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Casa Cartagena

Our rating

9/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Upmarket boutique hotel steeped in history
- Well located for exploring Cusco
- Lovely central courtyard
- Butler service, spa, gym, yoga, cookery class

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Overview

This luxury boutique hotel stands out from others in the city of Cusco thanks to its fascinating history. Many centuries ago, the ground on which it now stands was the location of an Inca temple. Then, in the 17th century the current building was erected on the site; over the years it’s been lovingly preserved, with much of its colonial-style architecture and traditional decor attesting to its rich heritage. Though the hotel is very much a heritage building, parts of it have been furnished to modern standards to give it more of a contemporary, elegant and somewhat fanciful feel.

The high end accommodation comprises 16 air conditioned suites, all of which are handsomely furnished and have an ample amount of space. All suites have a somewhat eclectic and trendy feel, yet at the same time the décor and furnishings respect the city’s rich cultural heritage. While the hotel’s public areas are in the main historic building, the suites are grouped together in a separate building. All suites come with a balcony or patio and offer views of the hotel’s well manicured central gardens. In each one, there’s a 29” LCD TV with cable channels, an MP3 docking station, a hairdryer and a convenient two-way oxygen enrichment system - this is provided to enable those not used to high altitudes to easily acclimatise to Cusco’s relatively high altitude of around 11,150 feet. Guests are provided with canapés and a courtesy cocktail every evening.

La Bodge de la Chola is the hotel’s restaurant. It’s open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers an array of Peruvian dishes, including a wide range of local specialties. What makes the restaurant particularly interesting is the fact that it had some rather famous patrons in previous years, namely Che Guevara, a key figure of the Cuban Revolution, and the poet Pablo Neruda. The hotel’s spa is set across three floors and offers a full range of treatments and services. Some of its facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, a stone trail, a steam bath and a number of massage parlours. All products used in the spa are entirely organic and haven’t been tested on animals. There's also a private gym where regular yoga classes take place, and a boutique selling a variety of high-quality artisan souvenirs and products.

Guests are free to make use of the hotel’s butler service. The butler can carry out tasks such as preparing a bath with mineral salts, arranging trips to various points of interest in Cusco and even helping with unpacking and repacking luggage. Classes are available that teach guests how to make ceviche, a popular national dish, and Pisco Sour, the country’s national cocktail.

The hotel welcomes children, and while parents should note that there are no specific child-oriented facilities or services on site, there's plenty for families to do in and around Cusco.

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 530 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • Dear Lisa. On behalf of the three generations of the Rowland family. Thank you, so much, for organising our wonderful holiday to Botswana and the Victoria Falls. The trip of a lifetime. The week mobile camping in the bush, with our guide Nandos and his crew was a fantastic adventure. How they manage to cook such wonderful food on an open fire is amazing. The sites were constantly visited by monkeys and once by elephants. We were even lucky enough to see two packs of wild dogs, once with a kill. Waterberry Lodge on the Zambezi River is a wonderfully tranquil place. Ideal to relax after the adventures of our safari and visiting Victoria Falls. Very many thanks once again

    MissingGodfrey R reviewing Private Mobile Family Safari in Botswana on 25 September 2023

  • We had a great time - even with the flight between Governors and the coast being two flights and a car! We also experienced a power cut At Nairobi airport on the way home so 2+ hours late taking off. Governors. Wonderful people and dealt with the flight delay very well - taking us back and letting us know that we could stay there if the flight was delayed overnight. The game drives were excellent and our guide (Erick) obviously very experienced and managed to find all the key animals - no rhino in that part of the Masai Mara but everything else in abundance - never seen so many herbivores (many many elephants as well as all the others) as well as two prides of lions. Could not have asked for more. The ‘tent’ was excellent and comfortable and well serviced. The only ‘complaint’ would be that the food - especially dinner - could be improved (I think we got a bit bored of soup as a starter for every meal bar one) and the main courses were not at the same level as Kinondo Kwetu and while all were explained there was no choice offered. The breakfasts were just what was needed after an early game drive. Kinondo Kwetu. What a great location and the welcome when we arrived at just gone 11.00pm was better than you could have ever thought possible - they we’re disappointed that we did not at that time want the full dinner experience! The rooms we’re comfortable. The food was excellent but again no choice was offered - other than for allergy reasons (which we do not have). May be some choice would be nice. Having said that the food we did have was excellent as were the wines (albeit a short list!) and other drinks. There were (as you know) lots of facilities/sports options - but we spent our time relaxing which was exactly what we needed and there were lots of places to do that. Overall. We would go back to both places - perhaps a few more nights at Kinondo Kwetu next time but 3 nights at Governors was perfect for us. Thank you for organising and recommending both places. That you and your colleague for trying to find out about the plane (flat tyre) but communication by the flight company left a lot to be desired (Governors were furious that they were not told and had taken us to the airstrip). Phil

    MissingPhilip R reviewing Masai Mara Safari & Kenya Beach on 01 September 2023

  • It was certainly a holiday of a lifetime for us and we loved every minute!! The standard and location of each accommodation was excellent, as was the variety of each different accommodation type. Our schedule was perfect and we managed to achieve everything on our to-do task list. Your documents were also really helpful, as were the driving directions. We all thank you for making this such a wonderful holiday. Happy to leave a review publicly if you point me the right way. Best Steve

    MissingStephen H reviewing Classic Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari on 01 September 2023

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