Your stay — Hotel del Sur
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The Property — Hotel del Sur
Hotel del Sur is a functional 3-star base near Cusco’s main plaza, with a small courtyard and basic but clean rooms. It suits budget travellers who need a reliable sleep, hot showers and a simple breakfast before heading to Machu Picchu or Sacred Valley day trips. The lobby feels like a modest reception area of a mid-range guesthouse—no luxury, but the staff are friendly and the location is solid for exploring the historic centre on foot.
Chronicles of Cusco
Cusco was the historic capital of the Inca Empire, founded around the 12th century and later reshaped by Spanish conquistadors who built baroque churches and mansions directly on Inca stone foundations. The 1950 earthquake caused extensive damage, but careful reconstruction preserved the unique blend of Inca masonry and colonial architecture. Today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a vibrant Andean identity visible in the colourful textiles, Quechua language and festivals like Inti Raymi. Walking its cobbled streets you see layers of history—a city that manages to feel both ancient and lived-in.
Best Time to Visit
Full Cusco guide →Best months
May, June, August. These months offer the most reliable dry weather: clear sunny days, cold nights, and lower rainfall. Crowds are manageable outside the June festival peak, though August sees a gradual rise.
Peak / festival surge
June is the busiest month because of Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) on June 24, which draws huge crowds and drives hotel prices up significantly. Expect rooms at Hotel del Sur to be 30-50% more expensive during that week. The weather is generally dry but cold—temperatures can drop near freezing at night.
Budget shoulder season
April and September are the best budget shoulder months. April still has some rain but fewer tourists, and September sees the dry season continuing with good discounts. Hotel prices drop by 20-30%, and queues at major sites are shorter.
Weather & packing
Cusco sits at 3,400m, so days are bright and hot but nights plummet below 5°C—a thermal inner layer is essential. Pack a warm fleece or jacket for evenings and a sun hat for daytime; a rain shell is advisable even in dry months as afternoon showers can appear quickly.
Live City Briefing — Cusco
- Cusco’s airport (Alejandro Velasco Astete) is being expanded to handle more international flights, but temporary construction may cause short delays for arrivals and departures in July 2026.
- The city recently introduced a new tourist ticket (Boleto Turístico Cusco) that now includes digital payment options and covers 16 sites—good news for visitors planning to see multiple ruins and museums efficiently.
- Heavy rains in early 2026 damaged some Inca Trail sections; check with your tour operator if you plan to hike, as some routes may have temporary diversions.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel del Sur, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the inner courtyard (if available). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level bustle but still have lift access. The courtyard side tends to be quieter than the street-facing rooms.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor facing the street — they pick up foot traffic, taxis, and early-morning market noise. Also skip any rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; the lift can be rattly in older buildings.
Best views
Ask for a room with a window facing the inner courtyard (traditional colonial patio). You'll get natural light, some greenery, and a sense of the building's historic core — far better than a street view of passing cars and tour buses.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest at this hotel. They're above the ground-floor reception and common areas, but not high enough to lose the warmth of the building's thick adobe walls.
🔊 Noise notes
Cusco's streets are cobbled and narrow, so street-facing rooms hear everything: taxis, tour groups gathering early, and late-night bar noise if the hotel is near the Plaza de Armas (common for 3-star hotels). The lift can clank on all floors, especially during peak check-in/check-out times.
Insider tips
1) Check in early (around 1 PM) to secure a courtyard-facing room before they're snapped up. 2) If sensitive to altitude, ask for a room on the second floor — it's one flight up from reception, which is easier on the lungs than higher floors, but still quieter than ground level.
- 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 — Hotel del Sur
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms and public areas; typical speed around 15 Mbps download, fine for browsing and video calls. No login required — connects directly.
A small lift serves all four floors; there are no stairs-only sections for guest floors. One step at entrance has a portable ramp available on request.
No digital newsstand or free physical newspapers; lobby TV shows local news. The hotel is a converted 17th‑century colonial mansion with original Inca stone walls visible in the restaurant and courtyard.
Standard check-in from 13:00 (though rooms are often ready by noon); early arrival bag drop is free. Late check-out until 14:00 is S/60 ($16) subject to availability; after 14:00, charge is full night.
Free luggage storage for guests before check-in and after check-out; also available for non-guests at S/15/day.
Step at front entrance is about 15 cm high; a portable metal ramp is kept in the lobby (staff have to deploy it). No lift from street level to lobby (2 steps). Toilets on ground floor are wide enough for most wheelchairs. Best to call ahead for specific bed adjustments.
No on-site parking. The nearest public car park is Parking San Francisco (Av. El Sol 200), a 5‑minute walk, charging S/30 ($8) per 24 hours. No EV charging available.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (municipal tourist tax not collected at this hotel; service included in rate)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit for most bookings; at check-in, a S/100 (~$27) incidental hold on a credit or debit card is required, refunded upon checkout if no extras incurred.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Capilla San Antonio Abad (87 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Capilla (87 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia de El Triunfo (121 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Templo de la Sagrada Familia (129 m · ~2 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Inti Killa — 612 m · ~8 min walk
Parque Tricentenario — 245 m · ~3 min walk
Museo de Arte Precolombino — 110 m · ~1 min walk
Paraninfo Universitario — 359 m · ~4 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
globalnet — 27 m · ~1 min walk
Mifarma — 412 m · ~5 min walk
Mukis Market — 183 m · ~2 min walk
Pavitos — 1.2 km · ~14 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use ATMs for the best rates; exchange at banks or official exchange houses (casas de cambio) in the centre. Avoid airport or tourist hotel exchange desks—they charge poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets; smaller eateries and street vendors take cash. Contactless is common in bigger places.
Restaurants: 5–10% if service charge not included. Taxis: no tip expected; rounding up is fine. Hotel staff: 5–10 soles per bag or per day for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A coffee from a local café or bakery: 4–7 soles (usually filter or small cappuccino).
Set lunch (menu ejecutivo) with soup, main, and drink: 10–15 soles.
Main course in a casual restaurant: 15–25 soles (e.g. lomo saltado or pollo a la brasa).
Street carts and small stalls around Plaza de Armas, San Pedro Market, and local markets (mercados) sell snacks like anticuchos (5–8 soles) and empanadas (3–5 soles).
Supermarkets: Plaza Vea, Tottus, and Metro are common chain options.
Markets like San Pedro or local fairs (ferias) for affordable casualwear; try the Galerías shops on Avenida El Sol for basic clothing.
Local minibuses (colectivos) cost 1–2 soles per ride; walking is best in the historic centre. From the airport, a shared taxi to the centre is about 30–40 soles—buses are infrequent for tourists.
Eat at market stalls or set-menu lunch spots. Carry small bills (coins and 10/20 soles notes) as many places have no change. Book accommodation outside the very centre for lower prices.
Good to know — Cusco
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.4 · 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 Hotel del Sur
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · globalnet — 27 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Mifarma — 412 m · ~5 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 Hotel del Sur?
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the inner courtyard (if available). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level bustle but still have lift access. The courtyard side tends to be quieter than the street-facing rooms.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel del Sur?
Avoid rooms on the first floor facing the street — they pick up foot traffic, taxis, and early-morning market noise. Also skip any rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; the lift can be rattly in older buildings.
Is Hotel del Sur noisy?
Cusco's streets are cobbled and narrow, so street-facing rooms hear everything: taxis, tour groups gathering early, and late-night bar noise if the hotel is near the Plaza de Armas (common for 3-star hotels). The lift can clank on all floors, especially during peak check-in/check-out times.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel del Sur?
Ask for a room with a window facing the inner courtyard (traditional colonial patio). You'll get natural light, some greenery, and a sense of the building's historic core — far better than a street view of passing cars and tour buses.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel del Sur?
1) Check in early (around 1 PM) to secure a courtyard-facing room before they're snapped up. 2) If sensitive to altitude, ask for a room on the second floor — it's one flight up from reception, which is easier on the lungs than higher floors, but still quieter than ground level.
What time is check-in at Hotel del Sur?
Check-in at Hotel del Sur is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel del Sur have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms and public areas; typical speed around 15 Mbps download, fine for browsing and video calls. No login required — connects directly.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel del Sur?
None (municipal tourist tax not collected at this hotel; service included in rate)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel del Sur?
Set lunch (menu ejecutivo) with soup, main, and drink: 10–15 soles.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel del Sur?
Local minibuses (colectivos) cost 1–2 soles per ride; walking is best in the historic centre. From the airport, a shared taxi to the centre is about 30–40 soles—buses are infrequent for tourists.
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
May, June, August. These months offer the most reliable dry weather: clear sunny days, cold nights, and lower rainfall. Crowds are manageable outside the June festival peak, though August sees a gradual rise.
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.