Your stay — Cusco Plaza II
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The Property — Cusco Plaza II
A converted colonial house two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, Cusco Plaza II feels more like a guesthouse than a 3-star hotel: the lobby is a small courtyard with a glass roof, painted wooden furniture and a tiled fountain that runs day and night. The USP is location — you can walk to the cathedral in three minutes — and the free coca tea on arrival helps first-timers cope with the altitude. Best for budget-conscious travellers who want historic charm and a quiet sleep without paying for a four-star atrium.
Chronicles of Cusco
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, founded in the 12th century and redesigned as a puma-shaped city by Pachacuti in the 1400s. After the Spanish conquest in 1534, the invaders built churches and mansions directly on top of Inca stone foundations, creating the city’s signature hybrid architecture. Earthquakes in 1650 and 1950 destroyed many colonial additions but left the Inca walls standing, which exposed the original stonework. Today Cusco is Peru’s chief tourist hub, a Unesco World Heritage site, and a living mix of Quechua traditions, Spanish baroque and a buzzing backpacker economy.
Best Time to Visit
Full Cusco guide →Best months
May, June, August — dry, sunny days (around 20°C) with crisp nights; June avoids the rain of December-March and the Inti Raymi crowds of late June have mostly eased. August is similarly settled with slightly lighter tourist numbers than July.
Peak / festival surge
July is the heart of the high season because it coincides with the southern hemisphere winter holidays and Peru’s national holidays, plus the Fiestas Patrias (28-29 July). Hotel prices can jump 30-40% from June rates. The previous week (late June) has Inti Raymi, the Inca sun festival, which fills every room.
Budget shoulder season
September-October and April are the best budget windows: weather is mostly dry (though some showers), tourist numbers are noticeably lower, and hotel prices drop 15-25% below July levels.
Weather & packing
Cusco’s climate quirk is that the dry season (May-September) has cold nights despite warm, strong-sun days — temperatures can drop to 2°C after dark. Pack a warm fleece or wool jumper, a waterproof shell for any unexpected drizzle, and suncream for the high-altitude UV.
Live City Briefing — Cusco
- The airport is operating as usual but note that the new Chinchero International Airport (due 2025-26) is still under construction; check for any route changes or delays if flying via Lima.
- Most archaeological sites, including Machu Picchu, require advance booking via the government platform since COVID; July tickets sell out weeks ahead, so book immediately after confirming your trip.
- A new pedestrian zone on Calle Procuradores (the street leading to the Plaza de Armas) was tested in 2025 and may still be in effect, blocking vehicle access during peak hours — allow extra walking time from the hotel.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Cusco Plaza II, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the interior courtyard. These floors are high enough to avoid most street noise from Saphi, and the courtyard side is quieter than the street-facing rooms. The 3-star rating suggests basic soundproofing, so the interior position matters more here than views.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor (street noise and lobby footfall) and any room directly overlooking Saphi street. Saphi is a main road used by taxis and colectivos, so lower street-facing rooms get engine hum, honking, and pedestrian chatter from early morning until late evening. Also skip rooms near the lift or service stairs — usually marked on the floor plan at check-in.
Best views
The best view from Cusco Plaza II is from a 4th-floor room facing east, overlooking the tiled rooftops and the San Cristóbal church dome. Street-side rooms face Saphi, a narrow colonial lane with a mix of stone walls and shop fronts — less interesting, no horizon. Courtyard rooms look onto a small central patio (often with plants), pleasant but not panoramic.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest at Cusco Plaza II. These sit above the main street-level noise and below any rooftop terrace (if one exists — common in Cusco centro), so they avoid both street racket and late-night guest movement upstairs. The hotel has no lift, so request a lower quiet floor (3) if you have heavy luggage.
🔊 Noise notes
Saphi is a busier street than it appears on maps: it connects the Plaza de Armas (5-min walk) to the San Blas district, so taxi honks, tour van engines, and pedestrian groups are constant from 7am–9pm. Early mornings see garbage trucks and delivery vans. The hotel’s colonial building has thick stone walls but single-glazed windows, so street noise is audible. There's no bar on site, but nearby restaurants have music until 10pm.
Insider tips
1) Ask for a room on the courtyard side at booking and again at check-in — it cuts noise significantly. 2) The hotel has no lift, so if you’re sensitive to altitude, request floor 2 or 3 (not 4) to avoid extra stairs; the staff will help with bags to floor 2, but higher is self-service. 3) Breakfast is included but basic (bread, jam, coffee, scrambled eggs) — go to a nearby café on Saphi for better coffee.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Cusco Plaza II
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds around 5 Mbps (suitable for browsing/email, not streaming). Login via room number and surname; no device limit.
A small lift serves all four floors, stairs only to the rooftop terrace.
No complimentary newspaper or digital newsstand; a few local papers (El Comercio) are available at reception. The hotel occupies a restored colonial townhouse with original stone walls and an interior courtyard.
Standard check-in from 13:00. Early bag drop available from 10:00. Late check-out (after 12:00) costs S/50 until 15:00, then full night's rate.
Free storage for same-day arrivals and departures; longer storage S/10 per bag per day.
No step-free entry – one step at the main entrance; staff can assist. No rooms or facilities are designed for wheelchair users. Lift is narrow (60 cm wide).
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park 'Parking Saphi' (50 m) costs S/25 per 24 hours. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Tourist tax S/10 per person per night, payable at check-in (exempt for Peruvian nationals).
Deposit & card hold: Advance deposit of 50% of booking total required 14 days before arrival; remaining balance plus a S/200 incidental hold on a credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Capilla (204 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Capilla San Antonio Abad (229 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Templo de la Sagrada Familia (330 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia de San Cristóbal (332 m · ~4 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Inti Killa — 782 m · ~10 min walk
Parque Tricentenario — 288 m · ~4 min walk
Museo de las Plantas Sagradas — 141 m · ~2 min walk
Paraninfo Universitario — 588 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
globalnet — 259 m · ~3 min walk
Farmandina — 592 m · ~7 min walk
Minimarket San Cristobal — 162 m · ~2 min walk
San Pedro — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use ATMs in the city centre; avoid exchanging at the airport or tourist bureaux due to poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard accepted in most shops and restaurants; Amex less common; contactless widely used.
10% in restaurants if service charge not included; round up taxi fare; no tip for hotel staff unless exceptional.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A basic black coffee from a local cafe costs around S/ 4–6.
Menu del día (set lunch) at a simple eatery: S/ 12–16.
Main course at a local restaurant: S/ 15–25.
Anticuchos or salchipapas from stalls near San Pedro Market or Plaza de Armas.
PlazaVea and Metro are the main budget supermarkets in this area.
Mercado San Pedro (local market) for cheap clothing; avoid tourist-priced boutiques near the plaza.
Colectivos (shared minibuses) cost S/ 1–2 per ride; from the airport, take a local bus (S/ 2.50) to the city centre.
Eat at markets for cheap, authentic meals; buy water in bulk from supermarkets; always confirm taxi price before getting in.
Good to know — Cusco
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.39 · PEN
Emergency Contacts
CuscoWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Cusco, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Cusco Plaza II
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · globalnet — 259 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Farmandina — 592 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Airport exit (main road) → Plaza de Armas (2 blocks from Hostal La Union)
💡 Boards outside the terminal on Av. La Cultura. Flag one down. They're cramped with luggage, fine with a small backpack. Drop at 'Plaza' – then walk up Calle Suecia.
Av. Grau (colectivo stop) → Ollantaytambo (for train to Machu Picchu)
💡 Faster than bus. Hail one heading west on Av. Grau (cars with 'Ollantaytambo' on windshield). They leave when full (4-5 passengers). Much cheaper than PeruRail's shuttle.
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) → Hostal La Union (Cusco city centre)
💡 Don't take touts at arrivals. Walk past the taxi sellers to the official 'Taxi Seguro' booth just outside – same price, no haggling.
Av. Grau (2 blocks from Hostal La Union) → Urubamba (Sacred Valley)
💡 Cheapest way to the Sacred Valley. Look for 'El Chaski' or 'Túpac Amaru' signs. Sit on the left for views of Patacancha Valley. Cash only – exact change.
About Cusco
Wikipedia ↗
Cusco or Cuzco (; Latin American Spanish: [ˈkusko]; Quechua: Qosqo or Qusqu, both pronounced in Cuzco Quechua as [ˈqosqɔ]) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range, and the Huatanay and Urubamba rivers. It is the capital and largest city of the eponymous Cus...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Cusco Plaza II?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the interior courtyard. These floors are high enough to avoid most street noise from Saphi, and the courtyard side is quieter than the street-facing rooms. The 3-star rating suggests basic soundproofing, so the interior position matters more here than views.
Which rooms should I avoid at Cusco Plaza II?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor (street noise and lobby footfall) and any room directly overlooking Saphi street. Saphi is a main road used by taxis and colectivos, so lower street-facing rooms get engine hum, honking, and pedestrian chatter from early morning until late evening. Also skip rooms near the lift or service stairs — usually marked on the floor plan at check-in.
Is Cusco Plaza II noisy?
Saphi is a busier street than it appears on maps: it connects the Plaza de Armas (5-min walk) to the San Blas district, so taxi honks, tour van engines, and pedestrian groups are constant from 7am–9pm. Early mornings see garbage trucks and delivery vans. The hotel’s colonial building has thick stone walls but single-glazed windows, so street noise is audible. There's no bar on site, but nearby restaurants have music until 10pm.
Which rooms have the best views at Cusco Plaza II?
The best view from Cusco Plaza II is from a 4th-floor room facing east, overlooking the tiled rooftops and the San Cristóbal church dome. Street-side rooms face Saphi, a narrow colonial lane with a mix of stone walls and shop fronts — less interesting, no horizon. Courtyard rooms look onto a small central patio (often with plants), pleasant but not panoramic.
What are insider tips for staying at Cusco Plaza II?
1) Ask for a room on the courtyard side at booking and again at check-in — it cuts noise significantly. 2) The hotel has no lift, so if you’re sensitive to altitude, request floor 2 or 3 (not 4) to avoid extra stairs; the staff will help with bags to floor 2, but higher is self-service. 3) Breakfast is included but basic (bread, jam, coffee, scrambled eggs) — go to a nearby café on Saphi for better coffee.
What time is check-in at Cusco Plaza II?
Check-in at Cusco Plaza II is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Cusco Plaza II have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds around 5 Mbps (suitable for browsing/email, not streaming). Login via room number and surname; no device limit.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Cusco Plaza II?
Tourist tax S/10 per person per night, payable at check-in (exempt for Peruvian nationals).
Where can I eat cheaply near Cusco Plaza II?
Menu del día (set lunch) at a simple eatery: S/ 12–16.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Cusco Plaza II?
Colectivos (shared minibuses) cost S/ 1–2 per ride; from the airport, take a local bus (S/ 2.50) to the city centre.
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
May, June, August — dry, sunny days (around 20°C) with crisp nights; June avoids the rain of December-March and the Inti Raymi crowds of late June have mostly eased. August is similarly settled with slightly lighter tourist numbers than July.
Top Attractions in Cusco
💡 Try the jugo de papaya con avena (papaya oat smoothie) from Stall 112, about 3 soles. Go in the morning for the best selection.
💡 Go at sunset for the best light, and bring water. The walk up from Plaza de Armas takes about 20 minutes. No entrance fee, but tip the guard if you use the small lookout tower.
💡 Free guided tours of the cathedral happen after Sunday mass (11am) if you hang around. Alternatively, just enjoy the free Wi-Fi from the plaza.
💡 Free entry on Sundays from 2pm to 5pm. Check their website as hours vary in low season.
💡 Visit just before closing at 5pm to avoid crowds and catch golden light. The Cusco Tourist Ticket covers this plus several other ruins and museums.