Hotel
Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel
An all-suite Belmond hotel in a former palace and convent on Plazoleta Nazarenas, with oxygen-enriched suites, a heated outdoor pool and Pía León's Mauka.
Casa Cartagena Boutique Hotel & Spa
A 15-suite boutique hotel in a 16th-century mansion on Inca foundations, a few steps from the Plaza de Armas, with a large spa and a heated hydrotherapy pool.
At a glance
- Type
- Boutique hotel and spa
- Area
- Historic Centre, Cusco, Peru
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Official site
- casacartagena.com
Good to know
- 15 suites
- 350 m2 spa
- Heated hydrotherapy pool
- In-room oxygen
Why we recommend it
Casa Cartagena, which describes its setting as the most exclusive part of the historic centre, is a small luxury hotel in a 16th-century colonial mansion, a few steps from the Plaza de Armas on Calle Pumacurco. The building is part of the UNESCO-protected old town, and its colonial arches rest on Inca foundations; the hotel describes it as being raised over the Inca House of Wisdom. It is a good example of how many of Cusco's best hotels mix Inca stonework with Spanish colonial architecture.
The hotel keeps things deliberately small, with only 15 suites and space for 33 guests. Suite types range from doubles and matrimonial suites to master suites, a presidential suite and a royal suite. Oxygen is available in the rooms to help guests adjust to the altitude, and infusions are on offer around the clock, which is a thoughtful touch when you first arrive.
Wellness is the hotel's strongest suit. The spa covers 350 square metres and offers Andean-inspired treatments, and there is a heated hydrotherapy pool with views over San Blas. There is also a gym. The restaurant, La Bodega de la Chola, serves Peruvian-inspired cooking, and buffet breakfast and room service are available.
The hotel arranges airport transfers and promotes day trips to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, so it is easy to use as a base for excursions as well as for exploring the city. Fast fibre-optic internet is provided for guests who need to stay connected, and packages built around particular suites and spa treatments are offered on the hotel's own website.
Casa Cartagena suits couples and honeymooners, and travellers who want a spa-focused stay after long days in the mountains. With so few suites, it has the feel of a private house. The location is excellent: the Plaza de Armas, the great ceremonial square of the Inca city, and the Cathedral, built over the palace of the Inca Viracocha, are moments away, and the pool looks out over the rooftops of San Blas. The hotel can be contacted by phone, with a separate booking line, by WhatsApp or through its published email address.
Casa Cartagena Boutique Hotel & Spa FAQs
Where is Casa Cartagena?
At Pumacurco 166 in the historic centre, a few steps from the Plaza de Armas.
How many suites are there?
15 suites, for a maximum of 33 guests.
Is there a spa?
Yes, a 350-square-metre spa with Andean-inspired treatments.
Is there a pool?
Yes, a heated hydrotherapy pool with views over San Blas.
Do rooms have oxygen?
Yes, oxygen is available in the rooms to help with the altitude.
What is the restaurant called?
La Bodega de la Chola, serving Peruvian-inspired food.
What is the building's history?
It is a 16th-century colonial mansion built on Inca foundations.
Does the hotel offer airport transfers?
Yes, airport transfers are among its listed services.