ANDEAN EXPLORER TRAIN (CUSCO - LAKE TITITCACA)

The most luxurious way to travel between Cusco and Puno (Lake Titicaca) is without doubt the Andean Explorer train operated by Peru Rail.

Andean Explorer Train ready to depart

This train departs every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and on Fridays during high season either from Cusco or Puno's train station and takes passengers on a 10 hours magnificent journey including a Gourmet lunch, an afternoon tea plus on board entertainment while they enjoy of the sights of the Andean mountains and valleys.

Gourmet lunch served on board

Andean landscape on the way

The Andean Explorer uses Pullman Trains of the twenties decorated with a subtle style and includes dining cars and a car-bar with an outdoor observatory area, perfect to take fresh and pure air while relaxing with the views of the impotent mountains.

Pullman Train

Car-bar

Panoramic car

The journey has been classified as one of the World's Top 25 Trains by The Society of the International Railway Travelers together with the Hiram Bingham Train (Cusco-Machu Picchu-Cusco) because of its the highest standard-gauge rail routes in the world, reaching altitudes up to 14,150 feet. They point as a highlight the riding at sunset the few miles before Puno alongside Lake Titicaca because “the views are nothing short of spectacular.”

The service is nonstop although passengers can expect a stop in La Raya,  4.321 meters above sea level (14,150 feet), a cold and remote place, where a fine mist or rain often hide the spectral peaks and whose silence can be attributed to a dizzying height that blocks the eardrums of each traveler. 

Andean Explorer at La Raya

The arrival in Cusco or Puno is expected at around 5 PM when passengers will start in the following days their visits to the amazing Machu Picchu or the Titicaca Lake after experienced one of the best rail journeys of the world!  

Include this fascinating train trip on your program! Start planning your trip at www.peru-tripadvisors.com

 

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MONASTERIO HOTEL, ONE OF THE BEST LUXURY HOTELS IN CUSCO

Monasterio Hotel

By Peru Trip Advisors 

Monasterio Hotel by Orient Express was the first upscale luxury hotel established in Cusco just when tourism became a more dynamic activity in Peru settled in a former monastery and national monument that was built from 1592 on the site of the palace of Inca Amaru Qhala.

Hotel's main coutyard

Since then, the hotel has been one of the most recognized hotels in Cusco city and it has gained fame around the world because it’s unique architecture, the valuable colonial art that decorates every corner of the hotel and the excellent service.

The location of the hotel is as good as most of the best hotels in Cusco: in the center, a few steps away from the Main Square, at Plazoleta Nazarenas, easy to access by car or on foot and safe to walk around at any time of the day.

Outside the hotel

 

Walls decorated with authentic paints from the Colonial times

Because the Monastery is a national monument protected by the National Institute of Culture, there are several limitations in what architectonical changes respects, reason why most of the rooms are quite small considering guest´s expectations for a hotel of such a category, these rooms were once the cells of the clerics who inhabited the monastery.

The hotel counts with different room´s categories from Superior to Royal Suites and rates that goes from US$390 to more than US$2000 per room/night. 

Junior Suite at Monasterio Hotel

They were the first ones in the country that offered the feature of oxygen supplement that enriches the atmosphere in the rooms and makes the stay a lot pleasant considering Cusco’s high elevation.

Monastery Hotel charges US$48 per night for this feature while other hotels that open years later counts with oxygen-enriched rooms at no extra cost. 

Breakfast time at the hotel

In what food concerns, the hotel´s restaurants: Illariy (for lunch) and El Tupay (for dinner) offer delicious dishes of the Peruvian gastronomy with French and Mediterranean touches. They had gained international popularity and had obtained the SQF2000 certification for their high standards of food preparation.

 

El Tupay Restaurant

Booking a table ahead of time is important, especially for dinner. 

If you are not a guest of this hotel and want to enjoy of a meal in any of its restaurants, you can book it at the following link: http://www.monasteriohotel.com/web/ocus/ocus_t5d_booking.jsp

 

They count with live music on certain days of the week. Also, try the Lobby Bar and enjoy of a drink and canapés before your meal. The ambience is simply excellent. 

Lobby bar

Canapes served at the Lobby Bat

All in all, this hotel is one of the best alternatives to stay in Cusco in its category with international recognition and even if you cannot stay overnight here, you still have the chance to indulge yourself with a fancy meal or just chill out in their bar after a day full of activities in the magical Cusco! 

Peru Trip Advisors

www.peru-tripadvisors.com

info@peru-tripadvisors.com

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La Casona Inkaterra Hotel

During my last visit to Cusco, the hotel that was more memorable for me was without doubt La Casona Inkaterra.

I was so much looking forward to stay there since I received great comments from my clients.

The first day was pretty much like arriving home!!! The hotel’s door is closed most of the time, they don’t have a front desk, check in is quick and easy and it’s done at the sitting room next to the entry or at your suite but you can find the hotel’s staff anywhere and at any time, ready to help you in anything you need.

The hotel's front door. The door is closed most of the time but if you ring the bell, they open it in a few seconds!

It’s an old mansion that it hasn’t been modified much to become a hotel, you really have the feeling of the old times in Cusco but within a charm environment. There is soft music playing in the common areas that makes you feel relaxed and cozy. I loved spending time reading a book in the living room, I really felt like at home.

A cozy living room

The hotel offers a free tea time available since around 5 PM, it was great having a cup of tea and a muffin after a long and tiring day without having to wait until dinner.

Tea time!

Rooms were perfectly decorated. I would say the style was simple but warm, everything was perfectly placed. It was great to find hot water bottles in the evening.  I was impressed by size of the bathroom and I loved all the available amenities.

Spacious and comfortable rooms

Location couldn’t be better! Next to a great restaurant (Fallen Angel) and a few steps away from the main square.  

This hotel can be included in any of the tours we offer, take a look of our suggested programs, click here! or contact us telling us your preferences and we will prepared a personalized itinerary.

Susana Sanchez

Peru Trip Advisors
Susana@peru-tripadvisors.com
www.peru-tripadvisors.com

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Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel

Last March we visited Cusco I believed for the 8^th time.

This was kind of a business trip with some meetings and site inspection to new hotels.

I had the great opportunity to stay overnight at the Aranwa Cusco Boutique hotel.

I had previously stay at the Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness and it became my favorite one in that location so I had high expectations for the one in Cusco…they were exceeded!

A cozy room near the lobby

I absolutely love the hotel’s decoration with a strong religious-colonial influence that makes you feel in a luxury colonial mansion in Cusco but with all the modern facilities that are perfectly blended with the style. Paintings, sculptures and carvings are everywhere. The colors used on the walls, doors, some of the furniture can be all different but really well combined.

The table we took breakfast!

Rooms are all enhanced with oxygen. The moment you check in, they turn on the oxygen from the Front Desk so when you enter to the room you feel like if you were at sea level again! I helps you a lot to sleep without troubles and the risk of having the altitude sickness’ symptoms is small.

Our Deluxe Superior room

The location is good, a short walking distance from the main square, a little uphill if you are going to the hotel but many streets in Cusco are uphill so it can’t be avoided.

I didn’t have any chance to try the restaurant’s food other than the breakfast but I’ve heard really good comments about it.

This hotel can be included in any of the tours we offer, take a look of our suggested programs, click here!

Enjoy!

Marita Nuñez
marita@peru-tripadvisors.com

Peru Trip Advisors

www.peru-tripadvisors.com

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