Festival of the Sun
Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru[0.3 miles]
Colourful parades and ancient Inca ceremonies are re-enacted at this world-famous winter solstice festival.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 5 hours
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Hotel Monasterio
Last updated: 09 November, 2022
This sprawling 16th Century monastery, built on the foundations of an Inca palace, now serves as one of Cusco’s most resplendent hotels.
Four cloisters (now housing guest rooms) surround picturesque arched courtyards, one of which contains a 400-year-old cedar.
Rooms are furnished with heavy dark-wood, colonial-era beds and wardrobes, and the whole hotel is adorned with priceless art – gilt rococo finials rescued from Spanish-colonial churches and exquisite Spanish-indigenous paintings from the Cusco school.
The hotel’s restaurant – sitting under a colonnade of arches – is one of the city’s best; white-tie waiters pour Pisco sours in the low-lit bar hung with huge mirrors, and there are dreamy views out over the terracotta roofs and bell towers of Cucsco at every turn.
The hotel is located in Cusco’s historic centre, close to the cathedral, Qorikancha and the key sights. Although the entire complex lies just a few blocks away from Cusco’s busy main square, it feels remarkably meditative and restful.
Surrounding area
The hotel is located in Cusco’s historic centre, which is cluttered with vintage structures dating back to Inca times. Ancient cobbled streets connect the hotel to the main square, two blocks away. From here, most of Cuzco’s principal historic sites are an easy stroll away, including the cathedral and Qorikancha, the old Inca sun temple.
The Plaza de Armas is two blocks away – along streets lined with Inca masonry. The best restaurants, bars and shops in the city are a stroll away.
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Key facilities
Airport transfers: Not available
Beach: None
Creche
Fitness centre
Fitness classes
Golf course
Hot tub
Parking: Not available
Pool (adults only)
Pool (indoor)
Pool (outdoor)
Pool (kids)
Spa
Tennis courts
WiFi: Free
Yoga
Food & drink
All inclusive
Kids menu
Restaurant on-site
Self catering
*
Additional chargeRoom types
Apartments
Bedrooms
Cabins
Suites
Tents
Villas
Yurts
Room facilities
Air conditioning
Flat screen TV
Jacuzzi (private)
Pool (private)
Tea & coffee making facilities
WiFi
Bedding options
2+ bedrooms
3+ beds
Connecting rooms
Rollaway/sofa bed
Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Qorikancha
Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru[0.5 miles]
The Inca empire’s most elaborate sun temple, covered in gold and silver, is now a colonial church housing stunning Inca stonework.
Best for ages: 18+ | £2
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Sacsayhuaman
Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru[0.8 miles]
A vast, fortified Inca sun temple that perches over Cusco, housing boulders and masonry astonishingly jigsaw-pieced together, without cement or metal tools.
Best for ages: 18+ | £24
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A day in Cusco
Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru[1.5 miles]
The heart of the old Inca empire has a wealth of Inca ruins, Spanish treasures and historic architecture to explore.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 1 day
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Overview >Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Experience
Hike from Cusco to Huchuy
Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru[2.7 miles]
This, the shortest and easiest of alternative Inca trails, takes three days from Cusco and offers wonderful mountain views, little-visited Inca sites and a final day at Machu Picchu itself.
Best for ages: 18+ | £4 | 3 days
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Experience
Chinchero village
Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru[15.7 miles]
This little village in the Sacred Valley near Cusco is a centre for traditional indigenous weaving in Peru. It has a lively market and ancient Inca agricultural terraces.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
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Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Peru
Peru
A land of spectacular deserts, high mountains and rainforests that teem with wildlife, Peru is also home to an array of dramatically situated pre-Colombian ruins, including Machu Picchu.
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