Experiencing the wonder of Peru on a budget
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Intelligent travel design takes more than just five star luxury hotels and over the years we have created a collection of little gems – homestays and boutique hotels – each with their own character and story that offer a charming and affordable way to experience Peru.
In recent years with many entrepreneurs returning to these shores, there has been a boom in the creative effort applied to the business of accommodation. Take Daniel Borda and Fanny de Leeuw who spent over ten years working in the tourist industry before launching the first boutique apartment letting business in the Miraflores and Barranco areas of Lima. “We realised that there was nowhere people could stay which would give them a sense of independence in comfort,” they say. You have your own kitchenette and lounge as well as the usual facilities you would expect at a hotel. |
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Gardens of the Hacienda Marcabamba
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Convenience and comfort are on offer in Lima, but in Puno near Lake Titicaca you have the opportunity to stay in a grandmother’s house. Casa Panq’arani is lit up with colourful flowers and textiles in every room. The garden provides some of the magic ingredients of the home cooked food, sampled in the relaxing traditional courtyard. If you are looking for other unusual places to stay, we offer an old mill, Molino Blanco, in the ‘white city’ of Arequipa and a number of atmospheric haciendas run by the owners themselves, including Hacienda Marcabamba and Hacienda El Choloque.
The scent of fruit trees lies heavy in the air at Hacienda Marcabamba, set on a raised terrace above the Urubamba River near Cuzco. It’s a perfect place to experience peace and tranquillity with spectacular views of the Valley. Or for a little more involvement in hacienda life, you can take part in the everyday activities of a working farm at Hacienda El Choloque in the dry forest of Lambayeque. Having gained plaudits for its social and environmental methods of farming, the Santa Maria Rizo Patron family will show the ropes on their 40 hectare fruit tree and vine farm, before you all sit down to some fresh home cooking at the end of a long day.
In a country as diverse a Peru, there are always exciting opportunities to be had off the beaten track, if you only know where to look. And they needn’t cost a packet. To stay in our selection of hidden gems, please contact Ricky at
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Hacienda El Choloque
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Living room of the Molino Blanco, Arequipa
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Casa de Leeuw, Barranco (Lima)
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