Luxury hotels in Peru
Blog post update in 2016: Hotel de Autor has been renamed Autor I, with the addition of sister property Autor II, also located in Miraflores.
As the new year approaches, we’re excited to add another great accommodation to our list, Hotel de Autor, a luxurious bed and breakfast located in the heart of the Miraflores neighborhood in Lima, Peru.
Asked to describe the style of Hotel de Autor in a few words, co-owner Humberto said, “inspiration and exploration” are what he wants guests to feel when they stay at the property. It certainly isn’t hard to evoke those feelings–as soon as you walk in the front door original pieces of Andean art and large antique-looking books catch your eye in the spacious and cozy lobby. The lobby, along with the breakfast room and the rooftop terrace, serves as a common area for travelers to share their adventures. Most all of the aesthetically pleasing pieces of art, books, baskets and other decorative elements are from Humberto’s own collection. The natural colors of the furniture and art blend well together and contrast nicely with the bright white walls. Head up the stairs while pausing to admire the enlarged George E. Squier prints of cities and maps of Peru from “Travel and Exploration in the Land of the Incas”. The maps–found throughout the property–are an important part of the charm. It’s exciting to start a journey in Lima and see many of the same cities you will be visiting decorating the hallways.
The result of collaboration between Humberto and his business partner Alejandro, after having worked together in hospitality, Hotel de Autor has the spirit of a hostel and the comfort of the more luxurious accommodation that it is. There are four bedrooms, one on the first floor and three upstairs. All four rooms have air conditioning, king-size beds and en suite bathrooms with sinks set in a light-colored wooden tables and wide rain showers, ducha española. Two rooms have stylish old-fashioned four-legged bathtubs and the other two without bathtubs have lovely balconies overlooking the courtyard area with chairs and a small table. The bedrooms are non-smoking except for outside on the balconies. In addition, two of the rooms have the capacity for a third person on a bed that pulls out from underneath the king-size bed. The rooms also include a modern glass desk with vintage toys, books, decorative baskets, candles or flowers, large flat screen TV, a few DVDs, plenty of space to hang clothing and set down a suitcase, as well as a mini fridge. Intercoms to connect directly with the reception area are an upcoming addition in order to make guests feel even more at home and at ease should they need anything during their stay. For Lima explorers that want to try a different mode of travel, there are four classic old bicycles available for use.
Last week, Aracari Founder and President, Marisol Mosquera, spent two nights at the Hotel de Autor, a renovated beautiful white house within a traditional Miraflores quinta–an area with five houses that share a courtyard and an entrance gate that gives a secluded, calm feel, even in an increasingly chaotic and busy neighborhood. Marisol enjoyed the unique touches, such as the classic wooden floors that create a stylish yet rustic feel. She spoke highly of Humberto’s energy, dedication and welcoming demeanor, even assisting with personal requests such as having a newspaper to read in the morning.
Breakfast is served in the former garage, neatly transformed into a colorful room with a unique old door crafted into a glass-covered table. There are different breakfast choices daily, to cater to those staying more than a couple of days. Rather than the common buffet-style breakfast, at Hotel de Autor, it is personalized, much like choosing what you’d like at a restaurant. Some of the many options are spinach pancakes, traditional pancakes, sausages, omelettes, yogurt, fruit salad, granola and juice, water, tea and coffee available to quench your thirst.
For those travelers who have a taste for exploration, and are engrossed in details like vintage maps and other travel paraphernalia, Hotel de Autor is definitely one to consider.