Peru’s Andes are no stranger to dramatic landscapes, but few are as raw and otherworldly as Tinajani Canyon. Here, at 14,600 feet above sea level, a new luxury safari-style camp has opened its canvas doors: Tinajani by Andean, a boutique retreat designed for travelers who want more than Machu Picchu. With hot tubs, locally inspired dining, and guided hikes across red-rock formations steeped in history, Tinajani is one of the most ambitious hospitality projects in the southern Andes — and one of its most rewarding.
A landscape that feels like another planet
Getting here is part of the adventure. Guests usually fly into Juliaca Airport or connect from Andean’s sister properties, like Titilaka on Lake Titicaca or Puqio in the Colca Valley, before driving across sweeping mountain plains. Along the way you’ll pass villages where llamas graze and farmers tend their fields, with jagged peaks forming the horizon. Suddenly, the canyon appears: a stretch of red sandstone cliffs carved into human-like shapes, hiding Inca and pre-Inca tombs within their walls.
The property sits on a 200-hectare reserve, anchored by a 19th-century farmhouse that has been lovingly restored. Photographs of the family who lived here for generations line the walls, a reminder that this land has always been a lived-in, storied place.
Luxury tents with Andean soul
Tinajani’s capacity is capped at just 12 guests, creating an intimate atmosphere. Each stay comes with two adjoining tents: one for sleeping, one for lounging. Inside, thoughtful touches make the high-altitude nights cozy — alpaca wool blankets, handwoven socks, cocoa lip balm, and even Agua de Florida to ease altitude headaches. Bathrooms have walk-in showers powered by solar energy, and private decks come with hot tubs overlooking the canyon. In the mornings, fresh coffee is delivered to your bed just as the first rays of sun light up the cliffs.
Food rooted in altitude and tradition
Meals are designed with the altitude in mind: light, nourishing, and made from ingredients native to the Andes. Expect trout ceviche, earthy potatoes grown in nearby fields, aguaymanto (goldenberries), and pink salt harvested from Peruvian mines. Guests dine communally at a long wooden table or head out for surprise picnics — a breakfast spread on a canyon rim, tea among giant cactus plants, or a rustic lunch beside a hidden waterfall. Don’t miss muña tea, a mint-like herbal infusion that both comforts and soothes altitude sickness.
Guided by the land and its people
As with Andean’s other properties, community involvement is central to the Tinajani experience. Local guides lead treks through the canyon, sharing knowledge passed down from generations of herders. Excursions to villages introduce guests to master weavers and ceramists, while visits to nearby Pucara reveal the symbolism of its famous ceramic bulls. On one sunrise hike, guides point out ancient tombs hidden in the rocks — a reminder that this land has been sacred for centuries.
Why book Tinajani
Tinajani isn’t just another stop on a Peruvian itinerary. It’s a retreat that blends luxury with raw wilderness, offering access to landscapes and stories few travelers ever see. For those planning a road trip across southern Peru — connecting Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and the Colca Valley — Tinajani is the missing link, a place to rest, reflect, and reconnect.
High-altitude travel comes with its challenges, but the reward is unparalleled: sipping pisco cocktails in a hot tub while the canyon glows red at sunset, knowing you are among the first to experience one of Peru’s most extraordinary new escapes.
