Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel

Palacio Nazarenas is one of the most exclusive places to stay in Cusco, and its history is as layered as the city itself. The building began as an Inca temple, became the private palace of the conquistador Mancio Serra de Leguizamón in the 16th century, was turned into a Jesuit college for aristocratic children in 1644 and later served as a convent. Belmond restored it and reopened it as a hotel in 2012, and it sits on Inca foundations on the Plazoleta Nazarenas, a quiet square a few minutes uphill from the Plaza de Armas. In 2026 it was placed 54th in the extended 51 to 100 list of The World's 50 Best Hotels.

The hotel has 55 suites, from junior suites of around 30 square metres to two signature suites of up to 130 square metres, and butler service is part of the offer. The suites are oxygen-enriched, intended to help guests who have just arrived at Cusco's altitude of around 3,400 metres. Courtyards planted with indigenous plants connect the different wings, and there is a library, a chapel, a so-called secret garden and a boutique.

The hotel has a heated outdoor swimming pool, a pleasant place to spend a sunny afternoon after a morning of sightseeing. The Hypnôze Spa takes its inspiration from Inca and Andean culture and uses a botanical approach to its treatments.

Food and drink are a major draw. Mauka, the flagship restaurant led by chef Pía León, focuses on Cusco and Andean ingredients and is open to outside diners. Senzo Bar serves small plates and pisco cocktails, and afternoon tea features Andean botanicals. The hotel also runs cooking classes and liquor tastings, and it hosts weddings and honeymoons, with four event spaces.

Palacio Nazarenas suits couples, honeymooners and travellers who want space, quiet and a high level of service close to the main sights. The airport is about 20 minutes away by car and Poroy station, for trains to Machu Picchu, about 40 minutes. The Museo de Arte Precolombino is on the same square, and the lanes of San Blas and the Twelve-Angled Stone are a short walk away.