The Experience
Palacio Nazarenas
Set in a tranquil plaza behind Cuzco’s main square, this former palace and convent is emerging from years of restoration to become one of the city’s most exclusive hotels.
Step past walls of Inca stones and into a cloistered courtyard with an ancient fountain at its heart. Then be surprised as contemporary Cuzco comes to the fore: a fabulous spa, the city’s first outdoor pool and stylish restaurants serving cutting-edge local cuisine.
This intimate urban retreat has just 55 suites, each enriched with oxygen and with its own private bar where guests (or their private butler) can create drinks accented with fresh ingredients grown at and around the hotel.
Cuzco: Palacio Nazarenas sits at the heart of Cuzco, within walking distance of most key attractions and a 20-minute drive from great Inca remains including Sacsayhuaman. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a warren of ancient alleyways, lined by Inca stones, that radiate out from the hotel.
Nazarenas Square, in front of the hotel, encapsulates everything that makes Cuzco great. Locals lounge in the sun; doorways lead to a magnificent baroque church, a world class museum of Precolumbian art, chic “destination” restaurants and an edgy bar. Extend your walk just beyond the square to discover much, much more.
Places of Interest
Plaza de Armas
Just steps from the hotel, where the cathedral and the grand Jesuit church of La Campania face off against one another.
The Cathedral
Discover treasures from exceptional gold work and the patron saints of earthquakes and taxi drivers to brilliant frescoes depicting colonial era life.
Barrio de San Blas
A lively mix of cafes, craft galleries and picturesque houses, this network of steep, narrow streets is huge fun to explore. At its heart is the city’s oldest parish church with a dazzling carved wooden pulpit.
Calle Hatun Rumiyuq
This narrow street was once home to ruler Inca Roca’s palace. It now leads to the Residence of the Archbishop with its collection of historic paintings, including one that features Palacio Nazarenas when it was a private home. Just beyond is the famous Twelve-Angle Stone, a high point of Inca stone masonry.
Inca Sites
Crowning a hill overlooking Cuzco, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman is extraordinary: its massive zig-zag walls are formed of giant boulders carved to slot flush together. Other noteworthy sites nearby include Puca Pucara (the Red Fort: stones, terraces and stairways), Quenqo (the sacred amphitheater) and Tambomachay (shrine to the water deity, with flowing fountains).
Museums
The hotel is surrounded by historic buildings including convents and churches packed with ancient treasures. Museums showcase gold, ceramics and other artifacts dating from pre-Inca times to today. There are also many galleries of local contemporary art.
Shops & Restaurants
Intriguing small boutiques line the streets around the hotel. Look out for clothes in alpaca, cotton and other regional fibers, fine jewelry inspired by Inca styles, ceramics and terracotta pottery and accessories in Peruvian leather.
Senzo at Palacio Nazarenas and Illariy at Hotel Monasterio offer real adventures in Peruvian dining. Other restaurants on the city’s hot dining circuit serve novo-Andean, creole and pan-Peruvian dishes or specialize in grilled alpaca, guinea pig and mountain trout.
For Children
Child-friendly activities include: Cusco Tram: (1hr 15 min tour by old wooden tram past 40 sites); Awanacancha (40 minutes’ drive towards Pisac—llamas, alpacas and other animals; weavers and wool dyers in action); Cultural Tour (a full day exploring places including the Art
Travelwizard.com Guests Receive:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
- $100 USD Spa Services credit, to be utilized during stay
- (not valid on spa products, not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)