You may know it as the ancient land of the Incas, but much of the culture and heritage of Peru – arguably South America’s top bucket-list destination – is shrouded in mystery. One way to tap into the rest of Peruvian history and culture is to stay at one of the country’s most authentic lodges, hotels that wear their conservation of tradition as a badge of honor. 

Two of the most committed properties are Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo, near the Incan citadel of the same name (the epicentre of Peruvian history), and Palacio del Inka in Cusco. Guests on Luxury Gold’s in-depth Treasures of the Incas tour will get the chance to stay a leisurely two nights at each property, each stay a chance to really get under the skin of Peruvian culture. Atmospheric and filled with local detail, each property aims to conserve Peruvian history and educate their guests on how people lived, then and now. Here’s what you can expect from a stay.

The walkway at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo

Finding the Lost City

Inkaterra’s founders championed ecotourism long before it was a travel buzzword. Starting with a lodge in the Amazon rainforest, José Koechlin von Stein then opened the brand’s Machu Picchu property in the 1990s, determined to hire local people, assess and protect local wildlife and biodiversity, and create a captivating experience for guests visiting the Incan citadel.

The feeling of stepping back in time starts on arrival. Styled like a traditional Andean mountain village of 83 casitas, the hotel is tucked into 12.3 acres of pristine cloud forest. Rooms with private terraces and plunge pools have little touches such as fireplaces, cotton robes and Andean slippers crafted from recycled materials. In the authentic Unu Spa (meaning “water” in the native Quechua language), only 100% natural ingredients are used; Andean species including mint, eucalyptus and orchids are used to tap into traditional cures and therapies used throughout Peruvian history. After a day seeing the archaeological site, you can retreat to the Andean Sauna, a small, thatched mound heated by warmed river stones and infused with eucalyptus. 

Rustic interiors at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu lodge

On top of this, Inkaterra Cafe is working on reclaiming Peru’s pre-Hispanic cuisines, and the property has a programme to rescue the country’s beloved Spectacled Bears (that’s Paddington to you and me). Working with the Peruvian National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA), Inkaterra hotel group works to rehabilitate some of these bears – South America’s only bear species – who have been negatively impacted by human communities, and release them into the wild. They can also be sighted occasionally in the countryside around the Machu Picchu lodge.

Excursions to Machu Picchu itself are a must-do, of course; but other excursions include getting to know the local orchids (Inkaterra has a garden of some 372 species. Local festivals like August’s Pachamama are marked by shaman-led ceremonies where guests are encouraged to join in.

We also think you’ll like: Embrace The Spirituality of The Incas in Peru’s Sacred Valley

A historic courtyard at Palacio del Inka, Cusco

Palace of the Incas

The traditional feel starts with the facade of this 500-year-old building, a listed landmark which was once the home of Francisco Pizarro, Peru’s first Spanish governor. It also sits across from Cusco’s Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), built around the year 1200. Decor here is more focused on Peru’s Spanish-colonial history, from gilded columns, polished antique furniture, valuable mirrors and vases decorating rooms and halls to lavish painted tiling above beds, arches and courtyards in the architecture. Opulent oil paintings are collected from the Cusqueña Art School, prominent in Peruvian history. Request a suite in the Casona de los Cuatro Bustos area of the building to stay in what was once the 15th-century residence.

But the Spirit Spa here puts the hotel firmly in the Peruvian Andes, with indigenous treatments dating back hundreds of years. From a grape-skin bath that takes advantage of the antioxidants in the fruit to an Inca-style mud wrap, they range from rustic to deluxe (the gold-leaf-infused Temple of the Sun treatment). Parts of an ancient Incan wall also run through the hotel’s Rumi Bar – ask staff for the full history. Daily guided tours of the Palacio can enlighten you as to the historic significance of each part of the building and grounds.

The restaurant at Palacio del Inka

In terms of food, Inti Raymi restaurant is a whirlwind through Peruvian culinary history, from zingy ceviche to grilled alpaca, and Pisco sours served in terracotta tumblers with an array of local botanical seasonings. One real highlight is the hotel’s own Pisco sour masterclass, where expert mixologists will talk you through the local spirit, made from fermented grape juice, and how it interweaves with Peruvian history, as well as how to mix the perfect pour.

Even the Palacio’s location puts you right at the heart of the Sacred Valley’s history, with the colonial architecture of Plaza de Armas all around, and shops selling traditional handicrafts to take home (the hotel concierge can point you in the right direction). The city’s cathedral, its Inka Museum and Saqsaywaman archaeological site should all be on your to-do list.

We also think you’ll like: Inside the home and studio of Peru’s most famous sculptor, Victor Delfin

From King Tut’s tomb in Egypt to Roman relics in England, you’ll find endless hidden treasures when you explore ancient civilization sites around the world with Luxury Gold. We’ve selected some of the highlights to inspire your next luxury journey.

King Tut’s Tomb, Luxor, Egypt

As one of the oldest ancient civilizations on the planet, the Ancient Egyptian timeline stretches from before 3100 BCE until the end of the Roman Period around 400 CE. Even the Ancient Egyptians studied the Ancient Egyptians, unearthing hidden treasures and studying them with a reverent curiosity. King Tut’s Tomb, however, is a modern-day discovery that is rivaled only by the pyramids and the Sphinx. 

A century ago, archaeologists stumbled upon a staircase in the Valley of the Kings: one leading to the tomb of King Tutankhamen, a young pharaoh of Egypt with a short and debatably uneventful reign. The discovery of his tomb, however, was one of the most important in the study of Ancient Egypt.

Hidden in the sand, it was overlooked by centuries of tomb raiders. While the treasures in the surrounding king’s tombs were near-empty by the time modern archaeologists studied them, Tut’s tomb and its contents were relatively undisturbed, leading to both new revelations of Ancient Egypt and the cultural boom of Egyptomania that still captivates the world today.

Take a seven-night luxury Nile cruise, see King Tut’s Tomb, the Great Pyramids of Giza and more on our Nile River cruise in Egypt.

You may be interested to read: Riches of the Nile: Why Egypt’s icon is the grandest river in the world

Pachacamac Idol, Lima, Peru

Between the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, it’s easy to forget that ancient civilizations like the Inca were found throughout what’s now known as Peru. Which is why it’s so inspiring and exciting when hidden treasures are still unearthed in modern cities like Lima.

The Pachacamac Idol is a statue more than 2 meters high (over 7-feet tall) and was first introduced in modern-day history via Spanish colonial accounts. A conquistador attempted to destroy it in the 1530s; an attempt that was thought successful until the 1930s when it was uncovered near Lima at the Painted Temple archaeological site.

The Painted Temple was a holy pilgrimage site where this idol, believed to house an oracle, was unearthed. Although its existence alone is a priceless discovery, scientists have recently carbon-dated the statue and believe that the Pachacamac Idol was carved between 760 and 876 AD — predating the Incan empire’s arrival. 

Bookmark for later: Embrace the spirituality of the Incas in Peru’s Sacred Valley

Roman God Sculpted Heads, Carlisle, England

Italy may be the epicenter of Ancient Rome, but this iconic ancient civilization left hidden treasures scattered throughout Europe. Even in Great Britain, archaeologists are still uncovering remnants of Roman occupation. One of their most recent discoveries are sculptures of Roman gods found at a cricket club (how quintessentially British).

The area around the Carlisle Cricket Club is a trove of hidden treasures: over 1,000 artifacts including coins, pottery, weapons, and more have been found over the last two years. Once the site of a Roman bathhouse, these sculpture heads are dated around 200 AD and their large size is an especially uncommon feature found in Roman Britain. 

You may also like to read: Blooming Romance: Where to Find England’s Finest Rose Gardens

Stone Turtle Statue, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Excavations of the Angkor Wat temple complex are ongoing, and have been since its discovery in 1840. Today, however, might yield some of the most exciting rediscoveries of the last 200 years. A large stone turtle statue was found in the Srah Srang reservoir during excavations of a small temple. The turtle is an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, so it’s far from a common find. What’s significant, however, is similar statues and artifacts are being found in other nearby temples within the reservoir. 

Archaeologists are discovering new undocumented medieval cities buried around Angkor Wat, and with these submerged temples yielding significant artifacts, there’s hope that other vast temple complexes may be unearthed around Siem Reap. 

The simple luxury of that first velvety, smooth, punchy morning coffee – it’s a tradition that stretches much further back in time than the invention of the takeaway cup. And the coffee itself likely comes from a lot further away than your nearest cafe. 

Brazil and Colombia are among the leading coffee producing countries in the world, but they’re not the only coffee producers in South America. Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Bolivia grow coffee, though it’s rare for coffee producers from these countries to rank among the world’s best.

When it comes to South America’s most acclaimed coffee producers, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru are often at the top of the industry for coffee production in the world. And these are some of the individual producers putting in the hard work to make those beans sing.

Fazendas Pinhal | Brazil 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Fazendas Pinhal e Sto Antônio (@fazenda_pinhal)

Brazil is the leading producer of coffee in the world; millions of metric tons of coffee are produced each year. As the world’s leading coffee producer for well-over a century, Brazil’s coffee producers have sizable domestic competition for industry acclaim, which makes Pinhal Farm’s achievements especially respectable.  

In 2019, Pinhal Farm was awarded the title of most sustainable farm by Globo Rural Magazine, then again in 2022 by the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association. Sustainable coffee production is paramount at Pinhal: nearly half of its land is undeveloped. Solar panels generate power around the plantation where local students volunteer and rehabilitated native wildlife roam. Pinhal also limits the use of fuel, pesticides, fertilizers, and water whenever possible.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Fazendas Pinhal e Sto Antônio (@fazenda_pinhal)

Pinhal is also a carbon positive farm, thanks to the existing native forest of eucalyptus trees removing CO2 from the air. 

Coffee drinks throughout Europe, China, Saudi Arabia, and Australia will recognize the leading coffee producer’s Fazenda Pinhal beans in batches like Taylors of Harrogate with its notes of chocolate and caramel and the Geisha roast from Koko that features Nutella, stone-fruit, and white flora flavors. 

Brew beautifully: These Are the Most Beautiful Coffee Machines You Can Buy For Your Home

Sample coffee from some of the leading coffee producers on the continent when you join Grand South America, one of our luxury tours of South America. This 23-day tour takes you across Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, where you’ll have ample opportunity to sit back with a fresh cup of South American coffee.

Cafe Jesus Martin | Colombia

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Café Jesús Martín. (@cafejesusmartin)

Colombia is a leading coffee producer in the world, third only behind Brazil and Vietnam. Aromatic, fruity flavors tend to sing from its Arabica beans. Colombia’s coffee beans are in a class all their own, with many specialty coffee drinkers convinced that it’s the best medium-bodied brew in a cup. 

Which is why it’s hard to believe that most Colombians did not know the true taste of their native coffee until quite recently.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Café Jesús Martín. (@cafejesusmartin)

As is the case in many coffee producing countries, the best batches of beans are often exported, leaving the lower-quality beans for domestic consumption. A Colombian man named Jesus Martin is often credited with “saving” Colombian coffee by introducing specialty coffee to Colombia. 

Since 2008, Cafe Jesus Martin has received high acclaim from Colombian coffee drinkers. The brand has won a number of awards around the world, including in gourmet competitions in Paris. Its Diamante blend is a favorite of Colombians in the cafes town of Salento: a sweet, balanced and elegant coffee that’s not as bold. 

Coffee conquest: Black gold, how the once-humble coffee bean conquered the world

Cenfrocafe | Peru

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by COOPERATIVA CENFROCAFE JAEN (@cenfrocafe)

Coffee has a complicated history in South America, and in the case of countries like Peru, their story has brewed for some time. Brazil and Colombia are two leading producers of coffee in the world; Peru is making an impact in the industry, but despite sharing borders with both countries, there’s one key difference in Peruvian coffee.

Peru didn’t secure its first coffee plants until decades after the beans were brought to other coffee producing countries in South America. 

Coffee plants were brought to Peru from Colombia and Brazil in the mid 1700s, which means these neighboring countries had anywhere from 20 to 40 years of a head start. In recent centuries, years of economic instability and other social issues have prevented Peruvian coffee from gaining the same ranking in the industry that Brazil and Colombia have.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by COOPERATIVA CENFROCAFE JAEN (@cenfrocafe)

But Cenfrocafe is slowly changing that. 

Central Fronteriza del Norte de Cafetaleros, of Cenfrocafe, is an agricultural cooperative based in Jaén. It got its start in 1999 by bringing together roughly 220 small coffee farms. Today, Cenfrocafe has between 2,000 and 3,000 members comprising nearly 100 smaller cooperatives. Cenfrocafe’s marketing and European distribution partners are aiding Peruvian coffee’s quest for global recognition. It is the second-largest coffee grower in Peru and has always operated with two primary goals: ensuring 100% Fair Trade and as close to 100% organic output as possible. 

Organic compost and organic fertilizers like Guano de Isla — wild bird excrement from Peruvian islands — are used throughout coffee growth. More importantly, the collective commits to fair wages for farmers, including paying out premiums when they achieve certain quality levels. The washed typica and caturra beans often have notes of blackberry, grape, and vanilla.  

Destination inspiration: Meet the Award-Winning Producers in the World of Luxury Coffee

Take your time sipping coffee as you make your way between the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu during the Treasures of the Incas tour with Luxury Gold. Spend nearly two weeks roaming around this country, making sure to sample cups of locally roasted blends in Cusco and Lima’s cafes.