Tag Archive: Cusco Hotels

February 22nd, 2013
post by Tom | | Closed

Marriot Cusco

The Marriot hotel is probably not the first on most people’s list of must-visit hotels, especially in Cusco, a city brimming with some of South America’s very best accommodations. I’m sure there are many people who love the Marriot chain, are part of the fan club and won’t hear a word against them, but from my experience the majority of people are looking for something locally run, with character and charm, that will give them a unique experience to remember forever. Marriot hotels don’t generally fit this description, at least not from my experience. But the new Marriot in Cusco may force me to rethink my opinion on this juggernaut, as it is a hotel that is filled with character and charm, and certainly a place where you can have a very memorable stay.

An image I had of Marriot hotels was of white, clean surfaces and sparse, modern rooms. All very generic, quite sterile and reminiscent in many ways of a hospital. I’m sure that is a very unfair description, and there are probably thousands of exceptional Marriott’s out there, but it’s just the idea I had. No rationale behind it. But upon entering the Marriot in Cusco I had all my misconceived stereotypes blown away as here is a hotel that can rank alongside Monasterio and La Casona as Cusco’s very best. Once a colonial monastery, the hotel has been painstakingly converted over a six year period, with the construction team constantly being delayed by the discovery of yet another Incan wall or relic. But this has turned into a positive as a sense of history is etched into the very building with the hotel constructed to resemble a colonial mansion, with a large courtyard and its 153 rooms around the edges. Those of you who have seen the nearby Monasterio hotel you will have a pretty good idea of the look of the Marriot, as the artwork that adorns most of the walls, the dark corridors, high ceilings, and lush colors are all reminiscent of its more famous rival. There is a real sense of grandeur and opulence and it is a hotel that could only be described as luxurious. Contrary to my ideas of Marriot hotels, this is a unique place that will really stay in the memory and there is nothing generic about it.

The hotel has used the ancient construction to its advantage and rooms all have different selling points, some backing on to old Inca walls, some with views over the courtyard, etc. The majority of rooms are different in size and shape as the construction team was restricted and had to build around the old monastery or incorporate the walls into its construction. Consequently they have a one-of-a-kind feel, with lots of special little touches, as well as being spacious, extremely comfortable and attractively decorated. The suite, which is more akin to a one bedroom apartment, is particularly sumptuous! And Marriot have not left any of the history slip away, as the hotel is equipped with two exhibition rooms housing artifacts and examples of Incan and Pre-Inca walls. One of the rooms in particular houses a huge ruin which is quite something to look at and makes a nice 10 minute detour on the way to dinner! And naturally the hotel has a spa to rival any other, with a delicious heated bathing pool, jacuzzi, massage rooms, and all the other things needed to pamper yourself. All very relaxing.

The name may put some people off, and I can understand that, but if you can’t get a room in Monasterio, Casa Cartagena, or La Casona, the Marriot is well worth considering. Don’t just dismiss it out of hand, as although most people look for smaller, charming, and unique places, this Marriot really does feel like that. It is beautifully decorated, with gorgeous rooms and all the fabulous services you would expect from a large international 5 star chain. Just forget the name and enjoy it!

Cusco, Hotel Reviews, Luxury Hotels, Uncategorized , ,
January 18th, 2013
post by franklin | | Closed

Peru’s Casa Andina Hotels

Peru is famous for its hotels, and the reputation for having South America’s best hotels is growing with each new property that opens. And it is not just the new properties, but also the existing ones, who are increasingly looking to improve their place in any way they can, be that in terms of the building and rooms, or the staff and more intangible things such as overall atmosphere. Key to Peru’s emergence as a hotel power over recent years is the Casa Andina chain, which is ever present throughout the country and offers excellent hotels in every location you can think of.

Unusually in the world of chain hotels, Casa Andina is Peruvian owned and operated meaning you get the quality and expertise of a big company as well as a distinct local flavor. It is a relatively new company and was started in 2003 without a single hotel in place. This soon began to change though, and after the first property was opened in Miraflores, Lima, the group began to explode, opening an average of 3.5 hotels annually. There are currently 20 hotels all over Peru, and you can’t really go anywhere without there being at least one Casa Andina option available. Cusco alone has 5! But this is not some horrible multinational in the style of Starbucks looking to take over the world one coffee shop at a time, and instead Casa Andina aims to create a fantastic experience for travelers and as they are Peruvian owned they have a particular focus on showing new visitors the best of this great country.

There are three separate brands in the hotel’s group, Classic, Select, and Private Collection. The Select is the newest option, currently with only a couple of properties, and is marketed as a business hotel aimed at the corporate traveler. This may not be exactly what you are looking for but the Classic brand is probably more what the typical traveler is after. Defined as comfortable hotels in central locations, these are some of the best 3 or 4 star options around, offering fantastic, no frills places to stay. But if luxury is your bag, then the Private Collection hotels are perfect for you. These are just that bit more luxurious than their Classic cousins and offer really spectacular hotels in fabulous locations. Everything at these places is first class and you will be endlessly impressed by all you see!

During my time here in Peru I have stayed at a number of these hotels and have always been impressed by the style, management, and overall service given. As I am based in Cusco the hotels in and around the city have been my stomping ground and the Classics and Private Collections in Cusco and the Sacred Valley are truly fantastic. A particular favorite of mine, and anyone else who stays there, is the Casa Andina Private Collection in the Sacred Valley. It is hard to come up with a bad hotel in this area, simply because the Valley is so beautiful, but Casa Andina has certainly made the most of its surroundings. The rooms are fully equipped and stylish, set out like individual chalets or lodges, and the whole place is immediately inviting. It is a great example of a Casa Andina hotel and is probably the very best the chain has to offer. The restaurant is also great!

Casa Andina is something of a paradox; a chain hotel which is locally owned and operated. Consequently they offer unique properties, with local touches and knowledge, while at the same time delivering a first class and efficient service. They are much more than a traditional chain hotel, and rather than getting generic rooms and terrible service, at any one of the Casa Andina properties you will get an authentic and memorable experience.

Luxury Hotels, Uncategorized , ,
December 18th, 2012
post by Kuoda Travel | | 1

Cusco- The Imperial City

Cusco is one of South America’s most interesting cities, and probably the most exciting and vibrant place you will ever visit. Most people come to the city just as a way to get to Machu Picchu and only spend a few fleeting days here, but if you have time it really warrants an extended stay. You can only truly get to know a city by spending time there, and there is no city in the world that you will want to get to know more than Cusco!

Cusco is steeped in history and you can almost feel it as you wander the old colonial streets. The city was once the center of the powerful Incan empire who ruled a large part of South America before being displaced by the invading Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century. It was an extremely important and sacred place, and although it fell on hard times after the Spanish conquest, with the discovery of Machu Picchu at the beginning of the 20th Century it started to enjoy a renaissance. Slowly people began to see the potential for growth and ever since then crowds have been flocking to Cusco each year in their thousands as a way to see Machu Picchu. But Cusco is fascinating in its own right and is so much more than just a stepping stone to Machu Picchu. The history of the place is present in the fantastic sites that are dotted throughout the city, which mix the Incan culture and beliefs with the invading Spanish culture which ultimately prevailed. It is a city with a fascinating mixed identity and the locals have certainly not forgotten their Incan past and the city is in fact incredibly proud of what was here before the Spaniards arrived. A notable example is the temple of Koricancha which was once a sacred Incan site and today is one of the city’s best museums, as well as the architectural sites that sit above the city. But as is the case in most conquered cities the victors ultimately put their stamp on the place, and whatever the politics of the situation, the Spanish undoubtedly contributed to making Cusco incredibly beautiful. Their presence is felt in the vibrant religious and cultural history that the city has and the lovely Spanish-style colonial architecture and innumerable delightful churches and convents are testament to this. There is so much to explore and the churches around the Plaza de Armas are a particular highlight, with the Cathedral being the most striking. The museums that are all over the city give more details of this mixture of cultures that have made Cusco such a unique, interesting place to visit, and you could probably spend weeks here and never get bored!

Aside from the obvious attractions, Cusco is also an incredibly compact and open city making it perfect for walking. Strolling from one museum, church, or other site to the next is one of the pleasures of the city and there is no better way to get a sense of the place than exploring its streets. Here you will find all the hustle and bustle of a South American town, with noise, color, and all manner of stalls and street food to confuse your senses! It can be chaotic and overwhelming, but wandering the cramped, narrow colonial streets whilst you take in the life of the city is one of the best experiences you can have here. Sometimes it is nice to get away from the museums and churches and just set off on a walk with no set route. You never know what you might encounter but it is sure to be special, and will no doubt add to your enjoyment of this great city.

And it is not all history, museums, and colonial architecture, as Cusco is blessed with some of Peru’s finest restaurants. You will probably have heard about the growing phenomenon of Peruvian cuisine and although Lima is recognized as the country’s mecca for foodies, Cusco is not far behind. With Gaston Acurio’s Chicha leading the way, the excellent eateries in Cusco have created exceptional modern twists on Peruvian classics, using local ingredients and techniques. They are really putting the cuisine on the map and ensuring that more and more people are coming to Cusco as much for the food as anything else. The city also has some of the finest hotels in the country, and unique places like Hotel Monasterio and La Casona are consistently voted among the best places to stay in the whole of South America. Its world renowned hotels and restaurants place Cusco firmly at the vanguard and mean that the city strikes the perfect balance between history, museums, culture, on the one hand, and the ambience of a thriving modern city on the other.

There is really nowhere like Cusco, and it is the place to come if you want history, culture, and a bit of fun! As a small, compact city it really lends itself to walking and the only way to see it and soak up the atmosphere is to put your trainers on and go exploring. It is replete with great museums, churches, history, as well as fantastic restaurants, cafes and hotels, and is one of South America’s great cities. If possible add an extra day just so you can have more time here, and who knows you may be so captivated that you never go back home!

Cusco, People and Culture , , , ,
October 30th, 2012
post by Kuoda Travel | | Closed

Palacio Nazarenas- Cusco’s latest luxury hotel!

We were recently given the chance to visit the newest luxury hotel in Cusco, and we might need to update our top 5 hotels list from last week! Although Cusco has its fair share of top quality places, you can never have too much of a good thing, and the hotel Palacio Nazarenas is the latest stunning property to open its doors.

Opened in June 2012, Palacio Nazarenas is the newest addition to the Orient Express collection, and is right beside Hotel Monasterio, the chain’s other 5 star offering in Cusco. Nazarenas was initially planned as merely an extension of Monasterio, in order to make the popular hotel bigger and increase capacity, but this idea was quickly shelved as the Nazarenas project began to take on its own identity. Although they are side by side, and run by the same company, the two hotels are very different in style, something that becomes immediately apparent on entering. Monasterio uses its setting in an old monastery (hence the name!) to great effect, and the building is extremely grand, full of ornate pillars, walls and hundreds of fabulous, original paintings. The hotel really plays on its history, and the beauty of the building itself is one of the major selling points. Nazarenas however has gone for a much cleaner, contemporary style, with less pomp, gold, and old paintings, and more understated class. It is a beautiful place to explore with all manner of ancient passageways leading you somewhere new and exciting, and it is sometimes a struggle to not get lost! But this is all part of the charm, and it is wonderful to be able to wander round an old 18th century convent and soak up the atmosphere.

It is obvious that the team behind Nazarenas have worked hard on the style and aesthetic appeal of the hotel, and this extends into the 55 rooms that make up the accommodation. Every one of the rooms is a suite (no standard rooms here!) with even the bottom range option offering real luxury to the guest. They are individual in terms of layout, and have special features unique to each room, such as views over the patio, private access via an old Incan passageway etc. In terms of detail the rooms are spectacular, with the clean, simple style mentioned above making for a very bright, welcoming experience. They are all equipped with everything you could possibly want, from silk robes, slippers, and daily newspapers; to a fully stocked, and included in the price, mini-bar, iPads, and an oxygen supply should you struggle with the altitude. And the lavish bathrooms complete with walk-in showers, bathtubs, and heated floors are worth a special mention!

Hospitality is also a big thing at Nazarenas, and you are really taken care of from the minute you check in, with your own personal butler on hand 24-hours a day. Each room is assigned its own butler who will take care of all your needs and ensure that everything is in order and you have all you need to make your stay extra special. As I said, real luxury!

And the food on offer really keeps the luxury count high, as breakfast, lunch, and dinner will each be an experience you won’t forget. The Senzo restaurant is the jewel in the crown offering fantastic Peruvian cuisine with a modern twist for lunch and dinner. Under the guidance of renowned chef Virgilio Martinez the restaurant has made it its mission to use fresh local ingredients, with a focus on seasonality, providing a real showcase to the fantastic, varied produce to be found around Cusco. The highlight is the 5 course tasting menu, giving you the chance to sample all the stars of Peruvian food. Breakfast and lunch are also spectacular, with fruit and salad carts (modeled after similar carts that can be seen in the streets of Cusco), giving diners the chance to customize and take exactly what they want.

Oh and something else the hotel has that really sets it apart from comparable options in the city is its swimming pool! A heated outdoor swimming pool is a real rarity here in Cusco, and after a long day sightseeing and exploring the city, what can be better than a relaxing swim under the stars!

Palacio Nazarenas is just the latest in a long line of incredible 5 star hotels to open in Cusco, but it really has something special about it. The beautiful rooms and personalized butler service, coupled with the classy and clean décor offers the guest something a little bit different, and ensures a truly memorable stay.

Cusco, Luxury Hotels , ,
October 23rd, 2012
post by Kuoda Travel | | Closed

Peru’s Top 5 Hotels!

Today, I thought I’d give you our tips for some of the best hotels in Peru. Although there are hundreds of fantastic hotels to enjoy I have decided to limit myself to just 5 choices, so these are really the cream of the crop! Here goes:

La Casona, Cusco

In a previous blog entry we wrote about the fabulous La Casona in Cusco, and such is the beauty of the place that it merits another mention. The first thing to say about this property is that it is on the small side, with only 11 suites! Although this means it can be tricky to book, and you are always lucky to get a space, it also ensures an incredibly personal level of service, with each member of staff knowing you by name. The staff are always on hand to cater to your every need, and you get the kind of personalized treatment you just wouldn’t receive in one of the larger hotels. But this is not the only plus point, as La Casona offers you the height of luxury in any one of its opulent suites, with fantastic beds, baths, showers and basically anything you can think of. The food is also spectacular and the buffet breakfast they offer is a real favorite. They’ve got it all covered!

Hotel Titilaka, Puno

Puno, the city on the shores of Lake Titicaca, does not have as many stand out accommodations when compared with other parts of Peru, but the city can boast one of the very best hotels in the country. Situated about 45 minutes from the city itself, Hotel Titilaka benefits from being a secluded retreat, where you have the chance to get away from it all and experience firsthand the sheer beauty of the lake. It goes without saying that the rooms are of the highest order, all with great views over the lake and surrounding area, and the food is top draw (included in the price, and giving you the chance to enjoy local dishes prepared with fresh local produce), but the real highlight of this hotel is the activities on offer. Depending on the package you go for when booking, you will be treated to a full or half program of activities, including trips to the nearby islands, bike riding, kayaking and all manner of wonderful opportunities to get out and see the surroundings.

Sol y Luna, Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley has its fair share of stunning hotels, but Sol y Luna really stands out as one of the best options. With a swimming pool and spa facilities in addition to top notch rooms, it has everything you could possibly need for a memorable stay in the Valley. It is set in incredibly idyllic grounds, giving fantastic views and allowing you to really make the most of this beautiful part of Peru. There is also a great restaurant and activities such as horseback riding and mountain biking on offer, so you can get out and explore countryside around the hotel. It is a place that warrants more than just one night and I would certainly recommend at least two nights, possibly even three if time allows, just to get the most out of it. If you only have one night you won’t want to leave, and will wish you had gone for the extra time!

Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Machu Picchu

Although the most famous hotel near Machu Picchu is Sanctuary Lodge, (as it is the only one situated right by the ruins themselves), if I had to choose just one place to stay it would definitely be Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Set in beautiful grounds that resemble a rainforest, the hotel’s individual cabins are its real selling point, providing secluded privacy away from the garish bustle of Aguas Calientes (the somewhat tacky town situated below Machu Picchu). There are activities available to keep you busy and entertained, and when you couple that with the stunning setting, this hotel really merits at least two nights. It also has the added bonus of being considerably cheaper than Sanctuary Lodge! But you don’t lose anything in terms of quality or overall experience, and it is a wonderful place to have as your base to see Machu Picchu.

Reserva Amazonica, Tambopata jungle

On the luxury end of jungle lodges we have the 5-star Reserva Amazonica. As with most places in Peru, the jungle region has endless great options to choose from, but Reserva Amazonica really stands alone in terms of quality. It is set up like a lodge with individual cabins serving as the rooms, beautiful paths and grounds linking each one, making a lovely place to wake up in the morning. The food is of the highest order, including some fantastic regional specialties that you won’t have tried, but as with Hotel Titilaka the biggest draw here is the activities on offer. There is everything from canopy walks and canoeing on Sandoval Lake, to guided night walking and full day excursions into the rainforest, and the biggest plus point is that it works on an a la carte basis. Whereas the majority of lodges in the region offer fixed daily itineraries of activities, Reserva Amazonica gives you the chance to pick exactly what you want to do, like you would from a menu in a restaurant. So you are not tied to a fixed plan and are free to choose whatever you feel like doing! It is slightly strange to find such a luxurious place in the middle of the jungle, but there is no better to way to see this enchanting part of Peru!

So come and stay in some of these great hotels, and make the most of your time in Peru in real luxury! In two previous posts you will find some fantastic photos of both La Casona and Sol y Luna, so check them out as well.

Till next time!

Hotel Reviews, Luxury Hotels, Travel , , ,
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