Inkaterra La Casona: About

Located in Cusco, Peru

Along a cobbled street in Cusco, there is faded green doorway that serves as a portal to the past, and what lies beyond its threshold is an abode worthy of an enchanting entrance. Inkaterra La Casona is an intimate hotel set within an exquisite 16th-century manor house, and one of Cusco’s most storied dwellings. The arcades of the building’s timeless courtyard have seen many noble visitors, from elite Inca warriors to Simón Bolívar. You are now part of that guest list—invited to experience the splendor of centuries past in this meticulously restored home, brimming with baroque furnishings, colonial antiques, and Andean textiles. And when you step back through that green door, Cusco’s beguiling streets await you on the other side.

Highlights

  • Relax in front of a roaring fire lit in the lodge lounge or the privacy of your suite, and soak up the Spanish-colonial ambiance on a stroll beneath centuries-old stone arches.
  • Savor traditional Peruvian dishes infused with international flavors and prepared using gourmet techniques by the hotel chefs.
  • Sip on Peru’s national drink, the pisco sour, while stargazing from the lodge's arcaded courtyard.
  • Indulge in revitalizing spa treatments that use natural products incorporating local botanicals.
  • Step just outside the lodge to explore the heart of Cusco’s historical district, then venture into the nearby Sacred Valley to discover intriguing Inca ruins and traditional Andean culture.

Why We Love This Lodge

The manor that houses Inkaterra La Casona is part of the fabric of Cusco, and staying here gives guests a deeper understanding of the city’s cultural layers. The 16th-century mansion was one of the first Spanish constructions here, and like most of the city’s early colonial buildings, it was placed directly on top of an existing Inca foundation. The original structure held the Warakos Academy—the training grounds for an elite army of Incas. It was later inhabited by Diego de Almagro, a Spanish conquistador of Peru, and for a short while was even home to Simón Bolívar, the renowned liberator of South America.

As empires have fallen and powers shifted, the manor has remained an important fixture in the city—so much so that the Peruvian government has recognized the building's significance by deeming it a national historical monument.

Lodge Features

  • 11 hacienda-style suites in a restored 16th-century colonial manor
  • Traditional arcaded courtyard, equipped with benches and blankets for stargazing
  • Spa therapy room offering treatments that incorporate local botanicals
  • Dining room and courtyard dining terrace
  • Lounge area surrounding a large stone fireplace
  • Boutique featuring local handicrafts, including Andean textiles, silver jewelry, and alpaca clothing
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout the lodge

National Geographic Exclusive

Each of our lodges has created a special complimentary experience offered exclusively to guests who visit through a National Geographic expedition. At Inkaterra La Casona, National Geographic guests are invited on an exclusive architectural tour of this historic manor with the lodge manager. Hear tales from the manor's long and intriguing past, and learn about the restoration process that brought this colonial gem back to its original glory.

Awards and Recognitions

  • PURE Life Experiences Awards: Contribution to Experiential Travel, José Koechlin, 2015
  • World Travel & Tourism Council, Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, Conservation Category, 2012
  • Travel + Leisure, Global Vision Award for Environmental Stewardship, 2011
  • Condé Nast Traveller, Gold List—Best Hotels in the World, Ambiance and Design, 2011

Go with Nat Geo

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  • Private Expeditions

    See a specially crafted National Geographic itinerary including this lodge.

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