Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco

“Now with oxygen enriched rooms” — Belmond Hotel Monasterio

And at ten thousand feet above sea level, it certainly seems that piping oxygen into the guest rooms is an idea whose time has come. Cusco is the oldest living city in the Americas, and one of the highest. The city was once the capital, even the Mecca, of the Incan Empire. The hotel itself was built as a Spanish colonial seminary more than 300 years ago — and the mix of Incan and Colonial cultures is what makes Cusco special. Not only is the landscape quite impressive, but it is surrounded by a wealth of architectural ruins, even within the city limits, and just a day trip away from Macchu Picchu. The explorer can arrange for a hiking and camping expedition along the Inca Trail.

The rooms and suites are a blend of modern and Spanish colonial style, befitting their heritage as, essentially, dormitories for Jesuit missionaries. No two are quite alike, in dimension or design, though all are rather charming and authentically "old-new world." Most, but not all, are oxygen-enriched. No, they are not joking about that. Altitude sickness is no walk in the park, and has, apparently, been a problem in the past.

The Illariy Restaurant, adjacent to the main courtyard, is the modern luxury hotel restaurant, featuring Peruvian and international cuisine. The El Tupay Restaurant, housed in what was once the monastery's refectory, is the more traditional Peruvian restaurant, open for breakfast and for Saturday's Inca Dinner.

Fitness options within the hotel are severely limited. Then again, at 3,300 meters above sea level, a brisk walk is an aerobic workout, and merely sitting up in bed might be considered exercise. However, for the truly irrepressible, there are more strenuous options available outdoors, including mountain biking and whitewater rafting.

A tip from the concierge for those who may prefer a hike outdoors: the Sacsayhuamán ruins, just north of the city, are much closer and more extensive (therefore possibly quite a bit more appealing) than those at Macchu Picchu. And the Spanish culture has of course left its mark — there are a number of fantastic churches and cathedrals scattered about town.

How to get there:
Belmond Hotel Monasterio is a 10-minute drive from Cusco-Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. The hotel can provide a car transfer service from the airport to the Hotel Monasterio for approx. $20–$30.