The 153 room, five star JW Marriott hotel Cusco like many buildings in Cusco is packed full of history and is built on the site of the Colonial Convent of San Agustin dating from the 16th century.
Portuguese designer Ana Patricia Piña was hired to maintain the cultural and historic essence of the hotel and retain original features such as the chapel which is now the reception area, the original colonial wall of the convent in the Pirqa restaurant and the archaeological exhibition spaces with Incan and Killke (the culture prior to the Incas) archaeological remains. The pillars in the central courtyard for example were removed piece by piece for restoration during the construction work and then lovingly re-installed giving an authentic feel to the colonial courtyard.
The decoration is inspired by the colonial era with colonial art, furnishings and antiques found throughout the hotel. A sparkling waterfall of diamonds draws you into the reception area with an incredible 65,000 Swarovski crystals twinkling in representation of the Incan Sun God Inti.
Dark chocolate and plum colours in the Qespi bar and Nina Sonnco lounge area along with plump cushions, comfy sofas, antique books and live music on weekend evenings make this an ideal place to relax with friends or curl up with a good book in front of the fire.
All rooms as you would expect from this luxury brand are sumptuous and come complete with luxury bedding, aromatherapy brand amenities, ipod docks and an in-room oxygen system if you are feeling the effects of the altitude. Marble bathrooms have a separate bath tub and shower.
Some of the deluxe rooms are located on the lower floors and have original Incan feature walls. A special lighting system simulates daylight so you don’t feel like you are in darkness in the middle of the day and it does feel nice to be so close to Cusco’s history. The premium rooms all have balconies overlooking the colourful central courtyard and there are also seven luxurious suites.
The whole Marriott experience is created to ensure you have a great stay. The 300m2 spa located in the basement is no different and is perfect for an hour or two of relaxation. Soothing turquoise, gold and beige tones lull you into a peaceful state while the Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and relaxation pool ease any aches from your body. The spa also offers a series of treatments and we can highly recommend the relaxation massage with Melissa which was one of the best massages we have had in Cusco.
Overall our stay at the Cusco Marriott was a seamless experience in luxury with genuinely friendly staff on hand to meet our every need and make our stay as pleasant as possible. Definitely one of our top picks for luxury hotels in Cusco if you like staying at recognised brand hotels.
