Belmond Hotel Monasterio

Belmond Hotel Monasterio is set inside of a converted 16th-century monastery built atop an Inca palace and arranged around a series of cloistered courtyards with stone columns and archways. As such, the hotel is steeped in history and Peruvian character. The visually stunning interiors are done in rich colors of yellow, red, gold, and brown and feature chandeliers, fresh flower arrangements, carved-wood furnishings, gilt-framed mirrors, Peruvian artifacts, and paintings of archangels and other religious themes. Guests gather and sip coca tea in the courtyard next to a fountain and 300-year-old cedar tree. The highly ornamented Baroque chapel features a spectacular altar and paintings dating to the 1700s. The hotel's rooms originally served as the dormitories for the Jesuits of the monastery, and today the hotel's overall ambience is decidedly more romantic. The hotel draws mostly well-heeled travelers to its elegant atmosphere, superb dining, and central Cusco location. 

Belmond Hotel Monasterio is on small Plaza Nazarenas, in the center of Cusco. Numerous restaurants, bars, and shops are a short walk away, and Plaza de Armas is about a three-minute walk from the hotel. The Plaza is the city's central square, and often features music, dancing, and festivals. The 16th-century Cusco Cathedral is also located on the Plaza. For even more history, the Inka Museum and Museum of Pre-Colombian Art are both within a three-minute stroll of the hotel. Qurikancha (Temple of the Sun) -- the most important Inca temple -- it's a little over a five-minute walk. Wanchaq train station is a about a 10-minute drive, while Poroy Station (the departure point for Machu Picchu) is a little under 30 minutes away by car. Expect a 25-minute drive to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport.

Rooms and suites at the Belmond Hotel Monasterio have a charming look that's perfectly fitting in this historic town. Decor is a mix of contemporary and classic, with wood furnishings and Spanish colonial elements like gilt-framed religious paintings. Generous dashes of red and gold liven the white, beige, and brown motif. The air is thin in Cusco, so the hotel oxygenates its rooms, though a fee applies for some rooms. Some rooms and suites have balconies or terraces, and include views of the main courtyard or the surrounding red-tile rooftops of the city. It's worth noting that some rooms have no windows or small windows, which makes them a bit dark. Standard features include iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with a good range of English and satellite channels. Air-conditioning isn't available in all rooms. Minibars and/or coffee/tea makers are available in certain categories. Junior Suites have a bi-level layout and feature DVD players and separate living areas with sofas, and the highest category rooms have butlers. Bathrooms feature premium bath products, bathrobes and slippers, make-up mirrors, and rainfall showerheads in walk-in showers, shower/tub combos, or separate showers and soaking tubs. All rooms and public spaces at the hotel are non-smoking. 

Belmond Hotel Monasterio offers an excellent breakfast buffet (for a fee) featuring cooked-to-order eggs, fruit compote, and local cheeses and breads. The restaurant also serves inventive Peruvian and international cuisine for lunch and dinner, with specialties like ceviche. The food is excellent, but prices are a bit steep. The lounge pours a wide range of cocktails and wines, and in a unique touch, features opera singers performing several nights a week. A second restaurant serves more traditional Peruvian cuisine, and offers views of the main courtyard through floor-to-ceiling windows. Outdoor dining is available in warm weather. The lobby bar specializes in pisco sours, and features live jazz in the late afternoon. The Belmond also offers Peruvian cooking classes (for a fee), with visits to the local market for ingredients. The hotel has no fitness center or swimming pool, but guests are allowed to use the pool at Belmond Palacio Nazarenas next door for a fee. There's a spa offering aromatherapy and Thai massages, as well as meeting rooms, wedding services, a lobby computer, and boutique gift shop. The hotel has no on-site parking, but nearby public parking is available for a fee.