peru-8-cuzco-sacred-valley

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4 Sleeping
Cuzco has hundreds of hotels of all types,
and just about the only thing they have in
common is that they charge some of the
highest room rates in Peru. Cuzco fills to
bursting between June and August, especially
during the 10 days before Inti Raymi
on June 24 and during Fiestas Patrias (Independence
Days) on July 28 and 29. Book in
advance for these dates.
Prices are market driven and vary dramatically
according to the season and
demand. Rates quoted here are for high
season.
Though the Plaza de Armas is the most
central area, you won’t find any bargains
there, and accommodations along Av El Sol
tend to be bland, expensive and set up for
tour groups. As Cuzco is such a compact
city, it’s just as convenient to stay in another
neighborhood nearby. Hilly San Blas has the
best views and is deservedly popular. There
are also many options west of the Plaza de
Armas around Plaza Regocijo, in the commercial
area towards the Mercado Central,
and downhill from the center in the streets
northeast of Av El Sol.
Cuzco & the Sacred Valley Sleeping Cuzco
Many of Cuzco’s guesthouses and hotels
are located in charming colonial buildings
with interior courtyards, which can echo
resoundingly with noise from other guests
or the street outside. Many places that offer
breakfast start serving as early as 5am to accommodate
Inca Trail trekkers and Machu
Picchu day-trippers. For this reason, early
check-ins and check-outs are the rule.
With advance notice, most midrange
and top-end places will pick you up for free
at the airport, the train station or the bus
terminal.
Inquire about hot water for showers
before committing yourself to a hotel. It’s
often sporadic, even in midrange accommodations,
and there’s nothing worse after
a multiday trek than a lukewarm shower! In
some hotels the hot water is more reliable
on some floors than others. It helps to avoid
showering at peak times of day, and it’s always
worth telling reception if you’re having
trouble – they may simply need to flick a
switch or hook up a new gas canister.
All places listed claim to offer 24-hour
hot-water showers, and unless otherwise
noted, midrange and above places include
cable TV and internet access. The top hotels
all feature rooms with heating and telephone;
exceptions are noted in the review.
All top-end and some midrange hotels have
oxygen tanks available, at a price, for altitude
sufferers.
Cuzco’s swanky top-end hotels are usually
booked solid during high season. Reserving
through a travel agency or via the hotel’s
website may result in better rates.
CENTRAL CUZCO
Many of the side streets that climb northwest
away from the Plaza towards Sacsaywamán
(especially Tigre, Tecsecocha, Suecia,
Kiskapata, Resbalosa and 7 Culebras) are
bursting with cheap crash pads. High-end
hotels on the plaza are often overpriced.
oEcopackers HOSTEL $
(Map p198; %23-1800; www.ecopackersperu.com;
Santa Teresa 375; dm S25-41, d/ste S120/135; iW)
Thought has been put into this big backpacker
haven that’s a stone’s throw from
Plaza Regocijo. One of the all-inclusives
(with bar, pool room and sunbathing), it ups
the ante by being clean, friendly and serviceminded.
There’s lovely wicker lounges in
the courtyard and the sturdy beds are extralong.
There’s also 24-hour security.
oInkaterra La Casona BOUTIQUE HOTel$$$
(Map p198; %23-5873; www.lacasona.info; Atocsaycuchi
616; suites incl breakfast from US$410; iW)
Hitting the perfect balance of cozy and high
style, this renovated grand colonial in tiny
Plazoleta Nazarenas is simply debonair. Rustic
meets majestic with original features like
oversized carved doors, rough-hewn beams
and stone fireplaces are enhanced with radiant
floors, glittering candelabras, plush divans
and gorgeous Andean textiles.
Even though the telly is tucked away, tech
isn’t far with laptop loans and iPod docks.
Service is impeccable and highly personal.
Niños Hotel HOTEL $$
(%23-1424, 25-4611; www.ninoshotel.com; Meloc
442; s/d without bathroom US$25/50, d/tr with
bathroom US$55/79; iW) Long beloved and
highly recommended, these hotels are run
by a Dutch-founded nonprofit foundation
that serves underprivileged children in
Cuzco. Both are in rambling colonials with
sunny courtyards. Refurbished rooms are
bordered with bright trim and feature plaid
throws and portable heaters. In the coldest
months there’s hot water bottles to tuck in
bed.
The public cafeteria features homemade
cakes and breads as well as box lunches.