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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 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.

    Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.

    El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.

    Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.

    So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last

    MissingJuhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • We had the most amazing time. It exceeded all my hopes of what the trip would be. The guides, the hotels - everything was of such a wonderful quality. Thank you for organizing everything. I will absolutely recommend Tourdust and use you again.

    MissingClaudia L reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 11 January 2024

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