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You feel like you’re a long way from anywhere when you get to the Colca Lodge beside the canyon of the same name. It won’t take long to recover and relax though, with great views and multiple hot springs pools around the property.
Most of the hotels around the Colca Canyon are geared to intrepid budget travelers or tour groups doing a Condor viewing quick stop while checking off boxes across Peru. So for a long time the only property in the region we’ve featured is Casitas del Colca, which was originally part of the Orient Express (now Belmond) hotel group.
That one’s part of a regional chain not known for luxury properties though, so while so far it seems to be holding its own, we’re glad to present an alternative by way of Colca Lodge.
This lodge is no upstart, however. It grew organically over the years, beginning in 1995. Over the years it added more rooms, a spa, a bigger restaurant, and more hot pools.
“The hotel has a mind-boggling variety of rooms in an array of sizes and styles. There are 36 standards (which vary greatly), six larger adobe suites, three full suites, plus the Panorama Suite. This top choice is a spectacular duplex on the river with a wood burning stove, upstairs bedroom with corner windows and great views, and a private furnished patio with a private thermal pool. The hotel’s original room has been expanded into a two story mini house with a full kitchen, three bedrooms, a fireplace, outdoor Jacuzzi, and a furnished outdoor patio and dining area.”
Obviously that mini house is the best choice if you’re traveling with a family, but otherwise the duplex with its own patio and thermal pool gets our vote.
This is meant to be a place to unwind, unplug, and soak away your troubles—perhaps after doing a hike along the canyon in the surrounding countryside. Or after a visit to the owners’ Camelid Experiencce farm. There are no TVs in the room and the only reliable Wi-Fi signal is in the public areas. This is not where you come to get work done unless you’re working on something that doesn’t require the internet.
There are a few lapses here and there with maintenance and service. The remoteness of the area, where staffers are trained local villagers, makes it tough to deliver the kind of luxury polish you’d expect in the Sacred Valley or Lima. Once you put on your hooded robe and head to one of the open pools open 24 hours though, you’ll probably forget about those. You can order a glass of wine and let the mineral-rich waters soak your body while looking up at a million stars.
Sоurсе: luxurylatinamerica.com
