Palacio Guaqui
The first courtyard, has the lobby, restaurant and cabanas shaded from the sun.
Palacio Guaqui is the most comfortable luxury hotel in Arequipa.
This 18th century mansion is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been completely restored and renovated to create 16 comfortable and quirky suites.
I’ve stayed in many beautiful Peruvian hotels that are historic buildings, some that were even Inca palaces long before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. However, none of them have the comfort and charm that I found at Palacio Guaqui.
Read my hotel review on Luxury Latin America.
The second courtyard has the plunge pool and a cactus garden. The third courtyard has a vegetable and her garden of raised beds.
The suites at Palacio Guaqui are much larger than at other historic hotels I’ve visited in Peru, like Cirqa in Arequipa and Monasterio, a Belmond Hotel in Cusco. They also have a better lighting and more modern heating and air conditioning system that other similar hotels. If you’ve only ever stayed in modern hotels, lighting and air conditioning may seem like small details that you would take for granted. However, renovating an ancient stone building to have these modern conveniences without losing the character of a historic building is not something you can take for granted. It is an art.
The unique decoration in each room is also an art. Rather than completely austere stone walls, each room has a unique theme. My favorite is the spacious Arequipa Suite, above, which has its own two-story library, with a curving metal staircase reminiscent of the Eiffel-designed staircase at Zig Zag. The library theme is complete with an antique library card catalogue.
You’ll see intriguing antiques throughout the hotel, from ancient mailboxes to printing presses to glass jars and ceramic vessels used to age wine in centuries past. The walls were all ancient sillar, a white pumice made of ash from Arequipa’s volcanoes compacted and petrified into stone over many thousands of years.
One of the most historic parts of the hotel is the ancient chapel, with a statue of Santa Teresa. The chapel is always open and you pass through it to get to Suite 7.
What did I love most about Palacio Guaqui?
My favorite things about Palacio Guaqui were how comfortable my room was, the excellent service and the extravagant breakfast.
I had Junior Suite 8, above, which was very large and had a separate sitting room, with an elegant stone arch separating the bedroom from the sitting room and bathroom. The walk-in rain shower felt luxurious, the bathrobes were thick and the slippers had sturdy soles, perfect for the tile floors. The king bed was comfortable and had a variety of pillows: the equivalent of a pillow menu without having to order off a menu.
I stayed three nights and the service was consistently excellent. Anytime I needed anything in my room, service was prompt and friendly. Several times, walking around Arequipa, I messaged the concierge to as for information and recommendations, always with quick and helpful results.
Breakfast is made to order, with a wide variety of quality options. Coffee is from an espresso machine, made with freshly ground beans, not plastic pods. During my three mornings, I had something different every day and tried about half of the options on the menu. The omelet, soft boiled eggs and homemade granola were all perfectly done. I always ordered the fresh fruit and juice, which were all perfectly ripe, but never over-ripe.
How sustainable is Palacio Guaqui?
I didn’t see any plastic bottles anywhere on the property. Drinking water came in refillable glass bottles from a large filter in the kitchen. Soap and other amenities were in glass bottles. The only single use plastic I found anywhere was the plastic bag that the slippers came in. I appreciated that breakfast was made to order as a buffet for a hotel of 16 rooms would have been wasteful. Also, coffee is Peruvian-grown, freshly roasted beans which is much higher quality than single-serving plastic pods and has much less waste.
Are any rooms wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Junior Suite 16, above, is fully wheelchair accessible, with wide doors and a comfortable daybed for lounging. The bathroom mirror tilts down, and the shower doesn’t have a door.
The bar is a comfortable and relaxing place to hang out, next to the first courtyard.
Does Palacio Guaqui have a spa?
There is no spa, but a masseuse can visit your room for massages. There is a plunge pool, good for hot afternoons, in the largest patio, surrounded by lounge chairs.
What is the history of Palacio Guaqui?
In 1817, Loyalist General José Manuel de Goyeneche won the Battle of Guaqui and was awarded the title of Count of Guaqui by Spanish King Ferdinand VII. It opened as a hotel in 2024.
Who owns Palacio Guaqui?
Palacio Guaqui is owned by a Peruvian chain named Ananay, based in Lima and 100% Peruvian owned. Ananay also has three hotels in Cusco and one in Lima.
