Located three hours south of the capital city of Lima, the coastal towns of Paracas, Pisco and nearby Ica are the gateways to some of the most fascinating sights in Peru. Cruise ships call on this fascinating area via the small military facility in San Martin, just fifteen minutes away from the new Hotel Paracas.

The Hotel Paracas dates back to the 1940’s when wealthy Limeños (people from Lima) used to travel down to vacation along the southern beaches, During the terrible earthquake that hit the town of Pisco in 2008, the original hotel was badly damaged. Joining forces with the Libertador Hotel Group and US-based Starwood Hotels, The new luxury property was designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica and shows Sourh Beach inspiration. There is also a new deluxe spa available for guests and visitors — like those coming from the ship!

Paracas is poised to take off as a cute seaside resort. Last year when we were in San Martin (PIsco), I wandered the new paved beach front with its stalls of vendors and more than ample choice of seafood restaurants. Nearby there were many new condominiums and beach houses. The hotel was still under construction but you could see the area is looking good.

The new hotel hopes to become a destination unto itself. In addition to being a great spot to relax after a trip to Machu Picchu or the Peruvian Amazon, the area has much to offer. From Pisco and Paracas you can visit the Paracas National Ecological Reserve and the Ballestas Islands; known for its diversity of wildlife there are hundreds of birds that range from flamingos to Humbolt penguins! From nearby Ica, you can explore the pre-Inca culture of the Nazca and Paracas cultures before flying over one of the greatest enigmas of the ancient world - the world-famous Nazca Lines.