Hotel Paracas

Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort: A Comprehensive Review

Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, stands out as a premier luxury destination on Peru's central coast, recognized as a Michelin Key Selected property. It's often lauded as the top hotel in the region for tourists seeking a touch of luxury while exploring nearby attractions.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Hotel Paracas is overwhelmingly positive, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from numerous reviews. Guests consistently describe their stays as "wonderful," "exceptional," and "amazing," highlighting its beauty, cleanliness, and excellent customer service. Many express a desire to extend their stay, calling it "luxury personified".

2. Key Highlights

Guests frequently praise several aspects of Hotel Paracas:

• Service & Staff: The staff is consistently described as "incredible," "friendly," "accommodating," and going "the extra mile". Service is often noted as efficient and helpful, making stays feel "effortless".
• Location & Design: The hotel boasts an idyllic coastal location on the Paracas Peninsula, offering bay and ocean panoramas. Its design incorporates geometric patterns and locally crafted textiles, echoing pre-Incan cultures, and features impressive water features and vaulted ceilings. The vast, cleverly designed gardens offer a good amount of privacy.
• Amenities: The resort offers a comprehensive array of amenities, including two swimming pools (one adult, one family-friendly, with a heated kids' pool), a private beach (though swimming in the sea is not recommended due to currents and jellyfish), a private jetty with a sunset bar, a well-equipped spa, a fitness center, and a kids' club. Guests can also enjoy activities like kayaking, sailing, and sand bicycles.
• Food Quality: The onsite food receives high praise, with guests calling it "excellent" and "amazing".

3. Room Quality

Hotel Paracas offers spacious and comfortable rooms and suites, spread across expansive gardens.

• Comfort & Design: Rooms feature either a king or two queen beds, air-conditioning, marble bathrooms, and private verandas. Many note the beds as large, soft, and conducive to sleep. Ocean-front rooms are particularly recommended for an enhanced experience. Some rooms have a unique design with glass separating the room from the bathroom, offering a direct view of the shower and a deep, luxurious bath.
• Amenities: Accommodations include modern comforts such as flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and toiletries. Housekeeping is described as spotless, with appreciated evening turndown service.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers excellent dining options across its three restaurants.

• Restaurant Variety: The main restaurant, Ballestas, serves Fusion cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring a concise menu with regional seafood specialties and international options. The Chalana Restaurant is particularly highlighted for its excellent seafood and setting, with experiences like a "Noche de Makis" (sushi night) featuring executive chef Miguel Cabrera.
• Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is frequently lauded as "excellent" with a wide selection, high quality, and fresh options, including attentive service for coffee and tea. Chefs are noted for being accommodating with food allergies.
• Bar: The lounge bar is a pleasant spot to enjoy drinks, with the Pisco sour being a popular choice.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Hotel Paracas is consistently rated as "exceptional" and a major highlight for guests. Staff are described as extremely efficient, helpful, friendly, and genuinely happy to assist, often going "the extra mile". Guests appreciate the welcoming reception with iced tea upon arrival and the seamless check-in process. Concierge services are highly effective in organizing tours to local attractions like the Ballestas Islands and Nazca Lines.

6. Location & Accessibility

Hotel Paracas boasts a prime beachfront location, ideal for exploring the region's attractions.

• Attractions: It's perfectly situated for visiting the Ballestas Islands (with boat trips often available from the hotel's private jetty), the Nazca Lines (overflights from Pisco), Ica wineries, and the Huacachina sand dunes. The Paracas National Reserve, often called the "Peruvian Galapagos," is also nearby.
• Transport: The hotel is approximately ten kilometers from Pisco airport (PIO) and offers complimentary shuttle service. While the immediate town of Paracas offers limited visitor appeal with varying food quality and cleanliness standards, the hotel itself acts as a tranquil bubble.

7. Value & Pricing

While prices are considered "a little high" compared to other high-end hotels in Peru, the remote and luxurious nature of the hotel often justifies the cost for guests. The average room price is around $238, which is slightly higher than the average in Paracas but still offers exceptional value for money given the world-class experience. Some reviewers suggest that if staying for only one or two nights, a Garden View Room is sufficient, but a suite is recommended for longer stays to fully enjoy the facilities.

8. Common Complaints

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, some recurring issues have been noted:

• Smells from the Bay: During January to March, warmer sea currents can attract more sea life to the bay, occasionally causing "strange smells" in the morning sea breeze that typically dissipate by mid-morning.
• Sea Swimming: While the hotel has a private beach, swimming in the sea is generally not recommended due to strong currents and the presence of jellyfish.
• Spa Access Fees: Some guests have expressed disappointment about an additional charge to access the spa area, including the indoor heated pool and jacuzzi.
• Pool Noise: One reviewer mentioned the pools can be noisy with children and parents, making it difficult for quiet relaxation.
• Inconsistent Service (Rare): Although generally excellent, isolated incidents like a lack of pool towels or slow restaurant service have been reported, with some suggesting a "Peruvian feel" to the service speed despite the luxurious setting.
• Food Quality Fluctuations: One review indicated that food quality at a restaurant could be inconsistent if a specific chef (e.g., Chef Miguel) was not on site.
• Late Check-in/Booking Issues: A guest reported a long wait for their room despite having a confirmed booking, possibly due to an attempted cancellation.
• Lack of Basic Amenities (Rare): An instance of a standard shaving kit being unavailable was noted as unexpected for a 5-star hotel.

Sources

1. totallylatinamerica.com
2. michelin.com
3. marriott.com
4. marriott.com
5. booking.com
6. booking.com
7. kanchayperutravel.com
8. hotels.com
9. youtube.com