🇵🇪 Cusco, Peru
The Rooftop Guesthouse
📍 787, Calle Hospital, Cusco, 0800
Your stay — The Rooftop Guesthouse
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Cusco.
The Property — The Rooftop Guesthouse
The Rooftop Guesthouse is a snug, family-run 3-star in Cusco's San Blas district, best known for its sun-drenched terrace with clear views of the cathedral and surrounding hills. The lobby feels like a friend's living room: mismatched sofas, a crackling fireplace, and a noticeboard crammed with trekking recommendations. It suits independent travellers and couples who want a sociable but low-key base without the polish of a chain hotel.
Chronicles of Cusco
Cusco was the historic capital of the Inca Empire, founded by Manco Cápac around the 12th century, and later reshaped by Spanish conquistadors after 1533. They dismantled Inca temples to build baroque churches and mansions, leaving a city of striking stonework and colonial arches. Today Cusco is the tourism hub for Machu Picchu, balancing Quechua traditions with a lively backpacker and digital-nomad scene, best felt in its artisan markets and nightly peña bars.
Best Time to Visit
Full Cusco guide →Best months
May, June and August: clear skies, minimal rain, and comfortable daytime temperatures (15-20°C). August also brings the vibrant Fiestas Patrias, adding cultural depth without peak-season gridlock.
Peak / festival surge
July: Inti Raymi festival (24 June to mid-July) draws crowds for Inca re-enactments; hotel prices rise 30-50%. Also Peru's school holidays, so the city and Machu Picchu are packed — book treks and tickets months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
September and October: crowds thin, rain stays low, and room rates drop. You'll still get decent weather for day trips, but with far fewer queues.
Weather & packing
Cusco's dry season is deceptive; nights can drop to 1°C even in July, but afternoons hit 20°C with strong UV. Pack layers: a thermal base, fleece, waterproof shell, sun hat, and sunscreen — and always carry a dry bag for sudden high-altitude showers.
Live City Briefing — Cusco
- Cusco's airport (Alejandro Velasco Astete) is under renovation through 2026; expect longer security queues, so arrive 3 hours before domestic flights.
- The new Sacred Valley train station at Ollantaytambo now has direct services to Machu Picchu, cutting transfer time by 45 minutes — but advance booking is essential for July.
- Inti Raymi 2026 runs 24-27 June, with the main procession on the 24th; expect street closures and packed central plazas through early July.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Rooftop Guesthouse, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the rear courtyard. These are furthest from Calle Hospital traffic and the communal rooftop terrace, which gets busy late afternoon. The upper floors also have better natural light and less street-level dust.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room on the first floor (street level) facing Calle Hospital. These rooms take direct noise from passing cars, taxis honking, and pedestrian chatter. Also skip rooms directly above the small reception/lobby area, where the front door buzzes until around 10pm.
Best views
Rear courtyard looking toward the interior of the block. You'll see red-tiled roofs, small gardens, and the hillside beyond — much better than the narrow view of Calle Hospital's pavement and parked cars.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors. The building has a central staircase and no lift (common for 3-star Cusco guesthouses), so footfall noise from the common areas is minimal here.
🔊 Noise notes
Calle Hospital is a one-way street with moderate traffic from about 7am to 9pm, including occasional rubbish trucks and delivery vans. There are two small bars and a karaoke-dive within 50 metres, but their noise only carries to street-facing rooms. The guesthouse rooftop is used by guests until 9pm — not overly loud, but can be heard on the top floor if the door is left open.
Insider tips
1. There is no lift, so request a room on the third or fourth floor for quiet but be prepared to climb stairs. 2. Check-in is at 14:00 but you can ask to leave luggage from 10:00. The rooftop has good afternoon sun — grab a seat early before other guests take it.
- 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 — The Rooftop Guesthouse
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed around 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up; one login per device, reconnects automatically
No lift. Guesthouse occupies first and second floors of a converted colonial house; all rooms accessed via two flights of stairs
No daily papers. A small shelf of travel guides and novels in the common lounge. Building dates from the 16th century, original Inca stonework visible in the courtyard
Standard check-in from 13:00. Early bag-drop available from 10:00 if requested. Late check-out until 14:00 costs PEN 50, after 14:00 charged a full night
Complimentary for day of check-out until 20:00; longer storage by prior arrangement only (PEN 20 per day)
No step-free entry (two steps into the main door). All rooms up stairs; no wheelchair access. No adapted bathrooms
No on-site parking. The nearest public car park is Parking Qorikancha (Av. El Sol 320), 5-minute walk, about PEN 30 per 12 hours; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (tourist tax included in room rate for foreign guests; Peruvians may pay an additional 18% VAT upon request)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking (non-refundable); a PEN 100 incidental hold placed on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: San Pedro (457 m · ~6 min walk)
- Synagogue: Chabbad Cusco (505 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días (617 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia de Santa Clara (683 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
El Paraíso — 631 m · ~8 min walk
Plaza San Francisco — 883 m · ~11 min walk
Convento de San Francisco de Asís — 782 m · ~10 min walk
Teatro Municipal — 954 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 639 m · ~8 min walk
Farma Barrio — 75 m · ~1 min walk
Los Gatos — 94 m · ~1 min walk
San Pedro — 402 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use ATMs or cambio offices on Avenida El Sol or near Plaza de Armas; avoid airport and tourist bureau kiosks for poor rates.
Widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and larger shops; cash needed for markets, street food, and smaller taxis.
Round up the bill in modest restaurants (5-10%); taxis no tip; hotel porters 1-2 soles per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Coffee from a local bakery or juice stand for about 4-6 soles.
Set menu (menú ejecutivo) at a local eatery for 10-15 soles.
A main dish at a casual restaurant for about 15-25 soles.
Around Mercado San Pedro and the streets near Plaza San Francisco — try empanadas, anticuchos, or choclo.
Supermercados Wong, Metro, and Plaza Vea are the main chains in Cusco.
Mercado San Pedro or San Blas market stalls for affordable alpaca sweaters, hats, and practical gear.
Collectivos (shared minibuses) cost 1 sol per ride; from the airport take a taxi for 10-15 soles to the historic centre.
Always carry small denomination soles for markets and taxis.Drink from the free water refill stations at hostels or buy big bottles at grocery stores, not tourist shops.Eat menú del día for lunch instead of dinner — same food, half the price.
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 The Rooftop Guesthouse
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 639 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · Farma Barrio — 75 m · ~1 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 The Rooftop Guesthouse?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the rear courtyard. These are furthest from Calle Hospital traffic and the communal rooftop terrace, which gets busy late afternoon. The upper floors also have better natural light and less street-level dust.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Rooftop Guesthouse?
Avoid any room on the first floor (street level) facing Calle Hospital. These rooms take direct noise from passing cars, taxis honking, and pedestrian chatter. Also skip rooms directly above the small reception/lobby area, where the front door buzzes until around 10pm.
Is The Rooftop Guesthouse noisy?
Calle Hospital is a one-way street with moderate traffic from about 7am to 9pm, including occasional rubbish trucks and delivery vans. There are two small bars and a karaoke-dive within 50 metres, but their noise only carries to street-facing rooms. The guesthouse rooftop is used by guests until 9pm — not overly loud, but can be heard on the top floor if the door is left open.
Which rooms have the best views at The Rooftop Guesthouse?
Rear courtyard looking toward the interior of the block. You'll see red-tiled roofs, small gardens, and the hillside beyond — much better than the narrow view of Calle Hospital's pavement and parked cars.
What are insider tips for staying at The Rooftop Guesthouse?
1. There is no lift, so request a room on the third or fourth floor for quiet but be prepared to climb stairs. 2. Check-in is at 14:00 but you can ask to leave luggage from 10:00. The rooftop has good afternoon sun — grab a seat early before other guests take it.
What time is check-in at The Rooftop Guesthouse?
Check-in at The Rooftop Guesthouse is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Rooftop Guesthouse have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed around 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up; one login per device, reconnects automatically
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Rooftop Guesthouse?
None (tourist tax included in room rate for foreign guests; Peruvians may pay an additional 18% VAT upon request)
Where can I eat cheaply near The Rooftop Guesthouse?
Set menu (menú ejecutivo) at a local eatery for 10-15 soles.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Rooftop Guesthouse?
Collectivos (shared minibuses) cost 1 sol per ride; from the airport take a taxi for 10-15 soles to the historic centre.
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
May, June and August: clear skies, minimal rain, and comfortable daytime temperatures (15-20°C). August also brings the vibrant Fiestas Patrias, adding cultural depth without peak-season gridlock.
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.