Hotel El Refugio d'Elise

Hotels
8.6 (152 reviews)
Putuco s/n (Carretera rural a Cabanaconde) , Chivay , pe

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Garden
Laundry
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Exceptional location by the river with mountain/canyon views
Multiple thermal pools and relaxing hot springs
Comfortable rooms and good bedding
Good value compared to similar lodges
Pleasant grounds and peaceful atmosphere
Nice breakfast and friendly/attentive staff (mostly)
Cons:
Inconsistent food quality; limited menu for some meals
Wi‑Fi often limited to main building
Occasional room issues: drafts, plumbing/odour, limited lighting, no TV
One report of closed thermal pool
Difficult access/steep approach and many stairs – not ideal for mobility issues
Isolated reports of unfriendly reception

Categories

Cleanliness
8.2
Generally described as clean and well-kept grounds and rooms, though several reviews mention limited room cleaning (only bathroom), occasional odors at room entrance and issues like leaks.
Service
8
Mostly praised for attentive staff and prevenance, with some guests noting friendly helpful service; isolated reports of unfriendly reception lower the score slightly.
Location
9.5
Consistently highlighted as a major strength: stunning riverside location, mountain and canyon views, very peaceful and close to the thermal pools.
Room Quality
8
Rooms often described as comfortable with good beds and heating; some negatives include drafts from gaps, limited lighting, no TV in some rooms and occasional plumbing issues.
Amenities
9
Strong amenities profile with multiple hot spring pools, games area, fireplace and on-site restaurant; some downsides like one closed pool in a report and Wi‑Fi limited to main building.
Value for Money
9
Multiple guests note very good value (cheaper than comparable lodges while offering similar facilities), making value a clear positive.
Food and Beverage
7.5
Mixed feedback: some rave about the restaurant and breakfast, others report poor meals, limited menu choices and variability in quality.
Overall Experience
9.6
Overall highly recommended by many guests for setting, hot springs and relaxing atmosphere; a few operational issues temper a perfect score but overall experience remains very positive.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-13 09:41

Property Description

Rustic Charm and Natural Beauty
Experience the tranquility of the Colca Valley at our rustic-style inn, boasting thermal baths with breathtaking views of the Colca river and surrounding mountains. Each room offers a serene escape with rustic walls, modern bathrooms, and a private balcony or terrace overlooking the valley.

Delicious Dining with a View
Indulge in a full American breakfast at our Restaurant, surrounded by panoramic windows showcasing the valley. Savor local specialties while enjoying the warmth of the central iron-cast fireplace, adding to the cozy ambiance.

Convenient Location
Located just 500 meters from Chivay’s bus station, El Refugio provides easy access to explore the wonders of the Colca Valley. Book your stay now and immerse yourself in nature's embrace.

Important information:

Based on local tax laws, Peruvian citizens (and foreigners staying more than 59 days in Peru) must pay an additional fee of 10%. To be exempt from this 18% additional fee (IVA), a copy of the immigration card and passport must be presented. Please note both documents are required for fee exemption

Foreign business travelers who require a printed invoice, will also be charged the additional 18% regardless of the length of their stay in Peru. This fee is not automatically calculated in the total costs for the reservation.

If foreign guests share a room with Peruvian guests, then the extra tax (IVA) must be paid.

Children up to 7 years old can stay for free with their parents as long as they use existing bedding, no extra bed or breakfast included. Children from 8 to 12 years old can stay with their parents using the existing beds and paying the child rate, which does not include an additional bed, if it includes breakfast. Children 13 years and older are considered adults.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

8.6
Based on 152 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.2
Service: 8
Location: 9.5
Room Quality: 8
Amenities: 9
Value for Money: 9
Food and Beverage: 7.5
Overall Experience: 9.6
V
vincent family_with_children fr
8
Très bel hotel, très bien situé.
Pros:

Très bel endroit, bel hôtel, personnel sympathique.

2026-08-14 via Nuitee
S
sanchez family_with_children pe
10
Calidez y calidad.
Pros:

La calidez del hotel y la calidad de sus alimentos. Espectacular !
También me gusto sus jabones de ducha. Lo cerca de la piscina termal y el paisaje !!
Las estrellas se ven nítidas !! Hermoso cielo !!

Cons:

Su piscina termal cerrada !!
Su shampoo !!
Su comida !!

2026-08-07 via Nuitee
M
Milady solo_traveller pe
10
Muy cómodas las habitaciones súper recomendado
Pros:

La vista excelente desayuno buena comida

Cons:

Me gustó todo

2026-07-25 via Nuitee
G
Gustavo family_with_children pe
9
Muy agradable.
Pros:

Bastante acogedor. Sin lujos pero bastante cómodo y limpio. Buena relación calidad precio.

Cons:

Todo bien

2026-07-24 via Nuitee
C
Claudia solo_traveller de
10
Pros:

Traumhafte Lage inmitten der Natur. Unbedingt zu empfehlen.

2026-07-21 via Nuitee
N
Nicolas family_with_children ch
9
Super cadre et piscine thermales
Pros:

Très joli hôtel en bordure du fleuve. La localisation est son point fort, au calme et il dispose de 3 bassins d’eau thermale chaude extérieurs et 1 un peu plus grand en semi intérieur.
Jolies chambres spacieuses, confortables, bonne literie (2 lits doubles). Chauffage d’appoint disponible en chambre (nous n’avons pas du tout eu froid)
Véhicule nécessaire
Restaurant sur place correct (prix raisonnables). ambiance le soir sympa avec une zone jeux de sociétés, billard et cheminée. Quelques canapés pour se reposer.
Bon petit dejeuner

Cons:

Bon Wifi mais par contre uniquement dans le bâtiment principal

2026-07-15 via Nuitee
A
anka05 solo_traveller de
8
Pros:

Thermalbecken
Aussicht von den oberen Zimmern
Bequeme Betten mit dicken Decken
Heizkörper beweglich
Essen im Restaurant

Cons:

Kein TV;
Internet nur in der Lobby;
Zimmerreinigung beschränkt auf Bad (Betten etc. nicht gemacht);
Toilette undicht, Zimmerwechsel angeboten;
Überall Schlitze (Fenster, Türen) lassen Kälte in die Zimmer;
Im Restaurant hätte man ruhig öfter nachfragen können, ob noch Wünsche offen sind bzw. noch etwas bestellt werden möchte;
Kicker und Billard im Restaurant stört die Ruhe beim Essen;
Kamin im Restaurant - Rauch zieht in alle Zimmer;
Zufahrt schwer zugänglich (zum Glück war es nicht glatt), Schotterparkplatz (Anfahrschwierigkeiten);

2026-07-15 via Nuitee
R
Rupert solo_traveller nl
9
Pros:

This place gives you a very local feeling, which is great, it's under marketed. Prices are cheaper (by 50%) to Colca lodge even though facilities are comparable to quite an extent.

Cons:

The menu can be expanded, had lunch and dinner and had to choose from the same list of 4 or 5 items. The hot spring enclosures are great but the water temperature were far below the states 35 degrees.

2026-07-13 via Nuitee
C
Carlos solo_traveller pe
9
Pros:

Beautiful

2026-07-12 via Nuitee
H
Herbinet solo_traveller fr
10
Pros:

La prévenance des membres de l'équipe, le lieu magnifique, l'apaisement des bains

Cons:

Idée d'amélioration des garçons : Une télé pour suivre les matchs pendant la coupe du monde ⚽

2026-07-11 via Nuitee
P
Paula couple br
9
Localização incrível!
Pros:

Local é incrível! Quarto muito confortável.

Cons:

Café da manhã poderia ser melhor.

2026-07-06 via Nuitee
D
Delgado solo_traveller pe
9
2026-07-06 via Nuitee
J
Jorge couple es
10
2026-07-05 via Nuitee
M
Mirjam family_with_children de
6
Gut und schlecht
Pros:

Die Wuellen

Cons:

Empfang sehr unfreundlich

2026-06-30 via Nuitee
J
Juan Carlos couple pe
8
2026-06-30 via Nuitee
C
contreras brito family_with_children pe
10
2026-06-27 via Nuitee
P
Pauline couple nl
9
Heerlijk verblijf om te ontspannen
Pros:

De ligging is prachtig, aan de rivier met mooi uitzicht op de bergen.
De kamer was prima en er zijn heerlijke hot spring baden.
Eten is uitstekend, zeer uitgebreid ontbijt.

Cons:

De accommodatie lag een stuk lager dan de weg dus naar boven lopen kost behoorlijk wat inspanning. Niet geschikt voor rolstoelgebruikers.
Niet op loopafstand van een dorp.

2026-06-24 via Nuitee
D
David couple fr
8
2026-06-24 via Nuitee
M
Manuel solo_traveller es
10
Pros:

Increible el lugar! 100% recomendable!

2026-06-22 via Nuitee
G
gökhan çay solo_traveller tr
7
2026-05-30 via Nuitee