Atemporal

Though it flies a bit under the radar, anyone who’s been knows that the Peruvian capital is gritty, sprawling, and fully alive. The second largest city in the Americas — bigger even than Mexico City — Lima’s sheer size and bustling streets can be overwhelming to even the most seasoned traveler. The best way to explore the city, to really get to know it, is with the help of someone who knows the lay of the land, who can uncover hidden treasures within its millennia of history — because once you get this intoxicating place into your bloodstream, you’ll want to learn all its secrets. Atemporal is that gracious refuge in the midst of the sprawl.

It’s presented as the home of an imaginary globetrotting photographer, one who’s left you full access to his 1940s Tudor-style mansion in the Miraflores neighborhood, his car, and his staff, with instructions to anticipate and meet your every need. And he wants you to love Lima as much as he does. It’s a nice little idea, but in fact, Atemporal is nearly as close to a private home as a boutique hotel gets: Only guests staying in the hotelito’s nine rooms have access to the property. The guestrooms are small but comfortable, dressed in a modern decor that still matches the European, colonial vibe so much of Lima presents.

You might even forget for a minute that you’re in the heart of a major Latin American metropolis. But once you’re ready to rejoin the hustle and bustle, bicycles are freely available, as is a house car with a private chauffeur who can take you to nearby hotspots and holes in the wall alike. Many visitors come to Lima for the food — this is a city at the top of its gastronomy game. Your breakfast is included with your stay, and there is fresh, locally sourced food available for room service 24/7, but know this: you’re within short walking distance of some of the city’s best restaurants, including the famed Astrid y Gastón and Osaka.