Hotel Review: Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel

by Anthony Losanno
a courtyard with tables and chairs and umbrellas

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After spending a few days in Lima at the Sheraton Lima Historic Center (full review here), we took a LATAM flight to Cusco so we could make the trek to see Machu Picchu. I have been eyeing Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel since it was part of SPG. I would thumb through the Luxury Collection book that showcases the brand’s hotels and it always stood out. It’s housed within a 500-year-old mansion and centrally located within the city.

Anthony’s Take: Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel has a gorgeous lobby and comfortable accommodations. It does not offer air conditioning and this was an issue during our stay. Due to altitude sickness, I did not get to fully enjoy the hotel. The staff are excellent and took good care of us including having a boxed breakfast ready for our early departure to Machu Picchu. The original Inca-constructed walls, tons of art, and other artifacts fill this historic landmark. You feel like you’re staying in a museum and the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Palacio del Inka Booking

Booking

The room was booked through Marriott.com. I booked a Classic, Guest Room, 1 King using two 35K Free Night Certificates that I topped off with Marriott Bonvoy® points. If you’re looking to redeem only Marriott Bonvoy® points here, redemptions cost between 43,000 and 70,000 points per night for a standard room. The cash rates were over $400 per night.

Palacio del Inka Map

Transportation to/from the Hotel

We took an Uber from Cusco’s Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ). I still cannot get over how inexpensive Ubers are in Peru. The approximately 5.2-kilometer ride took 15 minutes and cost $14. We returned to the airport the same way and at a similar cost.

Palacio del Inka Exterior 2

Location

The hotel is located just a quick walk from many restaurants, shops, Plaza de Armas (Cusco’s Main Square), and Cusco Cathedral. The hotel was a good jumping off point for the trek to Machu Picchu.

Palacio del Inka Check-In

Check-in

We arrived around 6:00 PM and the agent informed me that we had been upgraded to a 1 King Bed, 1-Bedroom Suite. He also explained that breakfast was in the hotel’s restaurant and asked if I would like a late checkout. I requested 2:00 PM and it was granted without hesitation. We were not told nor charged the destination fee, but my mother had it added to her bill. It’s $38.40 per day (including tax) and offers a spa discount, two bottles of water per day, and Wi-Fi.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 1

I was immediately struck by how beautiful the lobby is and how many works of art and antiquities filled the room.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 2

Everywhere I looked, I found more art.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 3

The rooms are divided up into several wings. Elevators service different areas.

Palacio del Inka Hallway 1

The hallways are dark and have an old-world elegance to them.

Palacio del Inka Hallway 2

Our suite was not far from the elevator.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 1

1 King Bed, 1-Bedroom Suite (362)

There are 203 rooms and suites at the hotel.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 2

A half bath was to the right when entering the suite. It had a small vanity.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 3

The toilet was tucked behind the door. The room was pretty tight overall.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 4

A bar of Le Chemin by BYREDO soap was on the counter. All of the toiletries were this brand throughout the suite.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 5

The living room was straight ahead. It held a chaise, armchair, coffee table, desk and chair as well as a large TV.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 6

Another welcome amenity was on the table: chocolate covered strawberries. This was addressed to Ms. Losanno (my mother) and she had one addressed to me in her room.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 7

The chaise lounge was the most comfortable spot in the room.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 8

The desk was small and cramped.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 9

The coffeemaker, cups, coffee pods, and condiments took up most of the desk.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 10

A cabinet with a mini-bar was next to the desk.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 11

The refrigerator was not sensored and we used it to store our beverages.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 12

I liked the lights. They fit the decor perfectly.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 13

The bedroom was off of the living room. It had a comfortable king-sized bed, two nightstands, and a chair.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 14

The chair served as a place to hold some clothes.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 15

These figures I found creepy. They were facing the bed while we slept.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 16

The closet was on the right side as you enter the bedroom (just before the en suite bathroom).

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 17

It held a robe, umbrellas, a luggage rack, and more.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 18

The safe was also here.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 19

Slippers were found on the bottom shelf.

Palacio del Inka Courtyard

We had a nice view of the courtyard from the suite.

Rooms have heaters but no air conditioning. We both were overheated and suffering from altitude sickness. I was not happy to have no option to turn on air conditioning. Opening the windows let in tons of noise from the street.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 20

The full bathroom was also on the smaller side. It housed a single-sink vanity, shower/tub combo, and toilet.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 21

More toiletries were on this counter.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 22

I’m not a fan of shower/tub combos and the glass door just makes a mess.

Palacio del Inka Suite 362 23

Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were in large bottles in the shower.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 3

Public Areas & Amenities

As mentioned, the lobby is large and impressive. The hotel houses 195 works and antiquities dating back to the pre-Inca period. Sixty of these are from the 17th-century Cusco School of Art. The hotel offers a free 45-minute guided art tour daily at 5:00 PM.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 4

There are seating groups tucked all around the lobby.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 5

More seating.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 6

Even more seating.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 10

More places to relax.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 7

Some of the history

a table with a lamp and vases on it

Everywhere I turned there was more art.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 11

An ATM is near the front door.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 8

There are concierge desks near the hotel entrance.

Palacio del Inka Lobby 9

Tea was always available.

Palacio del Inka Spa

The hotel has a small spa, but we did not have the chance to visit.

Inti Raymi 2

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in the Inti Raymi restaurant in the lobby. Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite members should get breakfast as an amenity choice. It was also included in my mother’s room rate. We were too sick to go to breakfast, so she went and took some photos for me after she had her meal.

Inti Raymi 3

Diners can choose what they want from the buffet as well as order eggs made to order.

Inti Raymi 4

A harpist plays throughout breakfast.

Inti Raymi 5

Muffins, danish, and croissants.

Inti Raymi 6

Fresh fruit

Inti Raymi 7

Fresh squeezed juice

Inti Raymi 8

Cheese and meats

Inti Raymi 9

Sacred Valley Honeycomb

Inti Raymi 10

Bread

Inti Raymi 11

Local Peruvian dishes

Inti Raymi 12

Gluten-free options

Inti Raymi 13

Tea

Palacio del Inka Boxed Breakfast

The boxed breakfast from the first day included a muffin, croissant, pain au chocolat, juice box, apple, and bottle of water.

Room Service 1

Room Service

After returning from Machu Picchu we were all exhausted. Room service worked out perfectly. They messed up our order twice, but comped some of it as an apology. My mom joined us for dinner. The three of us each started with the Shrimp Creole Soup above.

Room Service 2

I had the Seafood Rice. It was tasty and filling.

Room Service 3

My husband chose the Squid Ink Pappardelle with Shrimp. He liked the flavors.

Room Service 4

My mother had a Steak Sandwich. She said the steak was cooked perfectly.

Room Service 5

We shared two of the Cacao (brownies, bananas, and vanilla ice cream).

Palacio del Inka Bar

My mother’s room rate included two Pisco Sours. We got these from Bar Rumi.

Pisco Sours

My mother and I were not interested, so my husband drank both.

Palacio del Inka

Overall Impression: I loved the elegant and historical Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel in Cusco. The service, rooms, and all facilities are great. It’s only drawback is the lack of air conditioning, which is not acceptable at a hotel of this caliber.

Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m staying at a Marriott hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. With it, I earn six Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. It also includes up to $300 statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month ) for dining in restaurants worldwide. Plus, a free night award that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points. Rates & fees. Terms apply.

(Featured Image and Spa Image Credit: Marriott.)

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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.

3 comments

tda1986 September 7, 2023 - 10:33 am

Americans (including myself) are addicted to air conditioning. The average high in Cusco is 60-65 F year-round.

Reply
PJJTraveler September 7, 2023 - 8:33 pm

We stayed in that exact suite back in 2018!! We truly enjoyed the hotel and it’s history…but it did get a bit warm at night without AC. We also did things backwards to be able to adjust to the altitude better. Upon arrival to Cuzco we proceded to the train to Aguas Calientes (much lower elevation) and spent a couple nights there to see Machu Picchu. That really helped us aclimate to the altitude when going back to Cuzco.

Reply
Frankfurt Airport Lufthansa
Anthony Losanno September 7, 2023 - 9:00 pm

That’s so funny. Small world. You did it right. I should have gone your route. Altitude sickness is not fun.

Reply

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