One of our friends contacted us a few days ago concerned with Peru and altitude sickness; there’s a common misconception that all of Peru is as High as Cusco, which is far from right. Peru has a massive shorefront from north to south; it extends from Tacna to Arica, climbs up the Andes, and then goes down again to an astonishing Amazonian jungle.
Lima City, the epicenter of world gastronomy, is located from 0 to 160 meters above sea level at its highest point; there should be no concern with altitude. But being in Lima does not exempt you from great experiences. We recently wrote about wine trips to the south of Lima; on that path, you can enjoy relaxing days, beach weather, and a dessert experience in Paracas.
A three-hour drive to the south will take you to a spot where the desert meets the Pacific Ocean shore; farming, Pisco (and wine), fishing, and Guano are the main economic drivers of this region. We arrived at sundown at the hotel; the clear orange sky at the golden hour served as the perfect beginning for this experience.
A LUXURY EXPERIENCE
The Hotel Paracas was initially designed to be a beach club by Architect José Alvarez-Calderón in 1944 with the Paracas Style, his take on Greek island architecture using local materials and a rustic atmosphere from the environment surrounded by dessert at the Paracas Bay. During the 2007 earthquake, it suffered damage, and it was remodeled and reopened in 2009 under The Luxury Collection soft brand, creating a step-up Peruvian luxury hospitality.
Enjoy any spacious guest rooms and 16 suites, including private terraces designed with natural wood tones and refined, clean lines for a relaxing, romantic atmosphere. Two of the suites include private pools. After enjoying a day in the sun, you can unwind with a bubble bath or warm shower and rest on a cloudy-soft bed; depending on the occupation, you can choose a garden or ocean-view villas, ground floor or high raised, and some are even interconnected rooms if you are traveling with family, all with terraces to enjoy the morning coffee or a bottle of wine during the evening, our neighbors were playing cards on theirs.
COCKTAILS AND FOOD
There are four different foods and beverages in the hotel; the Bar Lounge offers a cocktail experience by the main pool with a menu that includes some Nikkei-inspired dishes, ceviche, classic cocktails and signature cocktails designed with the local culture in mind, from Paracas tapestry a fruity cocktail called Manto Paracas, that comes to the table on a little white chest or the Monja de Paracas their take on a negroni inspired by the local seagull (Larosterna inca) and the Sarah Ellen Son’s that a refreshing cocktail that comes in a lantern with flower petals based on a local vampire legend.
La Trattoria is a casual, family-friendly restaurant serving Peruvian Italian cuisine. From the aperitif to the gelato, homemade pizza, fresh pasta, or other Italian classics with a glass of wine.
The main dinner for an all-day experience is at the Ballestas Restaurant; you can enjoy the breakfast by the terrace with many stations to choose from, gluten-free and healthy options, to prepared stews, pancakes, a bakery, cereal, fruit, and cheese stations, to the Special sandwiches that vary daily, their pan con chicharron on Sundays has everything you need and their special ají (very hot if you like that).
For lunch and dinner, Chef Miguel Cabrera explores his creativity with a blend of local Peruvian and international cuisines on his menu, preparing from Peruvian staples such as ceviche, Lomo Saltado, or Causa with his unique take; they also explore some international plates as Gyozas or Fideuà, a bast menu that caters all tastes.
Chef Miguel also leads Chalana, their signature restaurant by the pier, where guest or walk-ins are welcome to enjoy the ocean-to-table menu, where tiraditos, ceviche, and grilled fish are prepared with the catch-of-the-day product that comes from the surrounding areas. We got a taste of their Chalana scallop selection. This little boat comes to the center of the table with as many scallops as you can imagine, from traditional lemon and chalaquita, to yuzu or ají Amarillo. Some Peruvian-northern flavors are on the menu, like the vegetable fritters or the tiradito with saranjada (a northern white bean) using his family’s recipes.
PLENTY FOR EVERYONE
If you want to stay at the compound, relax by the pool in a cabana, ride a bike on the beach, or enjoy water sports. They got you covered with kayaks, paddle boards, bikes, and activities for the children in the family pool.
They also offer a private boat trip experience to harvest scallops at the bay and taste them on board and wildlife sightseeing to the Ballestas island. In this nature sanctuary, sea lions, penguins, gulls, and other species live peacefully. If you are into bird watching, you can meet several endemic species year-round.
You can escape to the desert and enjoy the sunset on the dunes, drive on a boggy to the northern portion of the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world, for a glass of wine on the sunset, and have an open sky dinner on the middle of the Paracas dessert.
Return to the hotel and enjoy a time of relaxation in their spa with several options from massages and treatments to their water circuit, where you will enjoy a guided tour over five different water experiences starting at a hot whirlpool, a warm rest on a bubble pool, cold plunge, steam room, chromotherapy, scented shower and resting area with warm chaise-lounges.
Kids have their own experience at the Explorer’s Club with organized outdoor and indoor adventures and activities: Treasure hunts, shell collection on the beach, Movies, and video game championships. Groups at the Explorer’s Club are divided by age, and activities are devised accordingly.
Checking in is easy, and they offer an outstanding service. The staff caters to your every need from when you get into your whole stay. As The Luxury Collection is part of the Marriott brands, you can use Bonvoy service features even before you arrive, from online check-in, mobile key to your room, and direct chat with the concierge.
IN THE KNOW: The Luxury Collection Paracas Hotel and all the customized experiences can be part of your dream vacation. Reserve with us for your best Peruvian experience. Call us at +1 213 221 8100.