The Best Hotel in Cusco, Cusco and the Sacred Valley

No matter what your travel budget, you won't be priced out of the market staying in Cusco: luxury hotels, backpackers' digs, and everything in between await. Most lodgings discount rates during the unofficial off-season of September through May. With a few exceptions, the international hotel chains are absent. In their place are smaller, top-end, independently run lodgings offering impeccable service, even if some lack swimming pools and concierges. Lodgings in all price ranges, whether in a former 17th-century convent or newly built, mimic the old Spanish-colonial style of construction arranged around a central courtyard or patio.

You may have to adjust your internal thermostat in moderate or budget lodgings at this altitude, but all provide extra blankets and may have electric heaters available at an extra charge. High-end establishments have heating. Most places provide hot water around the clock, but if you're wondering, just ask if there's agua caliente. Many accommodations keep an oxygen supply on hand for those having trouble adjusting to the thin air.