Description: Libertador Palacio del Inka hotel - Cusco

This is a large busy hotel just five minutes walk from the main square and next to the Inca Temple of the Sun . It is a traditional 16th century Pizzarro’s Palace with Spanish colonial additions beautifully decorated in Spanish/Peruvian style.
The lobby is large and airy with many areas for sitting comfortably in groups to share a cup of the complimentary coca tea which is on tap 24 hours a day. The coca tea was essential to avoid altitude sickness and I found I needed several of the little cups in the day and when I woke in the morning if I didn’t have a cup fairly quickly I did feel a little wobbly and shaky particularly the first morning after our arrival. There was also oxygen available if you needed it but I wasn’t that bad and I found the tea, lots of water and fresh air helped me.

We didn’t eat meals other than breakfast in the hotel but those people I talked to who did eat in the restaurants said the food was very good. The restaurant was called the Inti Raymi Restaurant and it looked very nice and the Kero coffee shop smelled of delicious cakes every time we passed by. The breakfast room was beside a traditional courtyard and was light and gave you somewhere interesting to look while enjoying the breakfast. There was a choice of three fruit juices, plenty of fruit, pawpaw, melon and fruit salad as well as whole uncut fresh fruit. There were a huge variety of yogurts and cereals then breads and sweet pastries. There were also cold meats and cheeses as well as a variety of cooked bacon, eggs sausages, potato etc.

The rooms were rather warm even though it was cool outside and there was only heating, no air conditioning so I think it could be very warm in summer. They were quite pleasantly furnished with two single beds, a TV, mini bar, table and two chairs. The furnishings were quite dark and the lightening a little inadequate for comfortable reading but it was quite a decent room. Our first room opened on to the inside courtyard but when we looked out of the window we could see right into the room on the opposite side of the courtyard which meant that we had to keep our curtains drawn if we wanted any privacy. The second room we had overlooked the alley way and the Inca ruins which was much nicer and lighter.

The bathroom had a shower bath and lovely big fluffy towels. There was a basket of the usual toiletries, a kettle and a selection of coffee, teas, sugar and creamer. It was again quite adequate but not luxurious. It took a while to find the tea and coffee as they were in the mini bar not beside the kettle – I asked at reception for some and they sent another up, we then found those hidden in the mini bar. They also sent up extra pillows that we requested within 5 minutes of our asking for them which I was impressed with.

There was an internet room with a number of computers and free wifi access if you had your own laptop but you did need to be pretty near this room in order to connect to the hotel’s internet. This was not possible from either of the rooms we had during our stay, I had to go down the corridor or into the lobby to achieve a connection. This wasn’t a huge problem but did mean you had to be dressed rather than relaxing in the towelling dressing gown and little slippers that were provided in your room.
A sauna, spa and fitness room were available but as I was struggling to get enough oxygen just walking around I certainly didn’t feel like any more strenuous exercise.

All around the hotel were many lovely areas with sofas for relaxing in, all very comfortable and all different. There were also two courtyard areas with heaters and braziers burning in the evening which looked very attractive. There was a bar which looked very nice but we didn’t try that either. Unfortunately I felt a little unwell while we were here as the altitude was affecting me so I kept off the alcohol and was also off my food a little which was a real shame as the food was lovely and I wasn’t able to fully appreciate it all.

We stayed two nights initially then went up to Machu Piccu for a night to return to Cusco for another night before moving on. The hotel stored our large cases and had them ready waiting in our new rooms for us on our return. They also stored our valuables that we didn’t need like my laptop, travel tickets for onward journeys and extra money in a safety box behind the main desk. All we took to Machu Piccu was an overnight bag and passports and tickets for that journey plus spending money. This was a wonderful service for our tour as it would have been a real pain to have to take our large suitcases to and from Machu Piccu on the train just for one night.

The staff were extremely efficient and very helpful in everything we asked. They were friendly and pleasant at all times. There were lifts and wheel chair access is listed on the hotel facilities. I am not sure of the costs for rooms as it was included in our tour price but on the hotels.com website it states rooms from £137 per night.

If you are interested then this is their website:
http://www.libertador.com.pe/home-cusco-libertador


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