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Born in Lima in 1945, Jose Koechlin is a pioneer of eco-tourism in Peru. Since the early 1970s, he has established himself as a key figure in upscale, environmentally-friendly tourism. "I have been active in eco-tourism for over forty years now, since participating in the films Aguirre and Fitzcarraldo by the famous director Werner Herzog. Since then, I have been tirelessly promoting Peru's image around the world, defending and protecting its landscapes, flora and fauna. I am extraordinarily lucky to live so close to such places as Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lake Titicaca. My ambition was to create a tourism business which would allow people to discover these incredibly beautiful places, while preserving them at the same time. More than just protected sites, these are places that show you who you are …"
To give you inspiration, Relais & Châteaux presents the Routes du Bonheur: suggestions for travel itineraries that you can fully personalise according to your wishes and the experiences you would like to discover. Our consultants are available to help customise your route and assist you in making reservations at our properties. It is up to you to reserve any recommended activities on-site or nearby that might interest you.
*Total price provided for information only, based on accommodation for two people in a double room for the number of nights per property as indicated on this page, exclusive of recommended activities, properties that cannot be reserved online and restaurants.
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront. This summer pavilion, dating back to the Belle Époque, is tucked away in the heart of the Barranco district, a protected historic area next to the Pacific Ocean. Marble, exotic woods, a beautifully columned white façade, open balconies and skyhigh ceilings lit by skylights in the roofs – Lima teatinas – give it a charm all of its own. Its renovation was entrusted to sculptors from the Fine Arts Academy and to an Italian cabinetmaker with a view to preserving and showcasing its rich architectural heritage. Hotel B draws its inspiration from the Bohemian atmosphere of the surrounding district and exhibits works by contemporary Peruvian artists, adding to the hotel’s character.
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Restaurant in town. Founded 20 years ago in Lima, Astrid&Gastón has recently moved to a beautiful 300 years old house in the centre of San Isidro district. It epitomizes Gastón Acurio and Astrid Gutsche’s dream of sharing their contemporary take on Peruvian cuisine with the entire world. Astrid&Gastón’s cuisine draws its inspiration from the traditions and the biodiversity of Peru, and yet never breaks its links with the world around it, responding first and foremost to the challenges posed by the future and by our environment.The tasting menu is a journey throughout Peru's different environment in five parts: a living experience with a hint of magic and sensitivity.
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Classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Plaza de Armas is located at the heart of the old colonial town. In spite of a series of earthquakes, the Cathedral has managed to preserve many of its treasures. The remains of the building still house the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, the city's founder. Nearby is the Government Palace with its superb courtyards. This is where the crowds gather each day to watch the changing of the guard.
The sea front, Lima
Lima is one of the few capital cities in the world which is located on the coast. I often come here to sit beside the ocean. Turn your back on the city's hustle and bustle (almost a third of Peruvians live here) and the Pacific stretches out before you. At the weekend, the locals gather along the sea front, heading to Barranco, the artists'quarter, or Miraflores, to unwind.
Larco Museum, Lima
Founded in 1926, the Larco Museum recounts over 5000 years of history. Devoted to pre-Columbian works, the extremely well-designed museum presents superb themed collections. Unusually, the museum's reserves and their 45,000 archeological objects are also accessible to the public.
Hotel and restaurant in the mountains. At an altitude of 2800 m, colours are brilliant: the blue of the sky, the red of the earth and a fragmented mosaic created by a profusion of flowers. Sol & Luna is inspired by this luminous setting and is a paean to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Its architecture is a mix of avant-garde and primitive Peru, its clay walls are a backdrop to both contemporary and traditional Peruvian art, and its stones, beams and bricks from the valley find their natural home here. Its mouthwatering cuisine also draws its inspiration from local gastronomy, yet with a contemporary twist. Sol & Luna is close to archaeological sites and offers a doorway to this lost civilisation.
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It was in July 1956 that I visited Machu Picchu for the first time. We travelled here on a school trip from Lima, on a very bad road. It was a veritable expedition which completely changed my life. It was here, in front of these ruins, on this absolutely magnificent site, that I discovered my Andean roots. Machu Picchu should be viewed at different times of the day, from several vantage points. Above all, come here to experience the feeling of solitude …
Butterflies and orchids
Right on the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Suites site you will find 206 species of bird (including eighteen kinds of hummingbird), 111 species of butterfly, several bear specimens and the world’s largest collection of orchids in their natural habitat. For us, Machu Picchu is much more than a marvellous series of ruins, it’s paradise itself!
Tea plantation and organic farm
About twenty years ago, we decided to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors by recreating a plantation where tea is cultivated by hand. Nearby, we set up an organic farm which grows vegetables, herbs and medicinal plants. The entire site follows a carbon neutral programme.
Hotel and restaurant in town. This exquisite 16th-century colonial manor was one of the first Spanish buildings in Cusco, located just steps away from the picturesque main square. Once occupied by the conquistadors of Peru, it is now an exclusive boutique hotel that has been carefully restored to retain its historical heritage and décor. With its suites set around a Spanish courtyard, replete with antiques and original architectural details, Inkaterra La Casona offers sober elegance without sacrificing authenticity. This is the perfect base from which to explore the vibrant capital of the Incan Empire and absorb the mysticism of the surrounding Andean valleys and villages.
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Located in the hills above Cusco, this Inca fortress was constructed in the 15th century. It is built in the form of the head of a puma, a sacred animal. We still don't know how the Inca managed to transport and assemble these immense blocks of stone on the top of the hill (some of them weigh more than 100 tonnes). Every year on 24 June, a large crowd gathers here to attend a religious ceremony during Inti Raymi, the festival of the sun. It is a magnificent sight.
Strolling through Cusco’s old town
Cusco is a town like no other. Over the centuries, the old capital of the Inca has managed to preserve not only its heritage but also a unique atmosphere. Paradoxically, the successive earthquakes have re-opened this chapter of its history, allowing archeologists to discover ancient temples such as Qorikancha "temple of the sun", an incredible testament to the treasures of the past …
Pre-Columbian Art Museum, Cusco
Mochica, Nasca, Salinar, Inca … Since 2003, most of the pre-Columbian civilisations have been brought together in this museum, located in Plaza de las Nazarenas. The organisation of the museum shows each of the 450 objects on public display to their best advantage. Although certain pieces may resemble modern art, the objects on display date from 1250 BC to 1532 AD.
Hotel and restaurant on a lake. The mere mention of Lake Titicaca is enough to conjure up a dramatic, mysterious world. At an altitude of more than 3 800 meters in the Andes, on the border between Peru and Bolivia, this cradle of Inca civilization is still home to one of the oldest communities in South America. Titilaka Lodge is tucked away in this unique landscape, totally off the beaten track on its own private peninsula, in a refurbished building. The rooms, each with a splendid lake view, are decorated in a contemporary style with touches of local heritage, in symbiosis with the luxuriant natural setting. Just outside the village of the same name, Titilaka offers a taste of the lake dwellers’ traditions and way of life.
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This isolated island is the home of weavers whose textile work has been recognised as part of the intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. The traditional social structure of the island is reflected in the women's dress as well as in day-to-day greetings. The southern point of Taquile Island is a hour-hour boat cruise from Titilaka. Here you will meet Juan and his family, a weaver who will tell you fascinating stories about his island, his lake and the Aymara culture …
The floating islands of the Uros
Meeting the traditional families who live on these floating islands, made completely out of totora reeds, is a unique experience. The Uros islands are located close to the Titicaca National Reserve. Today, the original inhabitants, known as Kot-Suña, "the people of the lake", have almost entirely disappeared.
A boat trip on Lake Titicaca
You can also take a boat trip on the lake, accompanied by guides who are experts in natural history and ornithology. During the trip you will discover amazing fauna, including around sixty species of endemic bird, sailing through a space where the thin light effect allows you to have a very far away horizon view.
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