Cirqa

Peru’s second city, Arequipa, may not get as much international attention as Lima or the Inca Trail, but it’s not for lack of compelling attractions. The estate that contains Cirqa, for example, dates back to the year 1540, which means that its meticulously preserved stone walls are among the first built by European settlers in the New World. The fact that what lies within them is a stunning 11-room luxury hotel is just further evidence for the proposition that there’s more worth seeing in Peru than most travelers know.

And it’s not just any luxury hotel. These rooms are designed for a lively contrast with the historic backdrop; the décor is sparse, somewhat eclectic, and modernist-influenced, in a style that’s reminiscent of some of the best Italian hotels. And while technology intervenes where necessary — bedside reading lamps, rain showers, flat-screens — but overall, the atmosphere is one of old-world tranquility.

Cirqa’s kitchen is perhaps the most refined space of them all, offering contemporary interpretations of traditional Arequipenean flavors in a glass-walled salon or out on the shaded terrace. And though you may be tempted to stay within Cirqa’s walls for the duration of your stay, the hotel’s staff is happy to arrange all manner of excursions — from tours of the historic city to adventures in the Chilina Valley, Colca Canyon, and beyond.