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Cuzco (also "Cusco", or "Qosqo" in
Quechua), located in the Southern Sierras is a fascinating city that was
the capital of the Incan Empire. Cuzco is a Unesco World Heritage Site and
is one of Peru's most visited cities as it is the largest and most
comfortable city from which tourists can begin visits to Machu Picchu, the
Sacred Valley of the Incas, and other Incan sites in the region.
The city is surrounded by a number of ruins, the most impressive being
Sacsayhuaman, the site of the 1536 battle in which dozens of Pizarro's men
charged uphill to battle the forces of the Inca
By plane
The airport is at the edge of the city (taxi ride). There are daily
internal flights to and from Lima, Arequipa and small jungle airstrips in
the Amazon basin. The closest main international airport is Lima. The
cheapest one way flights to Lima cost around USD 70. Frequently, bad
weather conditions can cause flights to be cancelled, often up to two days
on end. If you are flying straight into Cuzco, beware of altitude sickness
for the first couple of days. Drink mate de coca (coca tea), the local
remedy for this. Many hotels and hostels provide it to guests upon
arrival. Also be sure to rest, most guidebooks and locals suggest minimal
activity during your first day in the city. Altitude sickness (soroche)
tends to sneak up on you and its symptoms may not be apparent at first.
Note that the market rate for a taxi from the airport to the Plaza de
Armas is 3 - 5 soles, not 30 or more as they may try to charge you.
By bus
The Terminal Terrestre is about a 20 minute walk down the Av. Sol. You can
also take a taxi for a few soles.
Buses are plentiful from other Peruvian cities like Lima (about 24 hours),
Puno (6-8 hours), Arequipa (10 hours, 20 soles), Nazca (14-16 hours) etc,
but are quite long and slow, although the views can compensate. The main
roads are quite good, but some can be bad, making trips take longer than
expected.
Also, make sure your bus has a bathroom or that it stops for bathroom
breaks every couple of hours before you buy tickets. There are Puno-Cuzco
buses that have neither, and that can mean a VERY long 6-8 hours.
Expreso Los Chankas, Pje Cáceres 150. As far as we could tell, the only
place to offer direct service from Ayacucho to Cusco. 55 Soles each for a
22-hour ride on a semi-cama bus. Buses at 6:30am and 7pm. Buses are soooo
cool!!
By rail
Cuzco is connected to Machu Picchu and Puno by rail. Rail service was
recently discontinued to Arequipa. This service is operated by PeruRail.
Hotels in Cuzco
Budget Hotel & Hostels
Casa de la Gringa +5184241168 A very unique, cool hostel in which
each room has a different theme and features original interntaional art.
Comfortable and colorful,, they have free WiFi, cable tv and dvds, common
rooms, a beautiful garden, and super staff.
Hogar Clinica San Juan de Dios, Avenida Manzanares 264 (Urbanizacion
Manuel Prado), +51 84 240 135, . Private and double rooms and windows that
look onto the majestic backdrop of Cusco that is a mountain range. Great
service and daily egg breakfast made to your liking. This non-profit
hostel forward's its earnings to the children's hospital right next door.
Enjoy your stay as well as make a charitable contribution!
Pirwa Hostel San Francisco Square # 360 Next to the best of Cusco
nightlife, this hostel is fun and full of international budget travelers
looking for a great time and a good deal. The huge, gorgeous patio here is
home to bbqs and events while the huge pool table is a place to chat and
chill with friends. Great location and lots of fun! +5184244315
Casa de la Gringo 2 +5184254387 This small, friendly hostel is the
little sister to Casa de la Gringa, and run by the same helpful, kind
owners in San Blas, where you get great views of the city and surrounding
area. They have long-term prices for those who want to stay for a bit, and
organize great tours and special trips to the mountains.
Flying Dog Hostel Choquechaca 469 +5184253997 Great, personal hostel
with a wide range of rooms, all at amazing prices. Free wifi, breakfast,
lockers, and coffee and tea all day. Check out their bar, and ask them to
arrange tours for you. Friendly staff.
Hospedaje Estrellita, Avenida Tullumayo 445. Shared double rooms surround
a large concrete courtyard. There is a kitchen with a sociable commonroom
with cable TV. A night cost 15 soles and includes a small breakfast. It's
popular with gringos.
LOKI Backpackers Hostel, Cuesta Santa Ana #601, Centro Historico, ph: +51
(0) 84 243705 (email:. A new hostel set up by 4 backpackers in a 450 year
old Peruvian national monument. Dorms from $6. Excellent evening menus
served for ~$3, busy bar on weekend evenings, generally noisy place to
stay, but loads of fun. Hot water with pressure in generally shared
showers. If you like European-style hostels and want to meet young, hip
travelers this is the place to be. Highly recommended. Note that it is far
enough from Plaza de Armas (and uphill) that you will want to take a taxi
for 2 or 3 soles. The taxi driver may not know it by name, so give them
the address. Make sure they drive down Cuesta Santa Ana rather than trying
to drop you off at the top or the bottom of the hill, as it is a bit of a
hike with your bags.
The WalkOn Inn , Calle Suecia 504, ph: +51 (0) 84 235065 has very
beautiful rooms with private or shared bathroom and two small dorms.
Prices go up from $8. The place has a nice patio with a fireplace, it's
completely clean and there is another sitting room with tv and cable and a
computer with free internet on which to burn your own CD's or DVD's. WiFi
freely available, laundry service at hand and good yet affordable brekkies.
All of this at 2 blocks from the main square, close to the centre of
'fiesta' yet far enough not to be disturbed by it. Pressurized hot water
available around the clock.
Casa Arco Iris , Calle Arco Iris 535, Barrio San Cristobal, ph: +51 (0) 84
247526. Set in a centuries old building, the friendly owners have only
being running Casa Arco Iris since early 2006, so it is still a bit empty,
making it very calm and quiet. Rooms from $4.
Rimacpampa Hostal Close to the plaza, . Amazingly hot showers, with good
water pressure (Hard to come by in Peru). TV and good food also.
HOME SWEET HOME -EL MIRADOR . Located at the charming area of Cusco , with
full of small bars,restaurants and cafes.The view from the Hotel is
AMAZING.Tv cable ,FREE INTERNET AND wi fi in all the house, REAL HOT
SHOWERS and towels available,and warm bed available. Also you can use the
kitchen. Only 6 blocks from the Main Square.
Asociacion San marcos A-3.San Blas -Cusco Tf:0051 84 231235
Hostal "Sweet Daybreak" at Mirador de San Blas This hostal offers
you one of the best panoramic views in town. It's a special place where
you can relish the magic and magnetism of Cusco´s landscapes and culture,
where people build friendships and interchange different ideas and
cultures. The hostal offers showers with hot gas-heated water 24/24h,
cable TV, wireless internet, laundry, cafeteria, free tourist information,
a lovely rustic garden, dormitories, private rooms with or without
bathroom, lovely people,... all a traveller is looking for. A comfortable
and safe stay. 'Direction': Calle Pasñapakana 133, a 2 minutes walk from
the Plazoleta San Blas, 4 blocks from the Plaza de Armas (Main Square)/
www.hostalsweetdaybreak.com / Tel: 0051(0)84 225776
Hospedaje Corona Real, Av Huascar 226, 808111. Quiet and cheap option
about 15 minutes walk from the city center. Rooms are spacious and have
private bathroom and local television and cost 15 soles pppn.
Amaru Hostal I, Cuesta San Blas 541. Quiet and cheap option about 3
blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Rooms are decent sized; Rooms have private
or shared bath facilities and television. Rooms cost between $18 USD to
$55 USD per room depending on type of bed(s), occupancy and season. email:
amaruhostal@speedy.com.pe
Amaru Hostal II , Chihuampata 642. Quiet and cheap option about 2-3 blocks
from the Plaza de Armas. Rooms cost between $28 USD to $48 USD per room
depending on type of bed(s), occupancy and season. email:
amaruhostal2@speedy.com.pe
Mid-range
Hostels
Hostal Familiar, Calle Saphi 661,
three blocks from Plaza de Armas. Singles go for $8.00 @ night with
private bathroom + hot water.
Hotel El Balcon, 222 Tambo de Montero, a short distance from Plaza de
Armas, awesome interior design, delicious breakfast and moderate prices.
From Plaza de Armas, follow Plateros a block and a half or so. The hotel
is in a lane up the hill. About half a block up, look for the door on the
right. The sign is above the door, so you may not see it unless you walk
on the opposite side of the lane.
Hoteles Garcilaso, Calle Garcilaso 233-285. There are two of them on the
same block. Good location on the block between the Plaza San Francisco and
the other small plaza that is one block from the Plaza de Armas. I stayed
here in a double for $75 dollars a night (I paid too much). It is a good
option but you should not pay what I paid (haggling hotel rooms should be
your default). It is worth more like $30-45 per night. As in a lot of
places, the inside rooms are the way to go because they are quiet at
night. Tel 51-84/ 233031, 233501, 227951, 222425. www.hotelesgarcilaso.com
Orquidea Real, Calle Alabado 520, The colonial building has original
Inca walls and exposed wood beams, and the rustic accommodations are
simply decorated in a cozy mountain lodge aesthetic. All rooms are
oriented toward Cuzco below, offering panoramic views.
Gran Hostal Machu Picchu, Calle Quera 282, ph: +51 (0) 84 23 1111.
Hostal Rumi Punku, Calle Choquechaca 339. Hostal Rumi Punku is an
attractive hotel in old Cusco. Rumi Punku means "stone door" in Quechua:
the entrance to the hotel leads through an ancient stone door, obviously
of Inca design. The doorway is all that has survived of an Inca palace:
today the door is considered a historic construction by the city of Cusco.
Casa San Blas Boutique Inn, Tucoyeros 566. The hotel is situated in San
Blas, which has been the historic artisan's quarter of Cusco since Inca
times, and lies just two and a half blocks from the main square. It is a
neighborhood of narrow, picturesque cobbled streets and whitewashed
colonial-era houses, with red-tiled roofs and wooden balconies.
Ultra-friendly staff and affordable, charming rooms.
Splurge Hotels
The Garden House Hotel, Tel
+51-(0)84-271117 . A fabulous family-run boutique hotel set in the largest
private garden in Cusco. Beautifully decorated, modern (WiFi etc), and
just the perfect place to stay if you want to have a genuinely
non-touristy experience (in one of the most touristy cities in the world).
Hotel Royal Inka I or II, Located right in front of the Plaza Regocijo,
about 150 meters from la Plaza de Armas. Royal Inka I is a renovated house
while Royal Inka II is more modern with a spa (jacuzzi and steam room).
There is a great breakfast.
Hotel Monasterio, Calle Palacios 136, Plazoleta Nazarenas, ph: +51 (0) 84
24 1777, (email: [22]), . Housed in a former monastery, the Hotel
Monasterio is a beautiful hotel that is steeped in history. The rooms are
former monks' cells, but they are far from monastic. By far the most
expensive place to stay Cuzco. If you are looking for luxury in Cuzco,
this is the place to find it. (avoid rooms 414 through 419, which are near
a noisy generator)
Hotel Marqueses Calle Garcilaso N° 256, ph: (+51 84) 264249. The official
hotel of SAS travel. The hotel personnel are outstanding and the rooms are
more than comfortable. The hotel is centrally located in the heart of the
tourist district, only two blocks from the Plaza des Armas.
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