The Cusco Peru hotels probably do the best business in the country, mostly because the city is the main stop for trips to Machu Picchu. That isn’t all, though. Cusco was once the center of the great Inca civilization, and old Inca walls can still be found in the city, some serving as bases for secondary Spanish structures. There is a great colonial feel to the city, as attested to by any pictures of Cusco, and seeing the native people about town gives you the feeling that you are truly not in Kansas anymore. Cusco is also the point from which people usually embark on expeditions into the Sacred Valley, and with cities like Arequipa and Puno relatively close by, you can understand why it is a haven, or mecca of sorts, for visitors to Peru. It is a good idea to make Cusco hotel reservations in advance during the high season, which is generally June-August. Thanks to the internet, you can make Cusco hotel reservations before you even leave your house. If the following recommendations for Cusco Peru hotels are a bit out of your budget, there are plenty of Cusco hostels available.

Even if you did not make Cusco hotel reservations in advance, the huge selection of Cusco Peru hotels means that you can pretty much show up here and find agreeable lodging. Though a good number of Cuzco hotels are centrally located, you might opt to stay a bit outside of the city center, where you will find the exceptional Torre Dorada hotel. If you need to get downtown, which is just 5 minutes away, the hotel will take you back and forth, and it is hard to top the hotel’s boutique character. The Torre Dorada might just have the friendliest staff around, which goes a long way in making your Cusco experience as good as it can be. The rooms here are nice and clean, and though simple, they are great for the price. The Torre Dorada has laundry service and airport pickup, and the TV lounge is nice for just hanging out. Besides the incomparable staff, the included breakfast buffet may just be the best thing here. Simply put, if you choose to stay at the Torre Dorada, you will almost surely love it. If you don’t, you will be part of a very, very small minority.

If you are looking for a great room at a great price when searching the options for Cuzco hotels, you can feel extra good about staying at the Niños Hotel. The name of the hotel translates to “Children’s Hotel”, and the Dutch owner devotes all profits to her efforts to help disadvantaged local kids. This is surely a place where you will want to make your Cusco hotel reservations in advance, as it can sometimes be booked for months. The location of the Niños Hotel is excellent, as it is close to the Plaza de Armas, and your rates include a very good continental breakfast. There are about 20 units here, some with bathrooms and others with shared bathrooms, and the rooms are large and more than suitable for the low price. Supposedly, the hotel has expanded recently as well. The inexpensive laundry service should prove helpful, and seeing the school children about the establishment makes the experience all the more authentic. If you want to help the cause at the “Children’s Hotel”, you can always pack school supplies, tooth brushes and anything else you want to give.

Peru Map

Many people who are familiar with Cusco and the Cusco hotels would recommend that you stay in the neighborhood of San Blas, where some of the neatest artisan shops are found. You can even have some of these skilled craftspeople custom make goods for you. San Blas also boasts some pretty funky cafes and galleries. A wonderful hotel that features a great staff, the Casa San Blas boutique hotel is ideally located, and its terrace offers great views of the city. The Casa San Blas has computers with internet access that you can use, and the 24-hour room service doesn’t hurt matters. Laundry service and an on-site restaurant help to make your stay enjoyable, and if you pay a little extra on top of the really good rates, then you can stay in a two-level suite with a kitchenette and views that are worth every penny. Breakfast is included with the price of your room.

If you are looking for the finest in Cuzco hotels, look no further than the Hotel Monasterio, which is housed in the San Antonio Abad monastery. Built in 1532, the property became a hotel in 1995, and it maintains plenty of its Old World charm. The Hotel Monasterio features elegant and luxurious rooms, all of which exude modern styles while not compromising the colonial integrity of the complex. Because the hotel was once a monastery, the rooms here vary in size and shape, but all are deluxe and unique. If you are heading off to Machu Picchu, you will likely run into other travelers headed that way in the morning, as you enjoy a lovely breakfast. Come dinner, you might choose to eat at the hotel restaurant, Illary, which is arguably the best restaurant in the city. Simply walking the courtyards at the Hotel Monasterio is practically worth the price of admission, and should you be feeling the effects of the altitude on your mind and body, you can pay a bit extra to have oxygen pumped into your room. This hotel is found on the list of Leading Small Hotels of the World, and there is little doubt as to why. According to some, it is the best hotel in all of Peru.