Hotel Marqueses in Cusco, Peru: Review

Cusco (sometimes spelled Cuzco) Peru is an amazing city. As the gateway to life changing sites like Peru's Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu its also filled with both hotels and tourists. The right choice for accommodations can make the difference between just a trip and wonderful travel adventure. My recent stay at the Hotel Marqueses was terrific, providing a really nice initial destination, offering both comfort and luxury while I adjusted to this new destination. It was also perfect after a grueling trip to Machu Picchu and a mountain climb up Huayna Picchu which left me barely able to walk.

After flying for 8 hours from Los Angeles to Lima Peru, and then a 5 hour layover in Lima, followed by an early morning flight to Cusco, I had finally arrived after almost 24 hours of traveling. I took a $5.00 taxi from the airport and arrived at the hotel. I had booked a deluxe room at $85.00, having really been sold by the marble bathrooms and bathtubs advertised online and noted by other travelers on tripadvisor.com. I was really looking forward to a nice hot bath after all that traveling.

The room was great, very historic, big and old. The hotel is an old Spanish colonial Conquistador mansion from 1650, which was built on ancient Inca foundations. The room had 20 foot high ceilings and great Spanish style heavy furniture. It also had a great balcony allowing to a view onto the street activity below. All the doors are heavy carved old doors and they keys and locks are skeleton keys.

The location of Hotel Marqueses is perfect, right in the center of Cusco one block away from the crazy action in the main square, Plaza De Armas. You are also away from the San Blas area, which is filled with most tourist hotels, and tourists. Walk a few blocks the other direction from the Plaza De Armas after leaving the hotel, and you will find yourself in the real Cusco, surrounded by the regular citizens without a tourist in sight. I enjoy these areas more, as you walk you are seeing normal stores and business that cater to the citizens,not to tourists. But the hotel is very central, within a few minutes walking distance of all the major sites.

As a general guide, there are about 5 levels of Cusco accommodations. The first level is hostels and similar, with shared facilities. These run about $15.00 per night. Next is a basic private hotel room with private bath for $25.00 a night. Moving up we have a basic room, but in a nice or historic hotel. Private facilities, but nothing luxurious. These go for about $50.00 per night. Next level up is a deluxe room in one of these nicer properties, which will put you at about $100. per night. The top level jumps way up, super deluxe properties that start at $350. per night, with suites that go into the thousands. On any level you are getting a lot more for your money than in the USA, where comparable rooms are double the price. If you do want the top, check the Hotel Monasterio, part of the Orient Express company, offering 5 star service in a fantastic restored monastery. The hotel even features luxuries like pumped in room oxygen for those suffering from altitude discomfort as Cusco is at about 11,000 feet above sea level.

After several days at Hotel Marqueses, I took a journey to Machu Picchu that was also life changing. It was also grueling and I did the famed climb up Huayna Picchu, the mountain that can be seen just behind the site in photos. That climb, plus another day climbing and exploring the site of Ollantaytambo, left my legs so sore I could barely walk. It was comforting to know that I would be returning to the Hotel Marqueses, some place I knew and was familiar with not to mention a hot bath tub.

The hotel provides a wonderful free breakfast in their historic courtyard every morning. They will both pick you up at Cusco airport and drop you off, both also free of charge. There is a computer with Internet access, also free for guests. As many people venture to Machu Picchu with plans to return back to Cusco, the hotel will store your big luggage securely until your return, also for free. They are associated with SAS Travel and can also make discounted arrangements for all the tours and adventures you can imagine.

Hotel Marqueses
Calle Garcilaso Number 256
Cusco Peru