Why the New InterContinental Real Lima Miraflores Isn’t Just Another Hotel—It’s a Game-Changer for Your Next Peru Adventure
Peru has this knack for blowing your mind with its breathtaking vistas, right? But, guess what—I wasn’t lured here by the iconic Machu Picchu ruins. Nope, my heart was set on Lima, a bustling metropolis of 11 million souls, teeming with life and surprises. Picture this: my first night, standing on the Malecón boardwalk above the Costa Verde cliffs, watching the Pacific transform from amber to violet as the sun dipped low. It hit me then—Lima isn’t just a gateway; it’s a destination in its own right.
Most travelers treat Lima as just a pit stop, a quick overnight before dashing off to Machu Picchu. But I spent four nights soaking it all in—and honestly, that feels like the smarter call. This city has quietly blossomed into one of South America’s most captivating urban spots. And tucked in Miraflores, its most welcoming district, there’s a new luxury hotel that’s raising the bar for a proper Lima experience.
Intrigued? You should be. LEARN MORE
Peru is a country of jaw-dropping landscapes, but I didn’t come for the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu. I came for Lima, a vibrant city that’s home to 11 million people. On my first evening in town, standing on the Malecón pedestrian boardwalk above the Costa Verde cliffs, I watched as the Pacific turned amber and then violet as the sun set. I understood immediately why the Peruvian capital deserves a trip all its own.
Most first-time visitors to Peru spend exactly one night here before rushing off to Machu Picchu. I spent four — and I’d argue that’s the smarter trip. The capital has quietly become one of the most compelling urban destinations in South America, and Miraflores, its most visitor-friendly district, now has a luxury hotel worthy of anchoring a proper stay.
Related reading: The best IHG hotels in the world
What’s it like at InterContinental Real Lima Miraflores by IHG?
The 292-room, 29-suite InterContinental opened in June 2025, and it still has that unmistakable new-hotel air — everything is in pristine condition with not a nick or scuff in sight. But what strikes you first isn’t the newness. It’s the lobby.
Interior designer Germán Margozzini, a Lima hospitality veteran, built the ground-floor public spaces around a vocabulary of warm neutrals, dark browns and polished marble. The result: Space that feel luxurious but grounded, more private club than glitzy resort. The centerpiece is a dramatic double-helix spiral staircase, its white sculpted curves and black treads rising through multiple floors against a glass curtain wall, lit from below for effect. It’s the kind of architectural gesture that stops you mid-step.
The check-in desk continues that contrast through a traditional-style dark wood counter with carved legs, that wouldn’t look out of place in a Lima mansion, set against a floor-to-ceiling shelving installation styled like a gentleman’s library: curated art books, ceramic vessels, a brass dome lamp. Overhead, a large abstract ink painting anchors the wall. In the adjoining lounge, large circular sculptural rings hang from a double-height ceiling, while oversized photographs of grand European interiors — gilded halls, chandeliered corridors — share wall space with bold geometric abstracts. It’s eclectic but considered, and it gives the lobby a gallery-like energy that rewards lingering.
Add to this the extravagant floral arrangements — towering bursts of birds-of-paradise alongside ginger and tropical foliage that feel distinctly Peruvian — and you have a first impression that is, frankly, quite good. Whether it all adds up to a “sense of place” is a fair question; Margozzini’s design sensibility skews cosmopolitan over local. But it’s polished, warm and beautiful.
What’s also interesting is that the complex comprises two related properties that share restaurant access: the InterContinental and Hotel Indigo Miraflores. This is actually the first Hotel Indigo in South America. The location seals the deal: a quick walk across the street reaches Larcomar, and the Malecón walking path puts the artsy Barranco neighborhood well within reach.
The Executive Club lounge was another compelling feature: A dedicated VIP space with panoramic Pacific views, comfy seating and complimentary food and beverages (the local Inca Kola was a treat). Staff learned our names immediately and helped us plan daily itineraries and suss out restaurants that matched our tastes.
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And the rooftop infinity pool, while not large, was uncrowded and offered splendid ocean views. A very relaxing spot.
How much does it cost to stay at the InterContinental Lima and how should you book it?
Looking at the hotel’s cash prices over the next 12 months, you’ll find all-in nightly rates from $269 to $299 in June, August through February, and in April. If you prefer to use IHG One Rewards points, nights during those months range from 47,000 to 53,000 each. March, May and July are pricier, with nights ranging from $385 to $497 or 60,000 to 85,000.
Related reading: IHG One Rewards: How to earn and redeem points, elite status and more
The hotel offers 441-square-foot Classic rooms, many with excellent ocean views. The 29 suites have a bit more variety. Junior Suites are available at 600 to 670 square feet, as well as a larger version that’s roughly 800 square feet. Both options offer ocean views. The Executive Suite lands at 1,220 square feet and offers a separate bath and walk-in shower, while the largest suite, the 2,010-square-foot Ambassador Suite, offers a separate bath and walk-in shower. All rooms and suites may include access to the club lounge, depending on your booking.
Before booking my stay, I considered all the options. I could have used IHG One Rewards points for my April stay (or transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to my IHG account). However, the cash price was low (about $280 per night), so that didn’t make sense.
Knowing I’d pay cash, the next question was which credit card and travel booking portal would offer the most enticing benefits and extras. My options included booking with my:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve card via the Chase portal and taking advantage of The Edit and IHG-specific annual credits,
- American Express Platinum via Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts program, offering free breakfast, food and beverage credit and the possibility of a space-available room upgrade,
- Bilt Palladium card, which offers a Home Away from Home booking with extras (since I have Bilt Gold status) and the option to use some Bilt Cash that I recently earned.
I opted to book this stay with my Bilt card. It was absolutely the right thing to do. Not only did I receive a room upgrade, but also access to the exclusive Executive Club lounge, free breakfast daily and IHG elite night credit.
Rooms at InterContinental Real Lima Miraflores by IHG
The InterContinental’s guest rooms and suites are well-designed and spacious. They are exactly what you’d expect at an InterContinental property: modern yet understated design with high-end flourishes and Byredo Bal D’Afrique bath amenities.
Rooms are very comfortable but they don’t exude the Peruvian spirit. Don’t get me wrong, I loved our junior suite with its light wood flooring, crisp grays and greens with a few pops of orange, but the room could have been anywhere in the world. In fact, the box cutout framing the floor-to-ceiling windows reminded me of The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto.
We actually got to stay in two different rooms: a king Classic with Executive Club access on a high floor and one of the 800-square-feet Junior Suites (also with club access). Both were upgrades of the Classic king room I booked through Bilt’s Home Away from Home platform.
The move to the suite was due to a faulty air-conditioner that decided to kick the bucket in our first room. The in-house handyman tried to get it started again, but after two tries, the hotel decided to move up to the suite to avoid any wasted vacation time. We appreciated that. A sweet snack (some chocolates) greeted us upon arrival in both rooms. That was lovely, but I would have preferred something with a stronger Peruvian flair. Earlier in the trip, we stayed at the JW Marriott Hotel Lima and received two good-sized bottles of fancy local sea salt as a welcome gift.
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Junior Suite. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY
I would book the Classic king again for short stays, but for three or more nights, I’d likely spring for the Junior Suite. It was nice having a dining table and chairs as well as a full sofa. And, the bathroom — with a separate tub and shower — was a plus.
Dining at InterContinental Real Lima Miraflores by IHG
The Executive Club lounge on the 20th floor offered the best dining we experienced at the hotel.
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Executive Club. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY
Our Bilt Home Away From Home booking also included complimentary breakfast at The Market on the third floor. We chose the buffet, but you can also order from the a la carte menu. The fruit and array of fresh juices were especially good. The Market is also open for lunch and dinner.
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The Market offers breakfast as a buffet or a la carte. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY
I’m sorry to say that the one dinner we had at the hotel’s outdoor Circo was disappointing. The vibe was lovely with comfortable furniture, room between the tables and twinkling fairy lights, but the food was poorly prepared, especially a steak which was so overcooked they had to bring out a second one, and that was equally inedible. We probably should have stuck with a pizza from the brick oven, but the crust seemed too thick — akin to Boboli — for our liking.
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Octopus dish at Circo. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY
I’m hopeful Circo will improve over time (we visited just a few months after the hotel opened). But with so many incredible restaurants in Lima, I would not recommend booking dinner at this hotel. There are far better options just steps away.
Other dining options at the InterContinental include:
- Nau Nikkei Lounge, a restaurant on the rooftop that serves Nikkei cuisine, which is a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors (think sushi, tempura, lomo saltado and more).
- Factory Steak & Lobster on the first floor, serving high-end (pricey) steaks and seafood.
- Nina, located next door at the Hotel Indigo, serves traditional Peruvian dishes. The menu leans into comfort foods, such as papa rellena (potato stuffed with meat, Creole sauce and chili mayonnaise), ceviche and pastel de choclo (short rib with mushrooms, Cajamarca cheese and Peruvian corn cakes).
Amenities and things to do
When in Lima, the destination itself is the star, but the InterContinental Real Lima Miraflores offers some solid amenities for you to enjoy during your downtime. These include the following:
- A spacious fitness center kitted out with TechnoGym gear and weights
- The Presence Spa with one couples treatment room and three single rooms offering massages and facials; you’ll also find wet and dry saunas and a relaxation room
- A small but lovely rooftop infinity pool with a half-dozen loungers, two sunbeds and stunning beach and ocean views
- The Executive Club lounge on the 20th floor, serving breakfast and happy hour drinks and snacks for guests booked in Executive rooms and suites
- A business center
Insider tips
- Splurge for a room or suite on a higher floor. The sweeping ocean views from the floor-to-ceiling windows are worth the premium.
- Walk across the street to the Malecón about an hour before sunset for a fantastic photo opp.
- If you have Executive Club access, definitely ask for their assistance in planning your stay. All of the recommendations we received were on point for what was most important for our vacation.
- Visit the pool during early morning hours or at dinnertime and you’ll likely have it all to yourself.
Accessibility
InterContinental hotels and resorts do a good job of making their properties accessible and the InterContinental Real Lima Miraflores is no different. As you arrive at the hotel, there is a wide entrance with a ramp for those who need to avoid a step up. Wide entry doors are on either side of the central revolving door.
Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant elevators serve all hotel levels; there is ramp access to the rooftop pool; and the hotel has a wheelchair available for guests as needed.
There are a variety of ADA-compliant and wheelchair accessible guest rooms with features such as bathrooms with grab bars, tall toilet seats, showers with built-in transfer seats and accessible bathroom controls.
Checking out
If you’re the type who wants the air of familiarity around you — even while traveling — InterContinental Real Lima Miraflores is a good bet. It strikes a nice balance between delivering a product that largely meets your expectations of a high-end property while blending subtle traditional Peruvian flourishes into its interior design and restaurant menus.
Where the InterContinental shines is in the many ways you can book with loyalty points (IHG, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt, Chase Ultimate Rewards and more). And don’t forget about those extra credit card benefits — like complimentary space-available room upgrades, free breakfast and other perks — when you book via portals like American Express Fine Resorts + Hotels, Chase’s The Edit and Bilt’s Home Away From Home program.
However, if you normally gravitate toward boutique or art-centric properties, look in the nearby Barranco neighborhood. There, you’re closer to quiet tree-lined streets, cool shops and artists’ galleries, such as the excellent Museo Jade Rivera.
Looking for romantic sunset and ocean views with quick access to the Malecon boardwalk right outside your door? Then the InterContinental is a fantastic choice.
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