Spending a few days in the ancient Inca city of Cusco, Peru is on most travelers’ bucket lists. Having a comfortable and restorative place to rest your head while there is nearly as important as choosing the right tour operator. We get it. That’s why we’ve pulled together this list of the best hotels in Cusco, ranging from luxury 5-star hotels to quaint boutiques and elevated hostels. You can rest easy knowing that the following six Cusco hotels have passed our test for quality and comfort, each a perfect complement to any once-in-a-lifetime visit to Cusco.
Luxury Hotels in Cusco, Peru
Belmond Monasterio
This well-known hotel in Cusco is the epitome of luxury. Occupying the 16th century Seminario de San Antonio Abad, the Belmond Monasterio is a masterpiece of landscaped courtyards, arcaded walkways, and walls dressed with religious artwork from the famous Cusco School. The rooms are equally extraordinary with handsome wood furnishings, 18th century artwork, and even a personal “Bath Butler” to draw you a bath in your suite at the end of the day. Its location is one of its best assets, situated in the quiet Plazoleta Nazarenas, just minutes from Cusco’s main attractions and finest eateries.
Hotel Libertador
For another luxury Cusco accommodation in a historic city landmark, consider the Hotel Libertador. Located just next to the Qoricancha Palace (Incan Sun Temple), this stunning hotel occupies the former home of Francisco Pizarro, the first Spanish governor of Peru, and sits upon the foundations of the Aclla Huasi, a place where the Inca’s chosen virgins once lived. Its every room is tastefully decorated with colonial art and furniture alongside modern comforts like LCD televisions, hi-speed wi-fi, and oxygenation systems to aid in your acclimatization to Cusco’s high altitude.
Boutique Hotels in Cusco, Peru
Tocuyeros
Don’t let this Cusco hotel’s understated entrance fool you. Behind its unassuming doors lay a boutique hotel brimming with class and charm. Tocuyeros is a two-floor, 9-suite hotel in the historic San Blas neighborhood of Cusco. Its quiet and cozy demeanor offers guests a welcome respite after a day of exploring the sites and scenes of Cusco. The on-site restaurant dishes up creative Fusion cuisine, pulling from classic Peruvian recipes and locally-sourced ingredients. It’s the sort of place that will have you feeling right at home instantly.
Palacio Manco Capac
If it’s sweeping city views that you’re after, then the Palacio Manco Capac is where to stay in Cusco. Nestled in the hills of Cusco, yet still just a 5-minute taxi ride from the Plaza de Armas, Palacio Manco Capac is a relaxing and refreshing escape from the crowds of Cusco’s city center. The 12-room boutique hotel occupies a former republican country mansion built in the 19th century while its grounds and gardens contain original Inca-built platforms and often grazing alpacas and llamas, the hotel’s pets. The rooms are elegant and tasteful with picturesque garden and city views to wake up to.
Budget Hotels in Cusco, Peru
Selina
This hostel is like no hostel you’ve ever seen. With private deluxe rooms and suites in addition to the more traditional dorm-style rooms, you’ll find Selina to be more than comfortable. Each room’s décor is inspired by the city’s Incan roots and many feature expansive views of the city through their windows. Its location just off the Plaza de Armas means that everything you could wish to visit in Cusco is within walking distance from Selina, from the San Pedro Market to the restaurants and boutique shops of Cusco’s San Blas neighborhood.
Cooper Hotel
Of the hotels in Cusco, Peru, the Cooper Hotel is a gem if not for its proximity to Cusco’s attractions than for its attractive aesthetic at a budget price. Its guest rooms include all of the amenities one could need to feel right at home, from a spacious bathroom with a rain showerhead to a 40” HDTV and a desk to map out the exciting travel itinerary your tour operator has in store for you. And we can’t forget to mention the incredible city and plaza views from every window.
Where to Stay in Cusco Solved!
So, what will be? The manicured gardens and bath butlers of the Belmond Cusco or something a little simpler like the Inca-inspired suites and dorms of Selina? Or perhaps you prefer one of Cusco’s boutique hotels. Will it be the hillside perched Palacio Manco Capac or the well-located and refined Tocuyeros Boutique Hotel in San Blas? There are so many options when it comes to choosing where to stay in Cusco. We hope this blog post has successfully helped you sift through the choices, whatever your travel budget may be.