Located on the serene Plaza Las Nazarenas, Cusco, Peru. Surrounded by astounding Andean scenery. Re-live a privileged tradition. Inkaterra presents Cusco's first luxury boutique hotel, reflecting a privileged mix of culture and tradition.

Meticulously restored. A colonial manor house —perhaps the first Spanish construction in Cusco built over Inca complex -and later occupied by the conquistadores of Peru, and their descendants. Eleven suites surround a sumptuous courtyard, where the patina of time is tastefully preserved. Contemporary amenities create the ambience of comfort and exclusivity enjoyed by residents in centuries past.

A quiet oasis. Located on the serene Plaza Las Nazarenas, Cusco, Peru. Surrounded by astounding Andean scenery.

ACCOLADES

Read Luxury Travel Magazine article: A visit to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas By J.S. Fletcher and Kathy M. Newbern

Inkaterra La Casona is a member of Relais & Chateaux
Condé Nast Traveler (USA) – 2009 Hot List - World's Top 140 New Hotels
Condé Nast Traveller (UK) – 2009 Hot List - World's Top 40 New Hotels
Travel + Leisure (USA) – Among the 45 Best New World Hotels

AMENITIES

ROOM AMENITIES
100% cotton sheets and anti-allergenic pillows plus down duvets
Stone fireplaces
Stocked refrigerator/mini bar
CD/DVD/I-Pod player
Large marble bathroom equipped with two sinks, tub, shower and independent toilet
Inkaterra handmade toiletries, lush towels, bath salts and twin closet
Flat-screen TV with cable
personal safe
cordless phone
Kimono-style bathrobes and Andean slippers made of recycled material
Hair dryer

HOTEL SERVICES
The one-room Yaku Spa overlooking the central courtyard offers private massages
A la carte lunch and dinner
Afternoon tea
Holiday menu
Child explorer kit
Private, guided excursions (English and Spanish) or in other languages
Private transfers with bilingual driver
Special events and celebrations
Housekeeping service three times daily
Personalized welcome with in-room check-in
Concierge services
Complimentary wireless Internet access
Oxygen
Limited room service

DINING

Dining Room (seats 12-24)

Local ceramics grace the Spanish-style dining tables, several overlooking a small, glass-enclosed courtyard. La Casona features "Andean New World Cuisine" using traditional techniques and endemic ingredients with a homemade touch.

Reservations recommended.

LEISURE

La Casona's private excursions cover Cusco and the surrounding region from creative crafts or colonial churches to temples or pueblo picnics. All excursions are at an additional cost to include private transfer and bilingual guide.

Quarter-Day Excursions:

CUSCO CATHEDRAL - Take an intimate tour to get to know this superb symbol of the city closely, including its 11 chapels, one vestry, seven altarpieces and one lower chorus completely carved in cedar wood from Cusco, more than 300 paintings, and a variety of carvings and sculptures. The highlight of all these is the Main Altar, covered entirely with layers of silver and the Silver Chariot, mounted on a pedestal, still used for procession during the religious festival of Corpus Christi.

SACSAYHUAMAN - Visit Cusco's most impressive Inca fortress, which was dedicated to the Sun cult, to understand the forces that guided the Incas to be powerful in the region during 14th and 15th centuries. This archaeological site is one of the most astounding Inca constructions with tons of enormous stones carved and built together to a minute precision. It is probably the most important ceremonial center dedicated to the sun, and not just a fort, where every 24th of June, the Inti Raymi festival is celebrated to honor the sun god.

MUSEUM of PRE-COLUMBIAN ART – This museum, steps from La Casona in the same square, offers the best Pre-Colombian art and archaeological pieces set in a beautiful Viceroyalty house with a large inner courtyard. This museum used to be the convent of Santa Clara until the seventeenth century. In 2003, it opened its doors as the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art - MAP. This extraordinary Cusco historic monument holds the only museum in Peru dedicated to recover the arts of ancient Peruvian cultures. The collection of 450 masterpieces dates from 1250 B.C to 1532 A.D. The exhibition uses texts in Spanish, English and French to emphasize the artistic context of the collection displayed in 11 showrooms. Its galleries were designed to meet the highest standards of modern museography enabling the visitors to admire Pre-Columbian art in its best expression. Map Café is on the main patio where novo-andino cuisine is offered.

KORICANCHA TEMPLE - Visit one of the most important temples in the Incan Empire dedicated to Wiracocha, sun god or creator. This temple became Catholic when the Spanish conquerors built over it the convent and church of Santo Domingo. Its former pre-Inca construction of adobe and unpolished quartz lasted until the 12th century and when the Incas took over, they named it Koricancha ("courtyard of gold"). The Church of Santo Domingo was built using the ruined foundations of the temple that were flattened by the Spanish in the 17th century and is a fine example of where Inca stonework has been incorporated into the structure of a colonial building. Major earthquakes have severely damaged the church, but the Inca stone walls, built out of huge, tightly-interlocking blocks of stone, still stand thanks to its sophisticated stone masonry.

SAN BLAS - One of Cusco's most picturesque communities, characterized by steep narrow streets that zigzag among old colonial houses constructed with walls of Inca stone. From colonial times to the present day, the arts and crafts tradition of San Blas has been passed from one generation to the next. The people of Cusco are justly proud of the great wealth of arts found here, where you will discover sculpture, pottery, paintings, jewelry, textiles, woodcarvings, stonework, religious art and antiques.

REGIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM - Discover one of the most visited museums of the imperial city, birthplace of the renowned mestizo author Garcilaso Inca de la Vega. The grand colonial house was converted into Regional Historical Museum in 1946, a reliquary of colonial arts, located less than two blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Browse its thematic displays of history-rich eras and get to know the life of the famous mestizo son of Cusco, Garcilaso. The museum also houses a collection of paintings from the Cusco School of Arts, wood sculptures by Bernardo Bitti, historical documents, pre-Inca and Inca textiles, agricultural tools and musical instruments, as well as valuable art from the colonial and Republican periods.

SANTA CATALINA CONVENT AND CHURCH - Built by the Spanish between 1601 and 1610 on top of Aqllawasi, Inca house of chosen women (House of Virgins) dedicated to the sun cult, the Santa Catalina monastery was founded by Isabel Rivera de Padilla the same originator who established the first in Arequipa. The church and the convent house an interesting collection of colonial and religious art such as paintings from Cusco School of Arts, emphasizing the union of both Inca and Spanish culture. In addition to baroque frescoes depicting Inca flora, the chapel also houses macabre statues of Jesus, beautifully painted arches, and 17th century tapestries. Perhaps the highlight of this site is a trunk of 3D nativity figurines.

THE SOCIETY OF JESUS CHURCH - The Church of the Society of Jesus was founded by the Jesuits in late 16th century on the site of Amarukancha, the palace of Huayna Capac. Originally to rival the cathedral, its imposing façade is one of the finest examples of colonial baroque style. Among the outstanding religious art works, stand out the ornately carved gold leafed high and side altars, canvas paintings of Saint Ignatius of Loyola by Marcos Zapata, "Christ's Crucifixion" by Burgos and wedding paintings of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s nephews, one a true mestizo symbol, the union between Inca royalty and Spanish conqueror.

QENKO, PUCA PUCARA & TAMBOMACHAY - Cusco's important archaeological ruins. First is Q'enko, which means "labyrinth" and contains two ruins: Qenko Grande, which is located at the bottom of the road, and Qenko Chico. These are Inca temples with underground galleries and small canals made of rocks in zigzag formation. Continue to Puca Pucará located seven kilometers northeast of the city, its Quechua name means "red fortress"; it was a military construction composed of elevated terraces, inner patios, aqueducts, watch towers, high walls and stairways. Your last stop is Tambomachay, its Quechua words Tampu means lodging or inn, and Machay, means a resting place. Formed by stone structures, aqueducts, waterfalls, springs and thermal sources, it is commonly referred to as the Baños del Inca or Inca baths, former site for ritual bathing by the royal Incas.

Half-Day Excursions:

MARAS AND MORAY - Enjoy a private guided trip to Maras Salt Mines and the circular terraces of Moray. On the way you will see some of the most scenic spots in the Sacred Valley. First, visit the ancient salt mines near the village of Maras, where salty springs emerge from the hillside and the Incas built terraces to capture the flows and harvest salt. Continue the excursion to Moray, where huge circular agricultural terraces were built by the Incas on limestone sinks served to plant various crops. It is said to have a cosmological significance, however, the Incas used the terraces as an agricultural laboratory to determine the optimum conditions for each species in varying altitudes.

Full-Day Excursions:

THE SACRED VALLEY - Start this interesting excursion from the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, which is one of the most ancient continually occupied human settlements in the Americas. This site shows the best example of city planning done by the Incas. Its excellent construction with its strong walls was both a temple and a fortress. Then visit another impressive Inca complex, the archaeological site of Pisaq, with terraces built on its hills. To visit the site, you must walk along winding paths along a mountain cliff. Among the most important buildings are Pisaca, which is a curved wall; the Intihuatana, a solar clock among a group of temples and the military zone called "Q'Allaqasa." Also visit its colorful market where an artisans’ fair takes place every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, an exhibit and sale of fine woven crafts, colorful tapestries, handicrafts and textiles from Pisac and neighboring villages.

TIPON - Start the tour by visiting the archaeological site of Piquillacta, which literally means "place of the flea," 32 kilometers south east of Cuzco. The archaeological site was built around 1100 AD by the Wari culture, which is made of more rudimentary stone works than those of the Incas. It is the only pre-Inca archaeological site located in the area, close to a lake. Next, head to Tipon and its extensive Inca ruins, which include baths, terraces and irrigation systems still in use today, as well as a temple complex. From the ruins, it is possible to travel farther up to see more Inca constructions, roads and a deep irrigation canal.

ANDAHUAYLILLAS - During this full day journey, explore the interesting sites found on Cusco's southern route. Visit Andahuaylillas, a pretty Andean village famous for its lavishly decorated Jesuit Church, called the "Sixtine" because of its beautiful frescoes, and quaint plaza surrounded by trees. In the afternoon see the village of Huaro, with its dazzling recently restored colonial church. The walls were decorated with paintings by Thaddeus Escalante in 1802, which were originally used to evangelize the illiterate.

ATTRACTIONS

Machu Picchu "Lost City of the Incas" - Many travelers reach Machu Picchu by train from Cusco (about 4 hours). Named among the New Seven Wonders of the World, the site, officially the Machu Picchu Historical Reserve, is surreal: 15th-century stone-fronted terraces, stone temples, stairs, walkways and streets. "Machu Picchu," meaning "ancient summit" or "old mountain" is mysterious, full of wonder and awe inspiring.

To enter the site, you'll need the equivalent of $40 in local currency, cash only. You can get a Machu Picchu stamp in your passport just inside the entry gate, so be sure to take it along (safely tucked away).

And consider an overnight stay at Inkaterra La Casona's sister property, the enigmatic Inkaterra Machu Picchu.

GETTING THERE

Airport: Inkaterra La Casona is 10 minutes from Velasco Astete International Airport, Cusco (CUZ). Flights hourly from Lima; daily from Puno, Arequipa, Puerto Maldonado, La Paz.

Trains run from Puno, Arequipa. From Cusco, travelers take Peru Rail trains to Machu Picchu, www.perurail.com. Most luxurious is the Hiram Bingham train by Orient-Express, www.orient-express.com. (Book accommodations well in advance.)

Inkaterra La Casona
Plaza Nazarenas 113
Cusco, Peru