There’s a certain comfort in staying with a well-known brand in a new city. Especially one that’s 11,000 ft above sea level. Palacio Del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel, is set in a picturesque square, five minutes from the main plaza in Cusco.
The Hotel
A 500-year-old hacienda that was once part of the Incan Temple of the Sun, this 203-bedroom hotel has a historic structure and modern offering. Step through the XXL lapis wooden entrance doors and enter the PDI world. At 203 rooms, it’s not small, but as the hotel is laid out in a square, it still feels quite quaint.
The Vibe
This is one slick operation. Front door staff are on high alert, looking out for guests who are trying to quickly get out of taxis (that can’t stop for long in the square), ready to whisk their bags away and get them settled. The main bar is buzzing and there’s an atmospheric courtyard with evening firepits. There’s an energetic spirit here, but a sense of calm as well. Outside the walls it’s busy; inside feels like a luxe sanctuary.
The Rooms
Whether you have a suite or a classic room, all rooms come with Frette sheets, Byredo products, marble bathrooms, antiques, artwork, hand painted ceilings, and ornate touches. Some have French doors that open up to views of the old town and the Andes. Modern conveniences like USB sockets and professional-level in-room espresso machines make it easy to get comfortable.
Restaurants/Bars
The breakfast here includes local things like quinoa soup, beans ‘punch’, Andean potatoes, and a selection of different flours (maca, canihua), as well as healthy options like detox juice and granola and traditional a la carte options, all accompanied by a live harp and enjoyed with views overlooking the courtyard.
The dining room adds white tablecloths and low lighting in the evenings, and their international menu has everything from local ceviches to pizzas and pastas. You can also dine in the candlelit courtyard, and the vibrant Rumi Bar is a great place to start the evening, with a circular illuminated bar and an original Inca wall backdrop. There’s a wine cave, and wine and cheese nights, too.
Wellbeing
There’s a gym, and the marble-clad Andes Spirit Spa has a thermal circuit with hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, aromatherapy shower and hot-stone lounge chair relaxation room. It’s also open until 10PM, and as you have to book a session, it’s never crowded. You can book spa treatments from their menu, too.
Highlights
The staff. As you likely know, many people are affected by the altitude in Cusco, and the team here are ready to help you with cocoa/Andean mint tea, oximeters to test oxygen levels, and oxygen (and even a doctor) if needed. This hotel is part of a big hotel group, so you can also do things like change (or break) money easily, too.
Anything Else
They have a few shops with local products – useful if your bag doesn’t arrive. They also offer a hotel tour that includes learning about the 195 pieces of Colonial era artwork on the premises, and do ask the concierge about neighbouring historic things that are not to be missed; they are very well-versed.
