Cusco: 8 ideal places to stay

Cusco is one of the best tourist attractions in South America. It is located in the Andes Mountains of Cusco in southern Peru. In addition to the city, the capital of the Inca empire, has other provinces and towns ideal for a splendid night in one of its lodging services. In addition to Cusco, there are other very attractive places such as Urubamba, the town of Aguas Calientes or even Machu Picchu itself. Meet the 8 best places to stay during your visit.

The city of Cusco

The city of Cusco is located in the heart of the department of the same name, in the Andes Mountains, in southern Peru. It is situated at an altitude of 3,399 meters above sea level. Some of its best tourist attractions are the Cathedral, the Coricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara, Tambomachay, the White Christ, the church of the Society of Jesus and more. It has a temperate climate, cold at night, but sunny in the mornings. The average daytime temperature is 18ºC (64ºF). The average temperature at night is 5ºC.

Most tourist hotels in the city of Cusco are in the region. In the historic center of the city, there are about 500 hotels. There are very economical shared rooms (hostels) services. There are also luxurious services of 4 and 5 stars. All offer a quality service with hot water, Wifi internet, comfortable beds and, in some cases, breakfast is included. Prices vary according to the quality of the service, from 30 Peruvian soles to one or two thousand soles for a 5-star service.

• Most recommended hotels: Hotel Palacio del Inca (5 stars), Sonesta Hotel Cusco (4 stars), Casa Andia Standard Cusco (3 stars), Loki Hostel (hostel).
• Approximate price per night: 1,350 soles (5 star hotel), 450 soles (4 star hotel), 150 soles (3 star hotel), 50 soles (hostel).

Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes is also called Machu Picchu town. It is located just 10 kilometers from the famous Inca archaeological site. It is located about 110 kilometers from the city of Cusco (by train), at an altitude of 2,040 meters above sea level. In addition to Machu Picchu, it is famous for its thermal baths, the Mandor waterfalls, the Machu Picchu site museum and the Putucusi mountain. It has a temperate tropical climate with daytime temperatures averaging 20ºC and nighttime temperatures averaging 10ºC.

Aguas Calientes is a town where tourism is everywhere. The train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo arrives there with thousands of visitors who want to visit Machu Picchu. It offers a great variety of tourist hotels, from 5 star services to economic hostels with shared rooms. Their rates range from 1,150 soles per night to a minimum of 50 soles for hostels. There is even a camping area at 15 soles per night.

• Most recommended hotels: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel (5 stars), Inkaterra Machu Picchu pueblo Hotel (4 stars), Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu (3 stars), Supertramp Hostel (hostel).
• Approximate price per night: 1,150 soles (5 star hotel), 750 soles (4 star hotel), 250 soles (3 star hotel), 50 soles (hostel).

Urubamba in the Sacred Valley

Urubamba is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, about 53 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco. It is famous for its good quality tourist services, such as restaurants, bars and, of course, tourist hotels. It also has Inca structures and a beautiful colonial plaza. Urubamba has a pleasant temperate climate for visitors. Daytime temperatures are 22ºC. on average. At night, they are 14ºC. on average.

Urubamba, after the city of Cusco, has the largest offer of tourist hotels. Many visitors choose its pleasant climate (with lower altitude than the city of Cusco) to spend their days before the visit to Machu Picchu. It has 5 star services ranging from 2,470 soles. There are also 4 star hotels with prices of 350 soles approximately. In addition, there are 3 star services at an average cost of 240 soles. All services are of excellent quality and comfort.

• Most recommended hotels: Rio Sagrado Belmond (4 stars), Hotel Andes de Urubamba (3 stars), Hotel San Agustin Urubamba (3 stars).
• Approximate price per night: 2,470 soles (5 star hotel), 350 soles (4 star hotel), 240 soles (3 star hotel).

Pisac in the Sacred Valley

Pisac is one of the towns that make up the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is located only 34 kilometers from the city of Cusco. It is located at an altitude of 2,972 meters above sea level. It is famous for its colonial past where there is an important production of silverware and a Sunday market with a lot of history. But its main tourist attraction, definitely, is the archaeological site of Pisac, located about 9 kilometers from the town. Its climate during the day reaches 21ºC. At night, the temperature drops to 13ºC. on average.

Pisac offers an important offer of tourist hotels, especially hostel services. Many visitors seeking to connect with nature stay in Pisac, most looking for lodge-type services surrounded by vegetation and nature. In Pisac there are 4-star services that cost 310 soles on average. There are also 3-star services that cost 100 soles on average.

• Most recommended hotels: Hotel Altar Inca Pisac (4 stars), Hotel Samay Wasi (3 stars), Pisonay Hotel (3 stars).
• Approximate price per night: 310 soles (4 star hotel), 100 soles (3 star hotel).

Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley

Ollantaytambo is one of the most visited places in the trip to Cusco. It is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, about 61 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco. It is located at an altitude of 2,792 meters. It receives many visitors because it is the main train station that leads to Machu Picchu. In addition, there are several tourist attractions such as the Vilcanota River, its colcas (Inca warehouses), the route to Intipunku but mainly for the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, which is located a few meters from the main square of the town.

Ollantaytambo has an important hotel offer. It also offers good services of tourist restaurants, bars and pizzerias. Many travelers seek to stay there on their way to Machu Picchu because it has a pleasant temperature. During the day the heat is 23ºC. on average. At night, the temperature drops to 10ºC. on average. Hotel services range from 4 star hotels at 250 soles to 3 star services at 130 soles or even less.

• Recommended hotels: Hotel Tikawasi Ollantaytambo (4 stars), Inka’s Haven Hotel Ollantaytambo (3 stars).
• Approximate price per night: 250 soles (4 star hotel), 130 soles (3 star hotel).

Yucay in the Sacred Valley

Yucay is one of the most welcoming towns in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is located only 4 kilometers from the town of Urubamba and 55 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco. It is 2,857 meters above sea level. It has a very pleasant climate for travelers and a great history because the palace of the Inca Sayri Tupac (1535 A.D. – 1561 A.D.) was built here. This famous stone and adobe construction can still be seen today.

Most visitors come to Yucay attracted by the tranquility of its streets, its beautiful Andean nature and its warm and pleasant climate. In the daytime, Yucay has an average temperature of 20ºC. At night, the temperature in Yucay reaches 12°C. Although there are few hotel services, they are of good quality. The Sonesta Hotel Posadas del Inca, a 4-star hotel, costs around 420 soles per night. As well as 3-star services such as the hotel La Casona de Yucay, with an approximate price of 250 soles per night.

• Most recommended hotels: Sonesta Hotel Posadas del Inca (4 stars), Hotel La Casona de Yucay (3 stars), Hotel Casa Tía María (3 stars).
• Approximate price per night: 420 soles (4 star hotel), 250 soles (3 star hotel).

Mollepata (Salkantay trek)

Mollepata is a small Andean town but very touristic because there are routes to two important tourist attractions: the Humantay lagoon and the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. The town is located in the province of Anta, about 101 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco. Mollepata is 2,803 kilometers by road from Cusco. Its high mountains near the snow-capped Salkantay mountain have a cold temperate climate with daytime temperatures reaching 18ºC (64ºF). At night, these can drop to 3ºC. or even lower.

In Mollepata there is an important hotel offer, especially lodges to rest on the way to the route to the Humantay lagoon and the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu (4 or 5 days route). There the traveler can get breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a night surrounded by imposing Andean landscapes. Some of the most recommended services are Refugios Salkantay (3 stars) or the Sarawasi Hotel (2 stars). These offer prices of 150 soles or 75 soles, respectively.

• Most recommended hotels: Refugios Salkantay (3 stars), Sarawasi Hotel (2 stars), Alturuna Lodge (2 stars).
• Approximate price per night: 150 soles (3 star service), 75 soles (2 star service).

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. It is located in the province of Urubamba, about 120 kilometers from the city of Cusco (train route) and about 10 kilometers from the town of Aguas Calientes (10 kilometers). Although in this town are most tourist hotel services, next to the same Inca citadel there is a 5 star hotel, considered a luxury service. It is the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Hotel.

The Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is next to the entrance gate to Machu Picchu. It is the only one located next to the archaeological site. It is a luxurious service with rooms with all the amenities such as Jacuzzi, king size bed, terraces, artistic decoration and, in some suites, views of Machu Picchu from a distance. The hotel offers single, double and suite rooms costing 4,500 soles per night on average.

• Most recommended hotels: Belmond Sanctuary Lodge (5 stars).
• Approximate price per night: 4,500 soles (5 star service).

By Machupicchu Terra – Last updated, September 12, 2024