Luxury Hotel of the Month: August

Built in harmony with the surrounding environment, this new Belmond hotel ‘Las Casitas’ is the premier accommodation option when staying at the Colca Canyon in Peru. The stunning surrounding landscapes can be viewed from various vistas throughout the property, but the best place is from the private ‘casitas’, of which there are 20 scattered between the trees and perfectly manicured gardens.

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It comes as no surprise that the individual bungalows are incredibly well equipped, inside and out. The charming and traditional interiors have modern touches and facilities, and the plunge pool on the terrace of each is the icing on the cake, so to speak. A team of incredibly polite staff keep this hotel running smoothly, and the service is impeccable – something regular guests of Belmond will expect. Day trips from the hotel include hiking, horse riding and birdwatching in and around the deep canyon nearby, after which the onsite Samay Spa will be much appreciated. Dinner at the hotel includes an exciting selection of local dishes, and guests need to be sure to take a look at the spectacular night skies before retiring to the privacy of their casitas. This is high altitude luxury at its finest.

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NAME: Belmond Las Casitas

LOCATION: Overlooking the Colca Canyon in Peru

NO. OF ROOMS: 20 luxurious and secluded ‘casitas’ are spread throughout the well-manicured grounds which surround this luxury hotel

FOOD & DRINK: An onsite restaurant serves delicious Peruvian cuisine, including famous dishes such as ceviche, whilst the bar staff will happily whip up a Pisco Sour at any time of the day.

OUTSTANDING FEATURE: Each casita features a private plunge pool which looks out over the canyon – an incredible (and romantic) feature. In addition, this hotel connects with the fabulous Belmond Andean Explorer luxury train journey, a perfect combination trip.

BEST FOR: A relaxing overnight option when visiting the Colca Canyon – due to its high altitude location, the conditions here can be extreme. Braving the bitterly cold winds, dry air and rocky terrain can be exhausting – this hotel provides a welcome respite in the form of cosy rooms, a fantastic spa and good food.

MUST DO ACTIVITY: Take a trip to ‘Condor Cross’, a lookout point where is is possible to see the almighty Andean condor soaring on the thermals.

ECO CREDENTIALS: The hotel takes care to preserve the wonderful environment that surrounds it, and the Spa treatments reflect this. A nice touch is that most of the ingredients are organic and grown in the hotels own extensive vegetable garden, which has 5 greenhouses, and the property also has a small farm with alpaca, cows and horses.

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