---
type: "Article"
title: "Peru: Now also a Luxury Travel Destination"
description: "Peru isn’t just for backpackers anymore. Luxury properties exist across the country from mansions in Cuzco to Amazon rainforest bungalows."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/peru/peru-luxury-travel-destination-amazon-rainforest"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 4
tags: ["Contributions", "Peru"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/south-america"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/luxury-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/design"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/rural-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/thermal-springs"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/wildlife-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:57:56+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2012-10-22T20:35:45+00:00 }
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:57:56+00:00
---

# Peru: Now also a Luxury Travel Destination

> Peru has evolved beyond its backpacker roots into a luxury travel destination, with high-end properties ranging from colonial mansion hotels in Cuzco to eco-lodges in the Amazon and modern hotels in Lima.

## Destination
Peru, South America — key destinations include Cuzco, Colca Canyon, the Amazon Rainforest (Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos), and Lima.

## Getting there
Cuzco is served by a domestic airport; an international airport is planned. Iquitos serves as a gateway for Amazon river cruises. Lima is the main international entry point.

## When to go
The article does not specify ideal travel seasons.

## Why visit
Several years of improvements in infrastructure, security, and travel promotion have driven growth in luxury options, making it possible to experience Peru's rich cultural and natural attractions in comfort.

## What to see
- **Machu Picchu** — Peru's famous mountaintop Inca citadel, most commonly accessed from Cuzco.
- **Cuzco's Inca Walls and Colonial Architecture** — Stone Inca walls and structures remain throughout the city; several luxury hotels occupy former colonial mansions and convents built on Inca sites.
- **Colca Canyon** — One of the deepest canyons in the world, located near Arequipa, surrounded by volcanoes and traditional villages still farmed as they were centuries ago.
- **Amazon Rainforest near Puerto Maldonado** — Dense jungle with wildlife, accessible via eco-lodges with private bungalows.
- **Miraflores, Lima** — Coastal district of Lima housing many top hotels and a wide range of dining options.

## What to do
- **Amazon River Cruises from Iquitos** — Luxury boats carry a limited number of passengers and feature expert onboard naturalist guides.
- **Spa and Hot Springs in Colca Canyon** — Properties in the area offer natural hot springs and spa treatments in place of conventional hotel amenities.
- **Culinary Exploration in Lima** — Lima is considered the culinary capital of Latin America; classics to try include ceviche and pisco sours.
- **Acclimatization in Cuzco** — Altitude is significant upon arrival; the article recommends moving slowly and drinking mate tea until adjusted.

## Good to know
Luxury in the Amazon is relative — eco-lodges offer plush beds with mosquito netting and multi-course Amazonian cuisine rather than conventional hotel amenities. Cuzco's high altitude requires careful acclimatization on arrival.