Cuzco, Peru
Palacio Del Inka
A Luxury Collection Hotel
What it is
A 15th century former palace turned into a sumptuous 154-room, antique-stocked retreat with a fiercely authentic Peruvian restaurant and an indigenous-inspired spa.
What it isn't
Stuffy. A storied central stone courtyard with a gurgling fountain sets an always-relaxed and airy mood.
What we think
You could trudge from museum to museum to see pre-Incan, Incan and Colonial-era art, or you could simply stay here. Walls are adorned with some 195 jaw-dropping pieces, many in gilt gold frames that are equally ornate, and pop against the hotel’s 13-foot walls painted in Crayola-bright hues of yellow ochre and cobalt blue. We love the architectural elegance in the 538-square-foot Imperial Marquis Suite, with its soaring stone archways and hand-painted flourishes. Just as fancifully painted, the 807 square foot Inca Temple Suite is beloved by families, thanks to its sprawling two bedroom floor plan (each comes with a walk-in closet, preventing arguments about wardrobe confetti that often dots the floor when traveling en famille). But here, even the starter Classic King room is exquisite, with a cherry red office tucked behind tasseled curtains tucked within the efficient 247-square-foot floor plan.
You're here because
The team at The Luxury Collection has whipped up epicurean experiences you salivate over, including weekly mixology classes and indigenous cooking courses.
The Moment
The Andes Spirit Spa has more than lived up to its name, but what you love more than anything is the relaxation room—where your reclining daybed peers up at an inky black ceiling covered in twinkling stars.
Restaurants & Bars
Inti Raymi Restaurant - Presents local and regional delicacies
Rumi Bar - Invites guests to enjoy a refreshing beverage alongside tempting snacks and tapas
Location
Centuries-old central Cusco, a block from the Incan ruin of Qorikancha temple (now a museum) that originally had every inch of its floors and walls sheathed in gold.