The Most Romantic Hotels to Book in Peru

In downtown Cusco, opposite the Coricancha temple of the sun and a stone’s throw from Plaza de Armas, 500-year-old Palacio del Inka has plenty of stories to tell. Today, it’s a five-star luxury hotel with a romantic inner courtyard and rooms with views of downtown Cusco or the Andes mountains. Couples on a big budget should book the Inca Temple Suite for a sumptuous stay, and make the most of the four spa treatment rooms.

In the ancient San Blas neighborhood in Cusco, and a short walk from Plaza de Armas, Antigua Casona is a beautifully kept colonial mansion oozing romance from every corner. Well-appointed rooms with Juliet-style balconies look over the green courtyard, and original features include terracotta floor tiles. Lovers should book a relaxing couples’ massage session.

Just outside the town of Máncora, in the quieter district of Las Pocitas, Arennas makes for an idyllic beach escape. Stylish villas have ocean vistas, but the Pool Villa with a private dipping pool right on the beach and in a prime location for sunsets is the one for couples to book. Dine in house on the catch of the day or take a rickshaw into Máncora for a fish supper at La Sirena d’Juan.

For a secluded all-inclusive escape on the elevated shores of Lake Titicaca, it doesn’t get much more remote than the 18 suites at Titilaka. Beds and bathtubs face onto the highest navigable lake in the world, while wraparound terraces ensure pristine vistas at all times. Corner suites have both sunrise and sunset panoramas. After an intense day of trekking at altitude, book in for a massage at the treatment room.

The go-to resort for rockstars, movie legends and politicians since it opened in 1927, this is one of the most prestigious hotels in Peru. Country Club Lima is all about sophisticated, colonial-era decadence: think a Hollywood-style red-carpeted entrance, a high-ceilinged lobby with hundreds of 16th-century paintings, and enormous flower arrangements dotted throughout. Both standard and presidential suites come with luxurious decor, including crushed-velvet chaises longues, and grand marble bathrooms with double sinks, soaking bathtubs and rainfall showers.

Nestled among Incan terraces of corn and quinoa between Cusco and Macchu Picchu, Explora Valle Sagrado is the best-kept secret in the Sacred Valley. While most visitors to Cusco whizz through the valley and straight for Machu Picchu, the Explora encourages you to explore its stunning, lesser-known corners through personalized, guided activities such as riverside bike rides and hikes amid snowcapped peaks. Rooms are decorated with floor-to-ceiling windows, unvarnished wooden floors and a couples’ jacuzzi tub.

Inkaterra is an ecoluxury lodge in front of the Madre de Dios River near the beautiful Tambopata national reserve. The large, lush grounds include 35 chic wooden cabanas, which – with spacious rooms, swinging hammocks and refreshing plunge pools – are some of the most luxurious you’ll find in the Amazon. Highlights include a romantic sunset cruise along the Amazon River and the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway, a private 30m (100ft) high bridge system that gives you the chance to spot howler monkeys, sloths and toucans. For honeymoons, rooms are decorated with thoughtful romantic touches such as rose petals and a bottle of bubbly.

Like most Marriott hotels, El Convento oozes luxury and sophistication. What really makes this property special, however, is the history. Housed in a former 16th-century convent, it has original cobbled floors, grand stone archways and hundreds of Inca and pre-Inca artifacts. Coupled with modern design touches and top-class amenities – such as Swarovski-encrusted chandeliers, contemporary Peruvian art and one of the only hotel pools in Cusco – El Convento is undoubtedly one of most decadent hotels in the city. Just a five-minute walk to Plaza de Armas and with easy access to the most popular sites in the region (such as Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain), this is a great option for couples looking for luxury while being on the doorstep of adventure.

Hidden among the lush, misty hills of the Lares region, locally run Huacahuasi Lodge is currently the only hotel in the area, meaning one thing: complete seclusion. Each beautifully decorated room (think handwoven Inca textiles with a touch of modern design) has a private terrace with a couples’ hot tub overlooking the waterfall-dotted valley gorge. Thoughtful touches such as a warm towel on arrival and a hot-water bottle and herbal pillow in your bed every night make Huacahuasi Lodge extra special.

The five-star, ultra-modern Hotel Paracas sets the standard for luxury hotels in the area. Expect two large infinity pools, a state-of-the-art spa, and three al fresco restaurants serving the best food in town. A winning choice for couples who want relaxation, pampering and champagne with ocean views. For something extra romantic, some rooms come with beautiful private pools and stunning views of the wild Peruvian Pacific coastline.

On a cliffside on the tiny Lake Titicaca island of Amantani, Amantica Lodge is the first micro-boutique hotel on the lake. With just one room, you’ll not only have your own private chef, local guide and concierge, but also a private section of the island. To better fit in with the local architecture – and to minimize its environmental impact – the lodge is built from adobe wood, totora reeds and stones from the island, and runs entirely on solar energy. It has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout for lake views, a gas chimney stove, a jacuzzi tub for two built into the cliffside, and a chillout deck that, by day, offers views of the Andes and, by night, a lit-up sky peppered with stars.