Where to Stay in Cusco, Peru
Budget to Luxury

June 15, 2025
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Cusco is known as the Inka capital and gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The city is full of incredible architecture, layers and layers of history as well as incredible food and local markets. If you are planning your stay in Cusco as part of your Peru trip, these are the hostels and hotels I’d recommend in the city.

I visited Cusco as part of my 5-week trip in Peru and loved the city and its people. The altitude (3,399 m) did get to me quite a bit and it is commonly advised to spend a minimum of three days here to acclimatise before heading on any strenuous hikes such as the Inka trail or Salkantay Trek.

Problems with altitude can range from minimal to severe, with most reporting headaches. Worse cases can involve vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. If your symptoms get worse over time or you are concerned, immediately seek medical attention!! I had to go to one of the international clinics for it during my stay and can recommend SOS MEDICAL GROUP CMC. Make sure you have travel insurance, I personally have had really good experiences with True Traveller.

Check out this blog post for more tips on combatting altitude sickness: 16 Essential Things To Know Before Travelling To Peru

Don’t let these medical warnings put you off visiting, most travellers only have mild symptoms and altitude sickness medication helps a lot. In any way, it is super important to choose the right accommodation in Cusco. I ended up in a hostel with rude staff while severely altitude sick and it’s not an experience I’d wish on anyone. I will recommend a range of accommodations from budget to luxury, all with excellent reviews and recommended by fellow travellers I met in Cusco.

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Where to stay in Cusco, Peru for any traveller:

Cusco is actually a pretty walkable city, however due to the discussed altitude and getting used to it, I would highly recommend to stay close-ish to Plaza des Armas. Most tours will depart from around here and a lot of the attractions are around this area too, so you will not have to walk as much. Try to avoid any accommodation that has mentions of being up a hill as that can be brutal with the altitude.

Affordable hostels in Cusco

Viajero Hostel Cusco – this hostel in Cusco is famous amongst travellers for being amazing and it sells out quickly in the peak months. It’s location is amazing too. Dorms are on the bigger side but tend to come with curtains on the beds.

Black Llama Hostel Cusco – another traveller favourite in Cusco, many say it is one of the best hostels they’ve ever stayed at. It is a little more expensive than many other hostels here but everyone I’ve met said it was so worth it.

Pariwana Hostel Cusco – my friends stayed here and said it was great. They sometimes limit the water during certain hours here, but when a lot of other hostels in Cusco had run out (a common issue here), they still had some. They also offer lots of activities.

Avoid: I usually never do this, but I stayed at a hostel in Cusco where I had major issues with horrible staff who screamed at me as well as the bug bites all travellers fear the most. After posting a review of my experience, the hostel reacted by threatening me and sharing private information. I’d highly recommend to avoid it. I will not say the name (message me if you want to double check), but it has one 6-bed mixed and one 4-bed female dorm and is located up quite a steep hill from the main plaza of Cusco, near San Cristobal church.

Hotels at different price points in Cusco:

$ El Balcón – an affordable hotel in a great location, right near the main plaza. It also features a cute garden and has breakfast included.

$ Tika Wasi Casa Boutique – this one is a little bit of a walk uphill, but the rooms and staff are lovely and breakfast is included. Price is very fair!

$$ Atoq San Blas Hotel – a beautiful hotel with amazing staff that will make you to-go breakfast for early tour days.

$$ MOAF Cusco Boutique Hotel – value for money in this hotel is incredible and the location is perfect. The staff is said to go above and beyond for guests.

$$$ Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel – a converted palace that is now luxury pure with an included Spa. A very special stay right in the heart of Cusco.

$$$ Antigua Casona San Blas – Easily one of the best hotels in Cusco. Stunning rooms with luxury details and excellent staff.

How to get to Cusco?

All international flights to Peru first land in Lima, which has Peru’s only international airport. See all my Lima guides here.

From Lima, you can either get another flight to Cusco airport or get an overnight bus. Here is everything you need to know about Peru’s bus travel: Ultimate Guide to Travelling Peru by Bus

If your arrive in Cusco by plane, the easiest way to get to your hotel is by taxi, which are very affordable in Peru. I’d recommend downloading InDrive for the cheapest taxi prices (it’s a bartering app for taxis where you suggest a price and drivers can make a counter-offer – you need cash to pay though). Uber also works but is slightly more expensive.

You could also hop into one of the local combis, which are minibuses that pick up a bunch of passengers. You are looking for one that goes to “Cusco Centro”. The fare is often less than $1 and you pay in cash when leaving the bus.

If you are coming from Puno, there is a luxury train that can take you to Cusco. It takes around 10.5 hours and costs around $300. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience and worth it if you have the time. They also have a train called the Spirit of the Andes which is a two-day luxury journey that will set you back about $5,000 for a cabin.