Lima is a destination that oftentimes doesn’t get the attention that it deserves. This bustling city offers culture, history, art, and culinary perfection. With all the amazing things the city has to offer, there comes the difficult decision of where to stay in Lima. Whether this is your first visit or return, you will find that Lima is rather large and not necessarily walkable compared to some other destinations. There are a few neighborhoods that I recommend staying in that will align you in the best position to explore many areas on foot. After my first visit to Peru, I found myself wanting to return again and again. Here are some thoughts on where to stay in Lima offering you a luxury stay at oftentimes very reasonable prices.
Neighborhoods
Lima can be a week long destination, part of a long weekend getaway, or a starting point for traveling on to explore other parts of South America or Peru such as Machu Picchu. There are three neighborhoods that I would recommend for tourists visiting Lima. They are San Isidro, Miraflores, and Barranco. You will find these areas stacked on each other so to speak with San Isidro the furthest north and Barranco to the south. I found Miraflores to be an ideal location being a first time visitor. On a subsequent trip, I found staying in Barranco offered me the opportunity to explore things that I didn’t fully get to appreciate on my first visit. When wandering the neighborhoods mentioned on foot, I always felt safe.
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Hotel Recommendations
Atemporal by Andean
This boutique hotel is a Miraflores mansion boasting delightful interiors and a number of wonderful amenities. With such a small size, they really offer a personalized experience to their guests. I recommend starting your stay by taking advantage of booking an airport transfer through the property. A car was waiting for me at the airport, and it made the process rather seamless.
Outside of the lovely rooms, the property offers a complimentary daily breakfast with locally sourced, healthy ingredients. In the afternoon, you can enjoy a complimentary evening drink from 5-7pm including beer, wine, or juice. Their house car will take you within 4km of the property. It cannot be booked in advance, but with such a small number of guests, I was able to easily take advantage of a ride to dinner one evening. Upstairs, you will find a mini fridge stocked with beverages to enjoy throughout the day. If needed, they do have wifi hotspots available for you to take with you during exploring.
Outside of everything listed above, there is the opportunity to enjoy snacks from the kitchen made by the in house cook. You can also have assistance with shopping guides, cultural experiences/itineraries, same day laundry services, and more.
The location of Atemporal places you almost around the corner and a short walking distance from the Peruvian ancient ruins, Huaca Pucllana. I cannot say enough good things about Atemporal. If you are looking for a special first visit to Lima, this might be the perfect choice.
Explore your booking options with this link.
Country Club Lima Hotel
In the San Isidro neighborhood, Country Club Lima hotel is the standout dating back to 1927. This property combines old world charm and sophistication in a beautiful setting. Architectural Digest named the hotel lobby third best in the world with its tall ceilings and wood beams. It is no surprise this hotel is a member of Leading Hotels of the World. Be sure to stop into their Bar Inglés to try one of their Pisco sours that is Hemingway approved.
The remainder of the property is also nothing short of lavish. As compared to Atemporal or Hotel B, the decor is more classic in appearance. Start your day enjoying a baked good from their bakery La Panadéria and consider a morning workout in their modern fitness center or relaxing by the pool. For golf enthusiasts, you can begin your day by playing at the Lima Golf Club located nearly across the street from the property. After a leisurely start to your day, head out to explore the sights in Lima.
Of interest, the Pedro de Osma museum has loaned hundreds of pieces of art to the hotel. Wandering the hallways and spaces of the property will surely catch your attention. The property has its own boulevard with seven vendors for you to explore as well.
Country Club Lima Hotel offers some different amenities than some of the other properties. If you love traditional design and old world elegance, this might be the right property for you. Click here to explore booking and prices with this historic property.
Hotel B
In the heart of the Barranco neighborhood, you will find the Relais and Chateaux property Hotel B. If you have read any of my other posts, you will find me talking about them with frequency. For years, I have stayed at their properties throughout the world and rarely left disappointed. Hotel B most definitely lived up to the high standards I expected of a Relais and Chateaux property. My recommendation, as mentioned before, is to set up a driver to meet you at the airport for a transfer to your hotel. It makes things easy and takes the stress out of landing in an unfamiliar country.
This boutique hotel was originally built in 1914 by a French architect. The decor maintains the perfect balance between traditional design elements, colorful and quirky accent pieces, and over 300 works of art. Your stay will begin with a glass of sparkling wine and exploring your room. Some of the touches I enjoyed were the necktie “aka do not disturb” sign, poem left on the bed, and bath products designed specifically for the hotel. Their breakfast buffet included in the stay was wonderful featuring a buffet plus the ability to order from some menu selections. Finally, you can also partake in complimentary afternoon tea to provide a relaxing break to your afternoon.
Their hotel bar offers the perfect place to end your night. Even if you do not book a stay at Hotel B, consider stopping for a drink at their bar for a tiki style cocktail or one of their beautiful gin and tonics served in a tall glass.
There are many options for things to do in the area including museums, shopping, restaurants, and more. Wandering this neighborhood, you will find gorgeous homes with a multitude of color palettes. It is also a short walk to views of the beach, a beautiful place to admire the sunset. The hotel can provide you with a list of their personalized recommendations.
To book your stay at Hotel B click here to check their rates.
Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel
While a stay at Miraflores Park is going to be the most expensive option listed, some may find it worth the higher price tag. As I have followed this property over the years, it has unfortunately definitely gone up in price. The Belmond group has created quite the name for itself offering everything from hotels and trains to boats and safaris.
There are a couple of things that entice me the most about this property. It has a gorgeous rooftop pool with views for days that stretch up the coast. This could be the ideal location for enjoying a cocktail during one of Lima’s beautiful sunsets. The second attractive quality is booking one of the signature suites. They have their own plunge pool located on the balcony making this your personal space to enjoy views of the ocean along with separate living and dining areas.
This property also has an executive lounge offering additional perks for guests staying in one of the signature suites or on one of the club levels. This lounge access is something that not all of the other properties listed offer. Dependent upon the class of room you book, there are additional inclusions with your stay that could include complimentary breakfast, dedicated host service, and included airport transfer.
For a pure luxury experience, explore booking Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel.
JW Marriott Lima
As many travelers value loyalty, the JW offers a great option for Marriott Bonvoy members or others that may prefer a chain hotel as compared to a smaller boutique option. This hotel has the largest number of guest rooms compared to the other options listed at 300 total. Another advantage of booking a Marriott hotel is availability of special rates such as AAA, government/military, or a senior discount. This oftentimes allows guests to take advantage of a higher category room at a lower price. Finally, this property also has an executive lounge for higher level members or those staying in the appropriate room category.
This Miraflores hotel is in a great location to enjoy many of the attractions in Lima. It is nearly adjacent to the shopping center Larcomar and close walking distance to a number of gorgeous parks. Visit my post on Top Sights Lima to get ideas about how to spend your time exploring.
Rooms are well appointed but more basic in appearance compared to other options listed. The color scheme is light and overall appearance is modern. There is a large pool and fitness center available to guests.
If this sounds like the right fit for your stay, book the JW Marriott Lima.
Final Thoughts
Lima is a city that captivated my attention in an unexpected way. Each visit left me wanting to see and experience more. Their culture, arts, and culinary scene are simply impressive. If you are looking to book a stay, I recommend staying in San Isidro, Miraflores, or Barranco. This will leave you in a great location to explore much of what the city has to offer. In an attempt to not overwhelm you with choices, I believe any of the five hotels listed would provide a wonderful choice for your stay. Take advantage of booking an airport transfer with the hotel. Also, utilize the hotel’s assistance to gain more information about the city and plan your stay.
