Cusco, Peru
Staying at Monasterio is like sleeping inside Cusco’s history. A former monastery a few steps from the Plaza de Armas, with stone cloisters, a centuries-old cedar tree in the courtyard, colonial paintings along the corridors and its own gilded chapel, it is a true Cusco classic.
The Property
The building was the San Antonio Abad monastery, rebuilt in colonial times on Inca foundations and declared a National Heritage site in 1975. Today it is a Belmond hotel with around 120 rooms and suites set around peaceful cloisters, and it still keeps its baroque chapel and a collection of colonial oil paintings, some of them about 400 years old.
Why It’s Here
Because few hotels have this much history around them. Walking through the cloisters at night, with candles lit and colonial paintings along the corridors, you feel the past of Cusco in a way a modern building can’t give you. It’s a classic, and it has earned that status. One honest note: standard rooms can be small, so the Junior Suites are worth a look.
The Rooms
All rooms have colonial décor and marble bathrooms. Being a former monastery, every room is different, and only the categories marked "with Oxygen" have the oxygen system, which makes a real difference at Cusco's altitude.
Superior Room: The smallest rooms, with or without oxygen, facing the courtyard or the inside of the building. Fine for a short stay if you are out exploring all day.
Superior City View with Oxygen: Views over the rooftops and churches of San Blas. For travelers who want a view without paying for a suite.
Deluxe Room: More space, with courtyard or city views, and some with a small balcony or terrace. A good choice for couples.
Junior Suite with Oxygen: Set over two levels, with the bedroom on a mezzanine above the living area. For travelers who want space and character.
Deluxe Junior Suite with Oxygen: A larger junior suite with a comfortable sitting area. For a longer stay or a family of three.
One Bedroom Suite with Oxygen: A separate bedroom and living room facing the courtyard, and some with a furnished terrace. For a honeymoon or a special occasion.
My recommendation: The Junior Suite with Oxygen. The Superior Rooms are small, while the Junior Suites give you space, character and oxygen without the price of the One Bedroom Suite. For a honeymoon, a One Bedroom Suite, ideally one with a terrace.
Ideal For
Couples, honeymooners, history and art lovers, and first-time visitors to Cusco who want to be in the heart of everything. Less ideal for travelers who want a pool or a spa on site, or for those on a tighter budget: you pay for the location and the history, and the standard rooms are small.
Good to Know
Location: Plazoleta Nazarenas, in Cusco’s historic center, a few minutes’ walk uphill from the Plaza de Armas, at about 3,400 m altitude
Nearest airport: Cusco (CUZ)
Getting there: About 15 minutes by car from the airport
Price: From around $530 per night, breakfast included
Good to keep in mind: Oxygen enrichment in the room has an extra cost. Coca tea is available all day to help with the altitude.
Tip: If you arrive straight from sea level, spend your first nights in the Sacred Valley and finish in Cusco. Palacio Nazarenas is next door if you want to compare both.
Book It
Ready to stay? Book Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel through me and you’ll receive exclusive perks like daily breakfast for two and a hotel credit, plus an upgrade if one is available at check-in. Send me your dates and I’ll take it from there.
