Beyond Machu Picchu: How a Boutique Operator is Betting on 'Geographic Opulence' in Peru

Andean is innovating in South America, breaking away from the traditional luxury circuit and bucket list destinations, while feeling hand crafted and soulful.

While many travelers still chase Peru's iconic Machu Picchu circuit, a new breed of operator is betting on what hospitality visionary James McBride called "geographic opulence" – letting Peru's dramatic, untouched landscapes do the heavy lifting.

One of those operators, Andean, recently opened its most secluded property, Tinajani, a "tented hamlet in the valley of giants" where guests sleep in canvas accommodations overlooking a stark and beautiful landscape at 4,000 meters above sea level in Peru's remote Tinajani Canyon. The property spans 300 untouched acres of a former sheep farm, featuring six camps designed for what the company calls "silence-seeking adventurers."

"We don't build anything from scratch," explains Andean founder Ignacio Masias. "I go to a place and sense a special mood, something special, a special feeling in the place. Then we come up with a character and a story behind this place, and then we rebuild it to make it happen."

This philosophy represents a shift in how luxury brands are approaching Peru, and it's started paying dividends with sophisticated travelers who have been expeditionary in mindset