Legacy of the Incas
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(11 days/10 nights)
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(12 days/11 nights)
Empire of the Sun
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(14 days/13 nights)
Ancient Civilizations of Peru
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Colca Canyon - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca
(16 days/15 nights)
Archaeological & Ecological
Treasures
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru & Ecuador:
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca (or Amazon)
(18 days/17 nights)
Grand Tour of the Inca Empire
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Colca Canyon - Amazon
Machu Picchu- Lake Titicaca
(22 days/21 nights)
Ancient & Colonial Capitals
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu
(10 days/9 nights)
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu
(13 days/12 nights)
Machu Picchu & Galapagos
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru & Ecuador:
Machu Picchu - Galapagos
(15 days/14 nights)
Galapagos & Machu Picchus
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador & Peru:
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
(18 days/17 nights)
Enchanted Isles of the Galapagos
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Galapagos
(11 days/10 nights)
Galapagos & the Kingdom of Quito
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Galapagos - Andes
(16 days/15 nights)
Galapagos & the Amazon
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Galapagos - Amazon
(16 days/15 nights)
Historic Haciendas of the Andes
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Cotopaxi - Antisana - Otavalo
(7 days/6 nights)
© 2013 Inka's Empire Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Courtyard of the Monasterio, Cuzco, Peru.
Photo: Genivs Loci.
Regal accommodations in Cuzco's Hotel Monasterio
and Machu Picchu's Sanctuary Lodge add to the magic...
-- Kimberly Fay, LuxuryLink.com, September 2003
Explorer ClassFrugal LuxuryDe Luxe & ImperialRoyal Class
Peru
Executive Suite Ocean View, Miraflores Park, Lima, Peru.
Photo: Genivs Loci.
Lima
It is most certainly 5 stars...
Miraflores Park Hotel... wonderful, very large room, beautiful ocean view (and, yes, we saw it everyday very clearly), plenty of space for your clothes, lots of reading light and a large bathroom with a great tub and large shower. Plenty of thick towels, and linens seemed fine. Breakfast is on the top floor, and when the elevator opens up you see a gorgeous swimming pool, ocean and sky... breakfast was good, they will make you whatever you want in addition to the buffet... The service in the hotel is A+. They couldn't have been more accommodating... especially on our return July 23/24. We drove them crazy with our flight changes and they more than handled everything with kindness and competency... they even opened the business center at 3 am to help us out... Box dinner for plane delicious chicken sandwich... only had lunch in the Poissonniere Restaurant, and we barely ate due to the change in flight, but what we did eat was very, very good and the service perfect, lovely maitre d' who recommended his favorites... just delightful... as you can tell, it is most certainly 5 stars.
-- Janet & Thomas Lundy
Miraflores Park ***** by Orient-Express
Av. Malecón de la Reserva 1035, Miraflores, Lima 18, Peru
Tel: +511 610 4000, Fax: +511 242 3393De Luxe is a De Luxe Suite with Ocean View; Imperial is a Junior Suite with Ocean View
Rooftop pool, Miraflores Park, Lima, Peru.
Photo: Genivs Loci.
Frommer's Review: "The exceedingly elegant Miraflores Park Hotel bathes business executives and upscale tourists in unsurpassed luxury. It hugs the malecón, the park-lined avenue that traces the Lima coastline. From the cozy, library-like lobby and handsome restaurant to the tastefully appointed, plush rooms (including marble and granite bathrooms most New Yorkers would give their left arms to have), the hotel is a distinguished address from head to foot. All rooms are suites with comfortable king-size beds and sitting areas. Many rooms have ocean views -- at least for the few days of the year when you can see the coast in Lima."
Rio Sagrado, Sacred Valley, Peru.
Photo: Orient-Express.
Sacred Valley of the Incas
Orient-Express Acquires Hotel in Peru's Sacred Valley
-- Orient-Express press release, 31 December 2009
The 21 suite hotel, which opened in April 2009, is a rustic two storey property set in beautiful gardens overlooking the Urubamba River. With an imposing mountain backdrop, Hotel Rio Sagrado is three kilometres from the town of Urubamba and fifteen minutes from Ollantaytambo, home to an important Inca village and fortress, as well as the main PeruRail station stop en route to Machu Picchu. The hotel has 11 deluxe and ten junior suites plus two 250m² villas, constructed from natural stone and woods such as eucalyptus and cedar, with marble and onyx bathrooms and flagstone terraces. Its 230m² spa has a large treatment room with views of the mighty Urubamba, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and a sauna...
Rio Sagrado ***** by Orient-Express
Km. 76, Carretera Cuzco, Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley, Cuzco, Peru
Telefax: +51 84 201-631De Luxe is a De Luxe Room with River View; Imperial is a Junior Suite with River View
Review: Rio Sagrado is new and has not yet been reviewed.
Mountain View Room with Terrace, Sanctuary Lodge, Machu Picchu, Peru.
Photo: Genivs Loci.
Machu Picchu
We loved everything about the Sanctuary Lodge...
We loved everything about the Sanctuary Lodge. The rooms are beautifully appointed, the showers were perfect and the food was excellent. It was worth every penny.
-- Joan Huffer & Robert Dugger
Sanctuary Lodge **** by Orient-Express
Machu Picchu, Peru
Tel: +51 84 21 1039 / 21 1038, Fax: +51 84 21 1053De Luxe is a De Luxe Mountain View Room; Imperial is a Presidential Suite
Frommer's Review: "Back in the 1970s, the Peruvian government built a temporary hotel on the top of the mountain just steps from the entry to Machu Picchu as a way to show off the ruins to international movers and shakers. As the ruins grew in popularity as a destination, the hotel was rewarded with a begrudged permanence. Today the hotel stands as the only major alteration to the ruins' isolated setting, but as hotels go, it is pretty sensitively inserted into the hill and is not visible from the ruins themselves. Formerly a rather plain but overpriced modern hotel, the rustic inn was taken over by Orient-Express Hotels (which also manages the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco) and transformed into a very pricey luxury lodge, now with a full meal plan program for guests. Without question, it has one of the most dramatic and unique settings in the world, and, as the only hotel perched right next to the ruins, it can pretty much charge what it wants (and does). Guests need very deep pockets to stay here; despite the cost, the hotel remains in high demand most of the year, so advance reservations are absolutely essential. Rooms are not especially large, but they now have a good deal of Peruvian character, with some lovely modern furnishings, and most have small terraces that open to lovely gardens with impressive views of the ruins and the surrounding Andes."
Junior Suite, Monasterio, Cuzco, Peru.
Photo: Genivs Loci.
Cuzco
I thought the Hotel Monasterio was wonderful and would not have wanted to stay anywhere else.
-- Sharon Davisson
Monasterio *****by Orient-Express
Calle Palacios 136, Plazoleta Nazarenas, Cuzco, Peru
Tel: +51 84 24 1777, Fax: +51 84 23 7111De Luxe is a De Luxe Room; Imperial is a Junior Suite or a Patio Suite in La Casona
Frommer's Review: "Peru's most extraordinary place to stay, this beautiful hotel occupies the San Antonio Abad monastery, constructed in 1592 on the foundations of an Inca palace. An Orient-Express and Leading Small Hotels of the World property, the Hotel Monasterio -- converted into a hotel in 1995 -- exudes grace and luxury. As much a museum as a hotel, it has its own opulent gilded chapel and 18th-century Escuela Cusqueña art collection. Located on quiet Las Nazarenas square between the bohemian San Blas district and the main square, the hotel makes fine use of several courtyards with stone arches; one is set up for lunch outdoors, about as beautiful a setting as is to be found in Cusco. Rooms are impeccably decorated in both colonial and modern styles, with large Cusqueña School paintings; the accommodations off the first courtyard are more traditionally designed and feel more authentic. For a special treat, consider one of the two-story junior suites. One restaurant, Tupay, is housed in the original vaulted refectory of the monastery; early risers, many on their way to Machu Picchu, can enjoy a terrific breakfast buffet as they're serenaded by Gregorian chants. The elegant dinner restaurant Illary is the finest in Cusco."
Palacio Nazarenas, Cuzco, Peru.
Photo: Genivs Loci.
Its earlier life may have been one of strict religious observance --
but a stay in the Palacio Nazrenas will be anything but austere...
-- Orient-Express
Palacio Nazarenas *****by Orient-Express
Plaza Nazarenas 144, Cuzco, Peru
Tel: +511 610 8300Imperial is a Junior Suite
Set in a tranquil plaza behind Cuzco's main square, this former palace and convent is emerging from years of restoration to become one of the city's most exclusive hotels. Step past walls of Inca stones and into a cloistered courtyard with an ancient fountain at its heart. Then be surprised as contemporary Cuzco comes to the fore: a fabulous spa, the city's first outdoor pool and stylish restaurants serving cutting-edge local cuisine. This intimate urban retreat has just 55 suites, each enriched with oxygen and with its own private bar where guests (or their private butler) can create drinks accented with fresh ingredients grown at and around the hotel.
La Casona, Cuzco, Peru.
Photo: Inkaterra.
La Casona ***** A Relais & Chateaux property
Plaza Las Nazarenas 113, Cuzco, Peru
Tel: +51 84 23 4010, Fax: +51 84 23 4188
Imperial is a Patio SuiteCondé Nast Traveller: "This sprightly newcomer might well steal the spotlight from the Hotel Monasterio, long the top luxury option in Macchu Picchu's gateway town. Cusco's architectural heritage of Incan stone walls topped with colonial white stucco is echoed in this sixteenth-century building on a square steps from the main plaza. With just 11 suites, La Casona has the intimacy of a private home, and the building's colonial charms come with smart modern touches such as iPod speakers. Inside, a grassy courtyard is surrounded by rooms on two levels. Owners Denise and Joe Koechlin have fussed over every antique- and craft-strewn square foot of the place, and exquisite pillars, retablos, and benches have been sourced from all over Peru. The excellent restaurant -- don't leave without trying the quinoa pancakes -- offers a good deal of Andean hospitality."
Titilaka, Puno, Peru.
Photo: The Andean Experience Co..
Lake Titicaca
You asked me to "rate" Titilaka. By vote, the favorite of the entire family. Accommodations, views, meals, professional staff, all a 6-star rating. The decor is a fusion of crafts, antiques and modern art. Absolutely unbelievable. Each staff member acted and talked as if it was his or her hotel, taking ownership and pride, responsibility and guest comfort to a new level. The experience was relaxed elegance at its finest. I wouldn't book another guest at any other hotel near the lake.
-- Toby, Michael, Christina & Elizabeth Pearson
Titilaka ***** A Relais & Chateaux property
Titilaka, Puno, Peru
Tel: +511 700 5111, Telefax: +511 700 5112De Luxe is a Dawn Suite; Imperial is a Dusk Suite
Condé Nast Traveller UK: "This astonishing new hotel stands on the south-western shores of Lake Titicaca, cutting a crisp silhouette of sharp corners, with stark colours and daunting brick walls. But slip inside and everything bursts into life, with the bright stripes of hand-woven textiles, shabby-chic colonial antiques and roaring fires. All 18 rooms have big-sky views of the lake and snowy peaks beyond. Kayaking, mountain-biking and swimming are on offer, but best of all is a visit to timeless Taquile island, where residents still rely on farming and weaving. After a brisk day out, the hotel is extremely welcoming (there are even gulps of oxygen for anyone needing a boost). Meals are home-grown: quinoa chowder, alpaca brochettes and native-potato croquettes stuffed with Andean cheese. An indoor pool and spa will open later this year, providing indigenous treatments using Titicaca sand, aloe and coca."
Imperial Suite, Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru.
Photo: Casa Andina.
Arequipa
Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa was outstanding... like a smaller Four Seasons,
but with the same sort of service and wonderful food.
-- Sandra Shepard, Esq.
Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa *****
Calle Alfonso Ugarte 403, Arequipa, Peru
Tel: +51 54 226-907; Fax: +51 54 226-908De Luxe and Imperial is the Imperial Suite
Frommer's Review: "Inaugurated in March 2008, this upscale midsize hotel, in one of Arequipa's emblematic colonial buildings, the storied Mint House -- a national historic monument -- is a terrific new addition to the city's few true luxury options. Just 3 blocks from the Plaza de Armas, around the corner from the Santa Catalina convent, it's ideally located. It features beautiful sillar walls, two lovely interior courtyards, an elegant gourmet restaurant, and even a small on-site museum depicting the minting of old coins. Accommodations in the modern wing are elegantly understated and spacious, with nice bathrooms, while the sprawling suites in the historic main house are downright sumptuous. Intimate, with a boutique feel but all the services of a larger luxury hotel, and prices that, while not inexpensive, seem merited, it has immediately become Arequipa's top place to stay, and one of the finest hotels in Peru."
Las Casitas del Colca, Colca Valley, Peru.
Photo: Genivs Loci.
Colca Canyon
Las Casitas del Colca *****
Parque Curiña s/n, Yanque, Arequipa, Peru
Tel: +51 1 610 8300, Fax: +51 1 242 3365De Luxe and Imperial is a De Luxe Casita
Suite, Las Casitas del Colca, Colca Valley, Peru.
Photo: Genivs Loci.
Frommer's Review: "Las Casitas del Colca, part of the upscale Orient-Express chain that owns the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco and Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, is easily the most exclusive inn in the valley. Now all-inclusive and the height of country luxury, it has undergone a stunning transformation in recent years. Its extraordinary new casitas, or individual thatched-roof bungalows, opened in early 2008. Elegantly decorated and nestled about the property, the 20 casitas have private terraces and plunge pools. Also new for 2008 are a handsome spa and free-form swimming pool. The entire operation oozes rustic charm, sophistication, and intimacy. It's the kind of place where César, the general manager, greets you at the door and addresses you by name, and where you'll find your bed turned down at night with strategically placed hot-water bottles and candles blazing. Perched on the lip of the canyon, the ecolodge features solar energy and electricity, a breakfast terrace with gorgeous valley views of extensive gardens, terraced fields, and the river. The kitchen turns out wonderfully fresh dinner and excellent breakfasts using ingredients from the garden, and the lodge also offers horseback riding."
Hotel Paracas, Paracas, Peru.
Photo: Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas.
Paracas
Hotel Paracas ***** A Luxury Collection Resort by Starwood
Av. Paracas S/N, Ica, Peru
Tel: +51 56 58 1333 Fax: +51 56 58 1778De Luxe is a Solarium Suite with Ocean View; Imperial is a Plunge Pool Suite with Ocean View
Frommer's Review: "The only hotel that lives up to the official billing of a resort within the nature reserve, this is a large Mediterranean-style hotel on the bay and one of the best places to stay in the region. Airy and beachy, it has great views of the water. Rooms, furnished with bamboo appointments, have either bay or garden views, and all have small terraces."
Libertador Trujillo, Trujillo, Peru.
Photo: Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas.
Trujillo
Libertador Trujillo ****
Jr. Independencia 485, Plaza de Armas, Trujillo, Peru
Tel: +51 44 23 2741 / 24 4999, Fax: +51 44 23 5641De Luxe is a Junior Suite and Imperial is a Suite
Frommer's Review: "The top place to stay in Trujillo, and not a bad value given its superb location and amenities, is right on the Plaza de Armas, in a beautiful salmon-colored colonial mansion with a courtyard patio and a nice pool with palm trees and lots of vegetation. The place has a fair amount of colonial elegance and flavor. Rooms are not spectacularly luxurious, but they are certainly comfortable and well outfitted with somewhat dated furnishings. Rooms on the interior are quieter and have views of the pool. Other rooms look out onto the busy but pretty plaza, and some have small balconies that are perfect for people-watching (but be prepared for the trade-off: street noise until late)."
Ecuador
Casa Gangotena, Quito, Ecuador.
Photo: Casa Gangotena.
Quito, Ecuador
By far the city’s most dignified property...
-- Travel+Leisure, It List: The Best New Hotels 2012, June 2012
Casa Gangotena *****
Bolivar Oe6-41 y Cuenca, Quito, Ecuador
Tel: (593 2) 400 8000De Luxe and Imperial is a Plaza View Room
Travel+Leisure Review: "We’d like to think that if sisters Mimi and Gloria Gangotena, the former residents of this mansion on Quito’s Plaza San Francisco, returned to their grand, early-20th-century manse, they’d feel as if their house had been reborn. The property’s 31 bedrooms, with 12-foot ceilings embellished with Art Nouveau molded tiles and decorative plasterwork friezes, have been painstakingly restored. Now they have beds topped by goose-feather duvets, and all have exquisite Statuarietto marble bathrooms (the 1926 residence had just one)."
An upgrade is available to a Suite.
Entrance to the Hacienda La Carriona, Sangolqui, Ecuador.
Photo: Hacienda La Carriona.
Sangolqui, Ecuador
Hacienda La Carriona ****
Vía Sangolqui, Amaguaña Km. 2.5, Sangolqui, Ecuador
Tel: +593-2 233-2004 / 233-1974, Fax: +593-2 233-2005De Luxe and Imperial is a Suite
Frommer's Review: "This is one of the closest hacienda options to Quito. The rooms in this over-200-year-old farm vary widely; most have high ceilings, painted brick walls, and exposed beam ceilings. I like nos. 1 through 8, which are in the oldest part of the hacienda and have Persian rugs and antique beds and furniture. The best room in the house is no. 36, a large suite with a big stone fireplace. It opens onto to a small garden area in back. The hotel has a small outdoor pool, pretty gardens, and Wi-Fi in the public areas. There's even a small bullring, where nonfatal bullfights are sometimes held."
Frederic Edwin Church, Cotopaxi, 1855, oil on canvas, 28 x 42 inches.
Photo: Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Cotopaxi, Ecuador
Hacienda San Agustin de Callo *****
Panamericana Sur, Km. 77, Lasso, Cotopaxi, Ecuador
San Agustin telefax: 593-3 719-160 / 719-510, Quito telefax: +593-2 290-6157 / 290-6158De Luxe is the Las Gordas Room; Imperial is the Mulalo Suite or the Inca Tambo Suite, all in the Inca palace, subject to availability.
Frommer's Review: "Built inside the remains of an old Augustine monastery -- which was itself built on top of an ancient Inca temple and residence -- this is one of the most unique hotels in Ecuador. Accommodations here are large and beautifully appointed, and most units have hand-painted murals. My favorite rooms are those that still have exposed Inca stone walls, but every room has something going for it, including the brand-new units, which have Jacuzzi tubs and great views of Cotopaxi from large picture windows. Most rooms contain working fireplaces, some of which are impressive constructions. I like "Las Gordas," which has a huge bay window above a queen bed, a claw-foot tub, and a playful mural of the full-figured women for whom the room is named. The lounge area features an original portrait of the owner, Mignon Plaza, painted by Oswaldo Guayasamín. The main dining room is built inside a classic Inca structure, with trapezoidal window niches and a more modern large window overlooking the garden and perfectly framing the volcano. Meals are excellent, and many of the fruits and vegetables are grown right here."
Courtyard of the Hacienda Zuleta, Ecuador.
Photo: Hacienda Zuleta.
Angochagua, Ecuador
Hacienda Zuleta
Angochagua, Provincia Imbabura, Ecuador
Tel: +593-6 2662 182
Quito office
Zuturismo
Republica del Salvador 780 y Portugal, 8th floor, Office 8C, Quito, Ecuador
Tel: +593-2 2262-580, Fax: +593-2 2262-577De Luxe and Imperial is a Colonial Room
Frommer's Review: "This elegant old hacienda belonged to the former president and diplomat Galo Plaza. The massive plaza at the still-working farm is quite impressive. The remodeled rooms are spread throughout the old building and are quite comfortable -- most have a working fireplace or woodstove, which comes in handy in this high-mountain climate. Many units face an open-air courtyard or small garden. The majority of rooms carry the name of a prominent family member. "Galo," which is located in the oldest part of the hacienda, is a large room with a high-peaked ceiling featuring exposed beams that date back to 1691; there's a claw-foot bathtub in the bathroom. Be sure to ask to visit Galo Plaza's library, an impressive two-story room containing historic memorabilia, a massive book and art collection, and a portrait of the former president painted by Guayasamín. The farm here produces excellent cheeses, and the local community produces renowned embroidery works. First-rate meals are served family-style in the main old dining room. Horseback riding is taken seriously here -- their horses are well trained and beautiful, and a wide range of tours are available. The hotel oversees a condor recovery project, where injured condors are cared for, and where wild condors often visit."
Thermal pool, Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort, Papallacta, Ecuador.
Photo:Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort.
Papallacta, Ecuador
Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort
Km. 67, Vía Quito - Baeza, Papallacta, Ecuador
Tel: (593-6) 2320-622 / 2320-620 / 2320-621, Fax: (593-2) 2549-794De Luxe and Imperial is a Double Room
Frommer's Review: "I highly recommend the Termas de Papallacta. They have exceptional pool and spa facilities, a hotel, and a restaurant. Take in the breathtaking views of the hilly landscape and, on a cloudless day, the majestic snowcapped Volcán Antisana. This complex houses various thermal pools ranging from frost-bitingly freezing to utterly scorching, all well-maintained and with water changed on a daily basis. You can opt to enter either the balneario or the spa area, which is generally less crowded and also has a sauna, steam room, and hydro-massage pools. In addition, the spa area offers a range of treatments, including massages, facials, clay body wraps, and aromatherapy. Lodging at Termas de Papallacta is an excellent option. The rustic rooms and cabins are spacious and comfy, with minimalist decor; large, cozy beds; and modern, well-equipped en-suite bathrooms. The real advantage of spending the night here is that rooms are surrounded by scores of hot pools for the exclusive, around-the-clock use of hotel guests. And the tasty buffet breakfast is an ideal way to begin an oh-so-tiring day of lounging around the baths. Papallacta's surrounding areas are great for hikes and nature walks."
Luxury Safari Tent, Galapagos Safari Camp, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Photo: Galapagos Safari Camp.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The perfect landlubbing bookend at the beginning or end of a cruise...
On the islands that put Charles Darwin on the evolutionary trail, one thing didn't evolve - travellers' bedrooms. The Galapagos had boats to visit the blue-footed boobies, but the budget boobies you found to stay in on shore were enough to turn you green at the gills. So this place is a one-off: a dashing cockscomb of comfort and style atop a 400-metre ridge in the highlands of Santa Cruz, the Galapagos's second-biggest island. The views are pure IMAX. It's built out of passion. Michael and Stephanie Mesdag fell in love with each other, then with the ridge and finally the idea of the camp. So it's hair-brained and wonderful. Nine voluminous tents have floors of cedar and basins of stone, and the front door of the glass-fronted main lodge was salvaged from an Indian temple. From Bali came a five-metre, solid teak table; it took 25 men to lift it - mad. With hilly activities by day and a log fire at night, this is the perfect landlubbing bookend at the beginning or end of a cruise. In autumn, as the camp gets enveloped in mist, be careful not to trip over the meandering tortoises.
-- Tatler, Travel Guide 2010, Starring the 101 best hotels in the world
Galapagos Safari Camp
Finca Palo Santo, Santa Rosa-El Chato Road, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador
Tel: +(593) 9371-7552, Fax: NoneDe Luxe and Imperial is a Luxury Safari Tent
The Independent: "From the landing stage on Santa Cruz, I was driven into the interior by Raúl, who works at the Galápagos Safari Camp, a newly opened lodge up in the highlands. Everything started small on our journey; the red soil was spattered with tangles of bleached-white wood, cactus plants and bright green grass. My first close encounter was with a cricket, then a bright yellow butterfly and a flock of finches (the birds so tame that Raúl had to beep his horn to get them to fly out of our way). But as we climbed into the hills, the vegetation grew in height, rising lusher and larger with every metre of elevation. The Galápagos Safari Camp lies at the end of a dirt track: the last farm before the national park begins. The view from the sleek, modern curve of the newly constructed main building is astounding: a broad sweep of the coast, pricked with conical hills, with the neighbouring islands looming beyond the coast in sharply defined gradients of grey. My "room" was set below-- one of eight luxury tents imported from Australia by the owners, Stephanie and Michael Mesdag, who hope to lure visitors here for a spot of R&R at the beginning or the end of a cruise around the islands. "Safari tents are so suited to this landscape," said Stephanie. "Look at that view -- don't you expect a lion to come out of it? The prospect of a Galápagos lion padding through the scalesia and pale green palo santo trees might stretch credulity, but the Safari Camp is nevertheless a place of fantasy -- the perfect opportunity to take stock of the islands for the first time."
Royal Palm, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Photo: Royal Palm.
Royal Palm
Km. 18 Via Baltra, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador
Tel: +593-5 2527 408 / 2527 409, Fax: +593-5 2527 408De Luxe and Imperial is a Veranda Studio
Frommer's Review: "The most exclusive resort in Ecuador sits on 200 lush hillside hectares (500 acres), a 20-minute drive from Puerto Ayora. The Royal Palm attracts a healthy dose of celebrities seeking the privacy and personalized service offered by this resort. There are 10 beautiful villas scattered on the hillside, four veranda studios, and three spectacular suites. Windows face the serene countryside and the ocean at the bottom of the hill. The three suites are all different from one another -- the two-bedroom, two-bathroom Imperial comes with its own Jacuzzi hidden in a private garden, while the Royal has a four-poster bed and an indoor sauna. The studios are the simplest (and least expensive) units but have charming patios with hammocks and spacious bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs. Service is exquisite, friendly, and not at all stuffy. Anybody staying here will be made to feel like a VIP, from the special greeting at the airport to the private speedboat used for transfers from Baltra to Santa Cruz."
Chile
"Spectacular Room" with a Private Balcony, W Santiago, Santiago, Chile.
Photo: W Santiago.
Santiago, Chile
W Santiago *****
Isidora Goyenechea 3000, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
Tel: (56-2) 770 0000, Fax: (56-2) 770 0001De Luxe is a "Wonderful Room"; Imperial is a "Spectacular Room" with a Private Balcony
Review: W Santiago is new and has not yet been reviewed.
Superior Round Suite, Awasi, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
Photo: Awasi.
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Awasi *****
Tocopilla 4, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Tel: +(56-55) 851 937 / 851 460, Fax: +(56-55) 851 234De Luxe is a Superior Round Suite; Imperial is a Premium Round Suite
Frommer's Review: "The intimate and stylish Awasi was one of the top hotels to open in all of Latin America in 2007, offering chic accommodations, out-of-the-ordinary excursions around San Pedro de Atacama, a spa, and fabulous cuisine. With just eight suites, the hotel encourages guests to get to know each other, and so it is not ideal for travelers seeking absolute anonymity, but suites -- which come with indoor and outdoor showers -- are large enough to escape to your own private paradise. The hotel, built of adobe and decorated with local art, is centered around an oasis-style pool and outdoor dining area and bar."
Hotel Petrohue, Petrohue, Chile.
Photo: Juan C. Ruiz.
Petrohue, Chle
Hotel Petrohue ****
Correo Petrohue, Petrohue, Chile
Tel: +(56 65) 258041, Fax: +(56 65) 258042De Luxe and Imperial is a Superior Room
Frommer's Review: "The Hotel Petrohué (built to replace the previous lodge, which burned to the ground) puts travelers right where the outdoor action is, without having to commute from Puerto Varas every day to the park -- and the hotel has an excursion outfitter with a range of daily activities. It sits perched above the shore of Todos los Santos Lake, within the confines of the national park, meaning it gets busy when the lake crossing boat pulls in with a horde of people (but this doesn't last very long, as they're bussed out quickly). The forested location is gorgeous, even on a rainy day. The Petrohué Hotel & Cabañas is a tad austere, given its absence of homey touches such as artwork or plants, but the contemporary design of its interiors (stone, heavy wood beams, fresh white couches) is attractive, and the rooms are very comfortable, with crisp linens and panoramic windows."
Luxury Room, Cumbres Patagónicas, Puerto Varas, Chile.
Photo: Cumbres Patagónicas.
Puerto Varas, Chile
Cumbres Patagónicas *****
Imperial 0561, Puerto Varas, Chile
Tel: +(56 65) 494 000, Fax +(56 65) 494 001De Luxe is a Luxury Room; Imperial is a Suite
Review: Cumbres Patagónicas is new and has not yet been reviewed.
Jose Nogueira, Punta Arenas, Chile
Photo: Jose Nogueira.
Punta Arenas, Chile
Jose Nogueira ****
Bories 959, Punta Arenas, Chile
Tel: +(56-61) 711 000, Fax: +(56-61) 711 011De Luxe is a Standard Room; Imperial is a Suite
Frommer's Review: "The best hotel in town is in this partially converted neoclassical mansion once owned by the widow of one of Punta Arenas's wealthiest entrepreneurs; half of the building is still run as a museum. The mansion was built between 1894 and 1905 on a prominent corner across from the plaza, with materials imported entirely from Europe. The José Nogueira is appealing for its historical value but also offers classic luxury. The rooms here are not as large as you would expect, but high ceilings accented by floor-to-ceiling curtains compensate for that. All are tastefully decorated, with Oriental rugs and lithographs of local fauna; the marble bathrooms are sparkling. The Nogueira's singles are unusually spacious. The suites have ample bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs and a living area in the open bedroom. Keeping with the old-fashioned theme, the maids here dress in long smocks. The mansion's old "winter garden" is now a restaurant, La Pérgola, housed under the Nogueira's glass-enclosed terrace. Downstairs is a popular pub in what once was the wine cellar."
Estancia Cerro Guido, Torres del Paine, Chile.
Photo: Estancia Cerro Guido.
Torres del Paine, Chile
Estancia Cerro Guido ****
Comuna Torres del Paine, Pagatonia, Chile
Tel: +(56) (2) 196-4806 / (2) 196-4807, Telefax (Punta Arenas office): +(56-61) 224 597De Luxe is a Standard Room; Imperial is a Superior Room
Frommer's Review: "This lodge may be a fair distance from the park proper, but it's the only top hotel with a view of the distinctive Torres, from its perspective due west across the plains. It also has a marvelous view of the vast steppe, and of Sierra Baquedano to the east. While the sheep ranch covers a vast 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) between the park and Argentine border and includes the entire village of Cerro Guido, the facilities themselves include the two estancia buildings formerly occupied by the administrators and owners, the restaurant, and a few service areas like the 12-horse stable. The finest view of the Torres is from the restaurant's dining area, which has barbecue facilities indoors and out. Rooms, with fine polished hardwood floors, are furnished largely according to the lodge's original, country English-style, early-20th-century decor, with the superior rooms in the former administrator's mansion worth a thought. I'd guess they're more than 10% larger and have fireplaces along with central heating. It's the perfect place for an authentic dive into Patagonia's rural traditions, and horseback and hiking excursions can take you to an aboriginal gravesite with a spectacular view."
Explora en Patagonia,
Torres del Paine, Chile.
Photo: Explora.
Explora en Patagonia *****
Sector Salto Chico, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, Chile
Tel: +(56-2) 395 2580, Fax: +(56-2) 395 2584De Luxe is a Salto Chico Room; Imperial is a Suite Exploradores
Frommer's Review: "Explora in Patagonia has garnered more fame than any other hotel in Chile, and deservedly so. Few hotels in the world offer as stunning a view as does Explora, perched above the milky, turquoise waters of Lago Pehoé and facing the dramatic granite amphitheater of the Cuernos formation. It is terribly expensive, but worth the splurge if you can afford it. Explora's style is comfortable elegance, and its handsome interiors belie the rather bland exterior: Softly curving blond-wood walls built entirely from native deciduous beech are a soothing environment in which to relax after a long hike. A band of picture windows wraps around the full front of the building, and there are large windows in each room -- even the bathrooms come with cutouts in the wall so that while you're brushing your teeth, you can still have your eyes on the gorgeous panorama. Every evening, 5 of the 20 full-time guides meet with guests to discuss the following day's excursions, which range from easy half-day walks to strenuous full-day hikes. There are about 15 excursions to choose from, including horseback rides and photo safaris. In the morning, a fleet of vans whisks guests off to their destination and back again for lunch; guides carry picnic lunches for full-day hikes."
.jpg)
Guest room, Altiplanico Sur, Puerto Natales, Chile.
Photo:
Hoteles Altiplanico.
Puerto Natales, Chile
Antiplanico Puerto Natales ****
Huerto Familiar 282, Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Chile
Tel: +(56-61) 412-525, Fax: +(56-61) 411-919De Luxe and Imperial is a Standard Room
Fodor's Review: "This is the Patagonian representative of the Altiplanico line of thoughtfully designed ecohotels. Nature takes center stage at Altiplanico Sur. The hotel blends seamlessly with its surroundings due to an interesting construction technique which involves the use of natural materials in its exterior. The roofs are covered with grass and flowers so it looks like the hotel is cascading down the hillside. If you are looking for TVs, Wi-Fi, and other modern-day accoutrements, there are more appropriate choices. Clean, comfortable, and well-designed rooms are in a minimalist style, with great views of the Última Esperanza Sound."
"Moai-eye" pool, Altiplanico Rapa Nui, Easter Island, Chile.
Photo: Hoteles Altiplanico.Easter Island, Chile
Altiplanico Easter Island ***
Lote E y C, Sector Hinere s/n, Isla de Pascua, Chile
Tel: +(56-32) 255 2190, Fax (Santiago office): (56-2) 202 6407
De Luxe and Imperial is a Standard Room
Review: Altiplanico Rapa Nui is new and has not yet been reviewed.
© 2013 Inka's Empire Corporation, Machu Picchu Luxury Tours. All rights reserved.
