre-Inca buildings, using adobe mud-and-straw walls and thatched roofs to create a rural chic retreat. No fences or walls stand between you and the view, maximizing your contact with the natural world. Natural hot springs on a close-by stretch of river give this lodge its own special style of wellness. Otherwise, enjoy the spa, spot condors swooping overhead or hike to pre-Inca ruins nearby.

Want to live it up in Paracas? The Aranwa would be a strong choice, with all 115 contemporary rooms and suites (two with jacuzzi terraces) decorated with marine-themed fabrics and wood floors, kitted out with minibars, and looking out towards the sea. The complex includes an impressive pool formed of interconnected circles, along with a spa, tennis courts, cinema and events stage. Conclude the day at the Pisco bar, stocked with one of the best selections of Peru’s fabled spirit.

Dive into Peru’s photogenic jungle zone in style courtesy of the lakeside luxury at El Sauce Resort, southeast of dynamic cloud forest city Tarapoto. The forest wilderness feels close here as you luxuriate by the circular pool surrounded by four-poster loungers, kick back in the high-end palapas (palm-thatched rooms) with their hammock-slung terraces overlooking lush gardens, or take advantage of some fantastic activities, including canoeing on the lake and jungle horseback rides.

The secret is out: the former fishing village of Malabrigo (unofficially called Puerto Chicama) has the planet’s longest surfable left wave, drawing surfers from across the globe. Luxury has arrived too, with the Chicama boasting 20 expansive palm-roofed villas right on the ocean. Come wallow in the infinity pool, indulge in the spa, jacuzzi, sauna and yoga/meditation area, stroll the sandy beach and get wave-borne with some surfing lessons.

Peru’s northerly city of Tumbes stands out for its jaw-dropping sandy beaches and Casa Andina Zorrito Tumbes is well-positioned to take advantage. A pool so large you’ll struggle to squeeze it into a camera shot is encircled by tastefully finished whitewashed villas and a palm-tree-studded beach lies beyond. Rooms have hypoallergenic mattresses, minibars and balconies facing across the grounds to the ocean. Ask about trips to the nearby mangrove forests.

Qolcas are elaborate Inca storage houses, and many survive as striking ruins around the one-time royal Inca estate, Ollantaytambo. This is the inspiration for this low-impact resort, designed to maximize views of the surrounding mountains and archaeological remains. Rooms are sumptuous wood-framed safari-style tents, fanning across flower-bedecked lawns right below the Andean peaks. The spa lets guests indulge in the ancient Inca treatment of hot-stone massage – luxury and cultural immersion all in one.