Where to stay in Peru
Peru offers accommodation across an exceptionally wide range, from international luxury hotels in Lima to the most basic albergues in small highland towns. Lima has a substantial supply of high-quality hotels concentrated in Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco, including properties of the Marriott, Hilton, JW Marriott and Belmond groups as well as well-regarded independent boutique hotels. Barranco in particular has seen a number of stylish small hotels open in converted colonial townhouses, offering a more characterful alternative to the conventional business hotel.
In Cusco, the market ranges from backpacker hostels in the old centre to the Belmond Hotel Monasterio and Inkaterra La Casona, both former colonial buildings with Inca-era foundations. A number of smaller boutique hotels in the San Blas neighbourhood offer a quieter and more atmospheric base than the area immediately around the Plaza de Armas. In the Sacred Valley, accommodation options range from simple guesthouses in Pisac and Ollantaytambo to upscale eco-lodges and resort hotels perched above the valley floor with views of Inca terracing.
Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, functions primarily as a transit stop, but several reasonable hotels provide comfortable overnight accommodation for early access to the ruins before the day crowds arrive. Booking accommodation and train tickets here months in advance during the June to August peak is essential.
In the Amazon basin, accommodation ranges from very basic river-town hotels to sophisticated eco-lodges in or adjacent to primary forest. The quality and price of Amazon lodges vary widely; the most reputable operations in areas such as Tambopata and Manu combine comfortable accommodation with high-standard naturalist guiding. Some lodges operate entirely off the grid, powered by solar and generators. Booking directly with established operators or through reputable specialist tour agencies is the most reliable way to arrange jungle stays.
Camping in Peru is primarily associated with trekking and outdoor adventure rather than a general accommodation option. The Inca Trail requires a licensed operator and includes specific designated campsites at fixed points along the route; camping is not permitted outside these sites. The Santa Cruz Trek in the Cordillera Blanca, the Ausangate Circuit around the sacred mountain southeast of Cusco, and several other highland routes also use established high-altitude campsites.
In national parks and protected areas, camping outside designated zones is generally not permitted. In the Amazon, camping is typically associated with organised river expeditions rather than independent travel. Some areas of the Peruvian altiplano and coast are more permissive regarding camping on undesignated land, but permissions and local awareness are advisable. Carrying all waste out is essential throughout the country's protected areas.
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