All the Comforts of Home in Cusco: Staying at La Casona

[Kuoda Travel]

by Emily Guilmette

One of our all-time favorite hotels in the entirety of South America is Inkaterra's La Casona! I recently had the pleasure of spending an evening there and wanted to take this opportunity to tell you why it's so special. First, you come upon La Casona, tucked away in one of Cusco's prettiest plazas, up the hill from the Plaza de Armas. Bounded by low blue-shuttered buildings and a dusty red colonial cathedral, you find yourself in an oasis of calm. In the distance - shadowy blue snow-capped peaks. La Casona itself is snuggled unobtrusively into a corner of the plaza, quite close to the excellent Museum of Pre-Colombian Art. The hotel strives to make you feel as if you're in a friend's beautiful home (in fact, the building may have been one of the first Spanish constructions in Cusco) and so the entrance is unmarked. A knock at the tall, sumptuously carved wooden doors summons a wonderfully polite doorman. Once inside, you'll note that the very exclusive 11 suites are arranged around a central courtyard. There is no lobby, rather, an entrance hall and an exquisite living room with chairs and couches you immediately want to sink into, book in hand. You'll walk past the living room, the intimate dining room and into the courtyard and settle into your room. Check-in is conducted there, so you can settle and relax. Room doors are tall, wooden and beautifully carved, opened with an old-fashioned iron key. The moment you enter, you are surrounded by understated elegance. Velveteen couches and armchairs in warm, earthy tones. Absolutely beautiful linens, wooden furniture and cabinets that exude Spanish flavor (without being overwhelming or overbearing) and a glorious stone fireplace! Floor to ceiling windows let you gaze out over Cusco and give each room a feeling of light and warmth. The bathrooms are thoroughly modern, with soft curved lines, clean stone and delicious wide shower-heads. Relax, slip on complimentary slippers and robe and settle into the warmth of the room. Perhaps in that moment, you'll notice the original frescoes high on the wall. While the rooms themselves are exquisite (I wanted to move in), personal service is the driving force of La Casona. Their staff works with Kuoda to better understand your needs and wants - so you may find yourself introduced to local cocktails or special choice cuisine, if that's where your tastes lie. Perhaps you'll be offered massages in the impeccable spa area. Whatever your needs, the staff is there to make you feel pampered and at home. This dedication to personal service, along with one of the most beautiful facilities in Peru, makes La Casona one of our perpetual favorites and we encourage our guests to experience it themselves! Plus, they are run by the wonderful Inkaterra group, which was one of the first in Peru to commit to sustainable tourism. You can stay in their FABULOUS jungle facilities or their delightful Machu Picchu digs as well! I hope you enjoy some of the photos from my stay HERE. Please, don't hesitate to email me with questions about this fantastic hotel: [e-mail]