Taking a trip can be one of the most rewarding experiences, but it also involves a number of factors that should not be left to chance. The hotel is one of them, and can be the cause of concern for many tourists. Certainly, when you do not know a place or country, and you cannot rely on the recommendation of acquaintances, determining the best accommodation can be a complicated task.
Fortunately, today there are many ways to determine the quality and amenities offered by a hotel. This can save a lot of time, money and hassle.
What lodging options can we find in Cusco?
Fortunately, Cusco is a destination that has many lodging options to suit all budgets. You can also find a wide variety of sites, so the choice can be adjusted to the convenience of the transfer or tours you decide to do on your trip. Next, let’s take a look at the lodging options available to you:
- Hostel: One of the most economical options if you don’t mind sharing rooms or other common spaces in Cusco, you can find many hostels with excellent service and quality, which we can recommend to you when making your reservation.
- Hotels: It is ideal for those looking for something a little more private and you can find many options. You can find hotels from two to five stars, with different services included depending on the budget. Many multi-day tours include hotels in the most attractive destinations, although you also have the option to choose depending on your needs.
- Airbnb: This point will be discussed in more detail at the end of this article, but it is necessary to mark it as another option for those looking for accommodation options in Cusco. As a preview, we recommend you to be very careful when booking Airbnbs because they have certain drawbacks, mainly because they do not have the guarantees that hotels or hostels do have.
Now, if you are planning a trip to Cusco or have already made your reservation, then let’s take a look at the options available in the region.
City of Cusco
- Downtown Cusco: Cusco functions as a very attractive center for its large number of options for lodging and activities that you can find in the city. One of its main advantages is that there are several tourist attractions, as well as renowned bars and restaurants, around the Plaza de Armas. Around it, you can find imposing temples, small squares, local markets, well-known restaurants, bars, etc. However, if you would like to book in places a little farther away from the center, we will analyze some neighborhoods that you can consider to make your reservation. We recommend the lodgings located no more than 10 minutes from the Plaza de Armas.
- Barrio San Blas: it is a 15-minute walk uphill from the Plaza de Armas, located in the upper part of the city. It is a very picturesque neighborhood and also has options for all budgets. The disadvantage of this neighborhood is that its streets are narrow and although vehicles can circulate in some streets, these are inaccessible for tourist transport. For this reason, you should consider that in some cases it would be necessary to resort to a convenient meeting point with the mobilities, if they wish to make some tours or to make transfers in general.
- Wanchaq: This is a district adjacent to the center and where there may be more buildings or infrastructure and even hotels. Although you can find better lodging prices in general, you should take into account that the shared tours do not include pick-ups from this district due to logistical and time issues. Also, although it is located 10-15 min from the center, it is more convenient to stay near the square, where you can reach most attractions on foot.
If you need to clarify doubts about the different lodging options, you can consult with our advisors so that they can provide you with recommendations of the best places according to your needs.
Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley is an ideal region for tourists looking for a privileged destination, with direct views of the mountains and at a lower altitude, compared to the city of Cusco.
It is worth mentioning that in this region is located one of the main train stations, as well as important tourist attractions such as: archaeological centers, picnic activities or glamping & various adventure activities.
The only drawback is that in this area you can only book private tours, since the shared tours depart from the city of Cusco. However, due to its location, it would be a good destination to stay overnight before the tours to Machu Picchu, especially in Ollantaytambo, where the train station to Aguas Calientes is located. We recommend, if you want to do the Machu Picchu tours and save at least two hours of sleep, to consider staying overnight here.
Within the Sacred Valley, you can also find other interesting options such as Urubamba, a town that is settled on the Vilcanota Valley, at the foot of the snow-capped mountains of Chicon and Pumahuaca.
Recommended Tours
Here are some tours that you can combine with a stay in the Sacred Valley:
- Machu Picchu + Sacred Valley 2D/1N shared:
- As this is a shared tour, it starts in Cusco City, where you visit Chinchero, Moray, Maras & ending in Ollantaytambo, where you can spend the night and the next day you can take the train to Machu Picchu and make the full day returning to Cusco.
- Picnic with Llamas + Chinchero + Maras & Moray:
- This shared tour is a favorite among tourists and has a lot to offer: archaeological sites, natural landscapes and contact with native peoples. The Picnic is a private service with a classic menu consisting of a cheese board, breads and seasonal fruits, or with a launch service with more elaborate dishes.
- Glamping in the Sacred Valley:
- We invite you to see our Glamping option in the Sacred Valley, where you can enjoy a magnificent stay full of top quality services.
If you are planning your trip and you are not sure where to stay, we recommend that you contact our consultants to clear up any doubts and see the lodging options according to your needs.
Machu Picchu
If you would like to make the most of your trip to Machu Picchu and enjoy all the excursions, there is no doubt that the best option is to stay in the same place. In our two-day tours we offer this option, something that is convenient for not wasting travel time and extending the stay in the circuits or additional excursions in the mountains.
However, you may not find the same variety of hotels that you can find in the Sacred Valley or in the center of Cusco, as you will have a little more limited access to other destinations. But if you consider it to know every corner of the Citadel and the town itself, there is no doubt that it is your best option.
Likewise, you can also take advantage of all the activities available in Aguas Calientes, such as enjoying the hot springs or a pleasant walk through the picturesque town. Undoubtedly, its panoramic views of some of the trails will take your breath away and will be the material of many photographs.
In this tour to Machu Picchu 2D/1N you can find very interesting lodging options to make the most of your stay near the Citadel.
If you would like to know more about all the activities you can do during your stay in Machu Picchu, in this article we will be expanding this information.
If you need to know what are the best lodging options to enjoy your stay in Machu Picchu, we invite you to contact our consultants to give you their recommendation.
Airbnbs
Finally, we cannot fail to mention Airbnbs due to their great popularity. In our experience, it is one of the most chosen options because of its flexibility, but it also has many limitations in its services. There are many testimonies of tourists who have been impressed when renting a room or apartment, without having considered any of the following factors.
- Luggage storage service while you are traveling or on tours: If you are going to hike for a few days or if you are going to visit the Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu and you cannot take your luggage with you, it is better that the place where you are staying has a place where you can store it.
- Wifi: ask about the speed and availability of internet service because if you are traveling without Chip or international roaming, it will be an important piece to communicate with tour operators and coordinate the logistics of the tours.
- 24-hour water supply: make sure that water is provided 24 hours a day and that hot water is available at all times.
- Accessibility: make sure that the location you choose is easily accessible, as there may be very narrow streets. Some Airbnbs may be in elevated locations that require walking uphill and are not recommended for people with mobility problems or who are not physically fit.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Cusco is a region that has many options for all types of tourists and fortunately, it is within reach of all budgets. It is only necessary to investigate in advance what are the different options and locations available to make the most of the trip.
Both the center of Cusco and the Sacred Valley offer lodgings with a wide variety of prices, as well as advantages such as proximity to the meeting points or the train station itself. However, if you want to be located closer to the Citadel, you also have the option of staying in Machu Picchu and save a lot of travel time.
To enhance your experience in Cusco, we recommend that you ask for our recommendation, as we have experience of the places with the best reviews and what activities you can do in each destination. Many of the multi-day tours that you can find in our catalog include accommodations, so you can spend more time in the destination and get more out of the attractions that you can find there.
¡To be noted!
Another aspect to consider is that Guru Explorers also always includes pick up from hotels as long as the vehicle can enter the site and is located in the center of Cusco. Otherwise, a meeting point can also be arranged where the tourist bus can pick up the group to start the adventure.
If you are interested in any of the tours in Cusco, Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu, do not hesitate to look for all the information of the itineraries, as well as consult with our agents to resolve any doubts or queries.
To learn more about the recommended lodging, do not hesitate to send us a message.