Amazon Accommodation | Peru | Natural Habitat Adventures

Wyndham Costa del Sol

Location
Lima, Peru

The Wyndham Costa del Sol is conveniently located at the Lima airport, and ideal for late arrivals and early departures to Cusco the following morning. Its 130 contemporary rooms include free Wi-Fi, mini bar and in-room safe. A 24-hour restaurant and room service offer meals round the clock. The spa and fitness center are likewise open 24 hours a day to help travelers unwind—take advantage of massage therapy, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, exercise equipment and an indoor swimming pool.

Casa Cartagena

Location
Cusco, Peru

In the heart of Cusco, a city high in the Peruvian Andes that blends Inca and Spanish colonial history and culture, Casa Cartagena features 16 luxury suites in a historic house just off the main square. The property earned recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site following the meticulous restoration of its carved Inca stone walls and colonial frescoes. Colonial architecture overlays an ancient Inca complex that was once occupied by reigning nobility, and all rooms surround a peaceful courtyard, a configuration that remains true to the original design. Each suite has a private balcony. Plush beds have down comforters and hypoallergenic pillows, plus central heating and an enriched oxygen system to help adjust to Cusco’s high altitude. Decor melds contemporary and colonial styles with splashes of bright color against a neutral palette. En suite bathrooms have a bathtub with mineral bathing salts, Tatami-style shower, bidet and toilet, and robes and slippers. Additional room amenities include Wi-Fi, LCD television with cable, in-room safe, writing desk, and a butler at your service.

Time permitting, guests may join the hotel’s free daily Pisco sour lesson, where you can glean detailed instructions for preparing Peru’s national cocktail. Or rejuvenate at the Qoya Spa, featuring organic products that use ancient Peruvian ingredients like Andean mint, salts and coca leaves. At the hotel’s historic La Bodega de la Chola restaurant, enjoy local Peruvian flavors in a space where Pablo Neruda was once inspired to write poetry and Che Guevara spent many bohemian nights.

Palacio del Inka

Location
Cusco, Peru

A storied mansion dating back nearly five centuries, the Palacio del Inka is located in the historic center of the ancient Andean city of Cusco, directly opposite the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun) and just two blocks from the main square. The luxury hotel occupies the grandiose Casa de los Cuatro Bustos where Francisco Pizarro, first Spanish governor of Peru, once lived. Built on the foundations of an old Inca site, some of its original walls still remain. The interior design, decor and handcrafted furnishings evoke Peru's colonial past. The hotel's 203 rooms have carved wooden doors, tapestries, and paintings and mirrors in gold frames. Though the ambience pays homage to bygone days, guests enjoy a full array of contemporary amenities, from luxury beds with fine linens to state-of-the-art technology, including an LED TV, high-speed Internet access, and an iPod docking station. A lavish breakfast buffet is served in the Inti Raymi restaurant, which specializes in haute Peruvian cuisine. Ranked by Conde Naste Traveler as one of the top hotels in South America, this classic property adds an opulent element to our Peruvian adventure.

Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

Location
Sacred Valley (near Huyallabamba), Peru

Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is a contemporary luxury hotel with traditional Andean styling, located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Guests bask in solitude, surrounded by 100 acres of open countryside dominated by the imposing green peaks of the Andes. Hacienda-style architecture and interiors are inspired by the region's cultural heritage, with period colonial furniture, authentic Inca masks and handcrafted woodwork enhancing the authentic ambience. Accommodations are in individual casitas with huge glass patio doors that open onto a private terrace surveying a panorama of the valley. Each spacious casita has a high, wood-beamed ceiling, saltillo tile floors and a fireplace to ward off the evening chill. Rooms have one king or two twin beds with 100% pima cotton sheets, down duvet and handmade wool coverlets, a colonial-style wardrobe, and sitting area. Large bathrooms have a heated towel rail, pima cotton towels, hair dryer, bathrobes and slippers, and biodegradable toiletries with natural essences. Amenities include flat screen satellite TV, Wi-Fi, iPad, telephone, mini bar, coffee maker and safe.

The hotel's Earth-to-Table concept is based around a 10-acre organic plantation where guests are welcome to pick their own produce. Crops produced via carbon-neutral means include red and black quinoa, Urubamba giant corn, purple corn, medicinal herbs and a great variety of potatoes, farmed with traditional hand tools and oxen as they have been for centuries. Meals in the elegant dining room are a highlight, as accomplished chefs create menus using local organic ingredients harvested from the farm. In the bar, enjoy an exquisite selection of macerated piscos and a wide range of wines. The restaurant, bar and adjacent terraces offer a magnificent view of the Sacred Valley and the mountains rising straight from the valley floor.

Time permitting, indulge in a visit to Mayu Spa (mayu means “river” in Quechua). Featuring rustic-chic design inspired by traditional Andean architecture, Mayu Spa features relaxing views of nature from its hillside location between the hotel's organic orchard and an enchanting peppertree forest. Treatments use 100% natural products derived from native medicinal herbs. The new wellness center has a plunge pool, four private therapy rooms and a dry sauna.

Sol y Luna

Location
Urubamba, Peru

Sol y Luna is an award-winning luxury boutique hotel set within the natural oasis of Peru’s famed Sacred Valley. Fourteen bungalows dot the lush grounds, backdropped by the peaks of the surrounding Andes. Constructed of locally made adobe bricks, handcrafted stonework and rustic log beams, each colorful bungalow is built in harmony with the natural environment and has a private flagstone veranda from which to admire the glorious views. Spacious interiors are decorated with authentic local folk art, while large en suite tiled bathrooms offer every amenity.

As delightful as the bungalows are, guests at Sol y Luna will be drawn outside to enjoy the lavish flower gardens, laced with nature trails and home to 35 different species of birds. Or, relax and recreate in the swimming pool, sauna or gym. Yoga and Tai Chi classes are also available, as well as an enticing selection of soothing treatments at the Yacu Wasi ("House of Water") Spa. The hotel's Killa Wasi restaurant is also a highlight, featuring creative gourmet cuisine by award-winning chefs and sourced from local artisan organic producers. Meals often showcase fresh fruits and vegetables from Sol y Luna's own organic garden. Guests at family-owned and run Sol y Luna will enjoy exceptional hospitality in an incomparable setting in the Andes foothills.

Note: The hotels we use in the Sacred Valley occasionally vary, but will be comparable in terms of quality and atmosphere.

Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Location
Aguas Calientes, Peru

One of National Geographic's Unique Lodges of the World, Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel sits in seclusion on the Urubamba River near the village of Aguas Calientes. It enjoys an ideal location near the ruins of the famous Lost City of the Incas but away from the crowds. Whitewashed Andean-style wood and stone bungalows are scattered along terraced hills, surrounded by waterfalls and a tropical flower garden that boasts more than 350 species of orchids. Stone pathways lace the 12-acre grounds, inviting guests to search for 214 native bird species including the golden-headed quetzal and famous cock-of-the-rock.

Beneath the terracotta tile roofs of each casita, guest rooms feature high log-beamed ceilings, private fireplaces, woven textiles, grand beds with thick alpaca blankets and handmade wool coverlets, spacious spa-style bathrooms, and comfortable areas for sitting and relaxing. The hotel's Unu Spa offers classic Andean-style therapies featuring all-natural products derived from botanical extracts, in a mystical candlelit environment. A unique Andean sauna, where stones are heated in a candlelit eucalyptus hut, is located next to the natural spring water pond. Cafe Inkaterra serves Andean cuisine overlooking the Vilcanota River, while the hotel's fine dining room features creative fusion fare with views of the Urubamba River.

Delfin II

Location
Amazon River, Peru

Built in 2009 for Amazon river cruising, the Delfin II is 135 feet long and carries up to 30 passengers in 14 deluxe suites. The ship’s design and amenities incorporate features from the rain forest environs, including salvaged forest hardwoods, collected irapay leaves (typically seen on residential huts) that form the roof, and custom-made lotions made of natural jungle ingredients in each guest cabin. Artisan handcrafts made by local village women vibrantly enhance the dining room and every suite.

All guests suites have air conditioning; a king or two double beds with cool, Peruvian pima cotton bedding, indoor sitting area, large en suite bathroom with hot-water showers, organic toiletries and hair dryer, safe box and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that provide unobstructed views of the ever-changing river conditions, wildlife and communities along the shore. The covered open top deck features gleaming hardwoods, comfortable lounge furniture, ceiling fans for cooling and a soaking spa. A yoga and exercise room provide a space for pursuing fitness and relaxation. Inside, guests can relax and enjoy board games, films and naturalist presentations in the spacious air-conditioned lounge. The Delfin II has an open bridge policy, and guests are welcome to learn about the navigation systems and chat with the captain at any time.

Most of Delfin II’s staff guides were born and raised in the rain forest, in small communities throughout the Peruvian Amazon. They spent their childhoods walking forest paths, climbing trees to pick fruit, fishing the small streams and chasing iguanas along the shoreline. Now, they are proud to share their knowledge and passion with travelers from around the world. Many have also participated in training sessions and projects with Peruvian and North American professors, researchers, scientists and other professionals involved with the study and conservation of the Amazon rain forest. And, as guests will discover during their cruise, they also have delightful musical talents to share!