Cusco is the cultural center of Peru. From the historical Plaza de Armas to rolling mountains, you can feel the positive and natural vibrations throughout this colonial city. And no stronger vibes can be found than at Novotel Cusco.
The city of Cusco is less than an hour from Lima (Peru’s real capital) by flight. And while Lima may be the foodie haven of Peru, Cusco is definitely the cultural one. As soon as I touched down into this mecca of all things alpaca and coca, I knew I was in heaven.
(Click here for my 48-hour city guide to Cusco!)
We had a bit of a disaster getting to Cusco (side note: I will never fly with LC Peru ever again!), but our reprise came quickly when we arrived at the swanky Novotel Cusco.
The Property
The Novotel Cusco is a 4-star, luxury hotel located a 5-minute walk from the historical Plaza de Armas. What was once an old, colonial Hacienda building is now a beautiful property with 2 courtyards (one an inner atrium with a sky glass, the other an outdoor garden with a patio), 2 restaurants, 1 bar and incredibly spacious rooms with balconies.
In typical Peruvian fashion, the hotel works with the earth or “pachamama” in mind: eco-friendly cleaning products, water conservation efforts, recycled food, paper and glass, energy-saving lights and organized, local charity. In addition to a providing a wonderful experience, the hotel’s goal is to practice sustainability.
Regular Accor Hotel fans might find this particular hotel to be a tad minimal in presentation and amenities.
Keep in mind that certain luxuries at Novotel Cusco cannot be compared to cosmopolitan locations, such as Los Angeles or London. The bar set for accommodation in Cusco is quite different and lacking in utter decadence. Still, you will find comfort at Novotel Cusco as this is one of the best properties in the city!
The Amenities
We entered the hotel and immediately felt a blend of old world Peru mixed with modern luxury. The hotel’s architecture made us feel as though we stepped back in time. But the Apple desktop, X-box, and fine attention to detail made us feel like we were in the luxurious, 21st century.
We were greeted with coca leaf tea, an altitude sickness remedy, upon check-in. Guests will find coca tea available at all hours in the lobby should you arrive late or leave early for Machu Picchu.
Each room is simple, much like the rest of Cusco’s lodging. A very comfortable bed with nightstands, a chair, desk, television and shower head that will save your life after all of the hiking.
Each guest can also expect:
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Flatscreen TV with cable
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Complimentary wifi
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Shared Kinnect and Xbox
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Coffee maker with tea and coffee
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Personal safe
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Complimentary water and toiletries
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Oxygen as needed
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A rainfall shower with the best water pressure ever
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Well-equipped mini-bar and table snacks
Things to Do
With such a great location (both in the city and within the country), Novotel Cusco provides plenty of guidance for activities in and outside of the hotel.
If you’re looking to relax at your hotel, enjoy the indoor or outdoor courtyard with some coca tea. If the altitude sickness has subsided, you can’t visit Peru without having a pisco sour in the small, intimate ‘Le Bar’. You can even shop for trinkets and Peruvian treasures in the gift shop!
Cusco is the sort of town you want to chill in. Most people “chill” for the sake of catching their breath due to the high altitude. Others find the town charming and want to explore its colonial or Andean heritage.
The hotel can help you book tours within the city, to Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain or anywhere else you’d like to visit!
The Staff
Kevin and I were very active during our trip to Cusco. We hiked Rainbow Mountain, we went to Machu Picchu, we celebrated Inti Raymi and enjoyed dinner at Le Soleil on my birthday. So it’s safe to say that we didn’t spend much time at the hotel.
We didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy the staff’s service as much as we would have liked. However the front desk was incredibly welcoming upon our arrival and helped us print confirmations at their business center.
