As its name ‘Palace of the Inca’ suggests, the decor throughout the spa is one of luxury. Illuminated onyx walls in the relaxation area, soothing beige toned marble walls and gold and chocolate colours throughout create a space of decadence and luxury.

This spa has six treatment rooms with one double treatment room for couples or friends, a jacuzzi, sauna, steam chamber complete with starry sky, a hydrotherapy pool and both a wet and dry relaxation room.

The treatments on offer include facials, massages (including couple’s massages), body wraps, body scrubs and manicures and pedicures and they use the Italian Germaine de Capuccini range of products.  They also have various spa packages such as the signature ‘Qoricancha Highlights’ package, inspired  by the adjacent Qoricancha Palace where you can indulge in 150 minutes of true Incan style relaxation which includes a body exfoliation, Jacuzzi, use of the hydro massage showers, a gold mask body wrap finished off with a gold emulsion massage.

I tried the hydrotherapy circuit and was pleasantly pummelled by the different jets in the circuit. After the jets you move into the steam room and sauna before relaxing in the star-lit relaxation room. I returned to my room positively relaxed with all my muscles soothed!

Here are the reasons why we rate Palacio del Inka as one of our top picks for day spas in Cusco: 1. friendly staff, 2. excellent quality treatments 3. an abundance of fluffy towels  4. little extra details like the staff heating your robe or drying your swimming costume when you come out of the pool.

 Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• If your body is sore after hiking the Inca trail or you just need a bit of TLC, try out the thermal circuit. Soothing colours and aromas accompany you as you move through the sauna, steam room, hydro massage showers, hydrotherapy pool and finally end up in the relaxation room lying on a heated lounger listening to bird song. A perfect treat for a tired body and soul!

• The pearl facial is another one of our favourite treatments if your skin is dry from the high-altitude air.

• The spa is open to the public so you don’t have to be a guest at the Palacio del Inka Hotel to enjoy the spa.

See more great day spas in Cusco here

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The pool area complete with a wooden deck, 8 metre hydromassage pool, loungers and an innovative stone wading pool filled with local herbs to soothe tired feet is a nice place to rest for a few hours after a hectic few days around Cusco or the valley. This light filled space with floor to ceiling windows and a view of the bohemian San Blas district is definitely relaxing and also has a yoga room available for private classes.

The rest of the spa is separated into male and female areas each with two treatment rooms, a wet sauna and a changing area in both areas. In addition the female area has a beauty salon available for hair dressing, manicures and pedicures. We loved the eucalyptus scented wet sauna which has a cold shower inside the sauna itself which was extremely welcome for cooling down.

The colours in the spa are bright and not always soothing – treatment rooms are lilac with hot pink cushions in the female area and the male relaxation area located on the second floor landing is a lime green colour. The changing area is modern and spotlessly clean with lockers, L’Occitane amenities, fluffy bathrobes and hot pink crocs in-line with the modern feel throughout.

Signature treatments include the hot stone massage and the Chuak’a deep tissue massage which is combined with Japanese acupressure. They also provide a full range of facials and body treatments including aromatherapy scrubs and masks and a selection of pampering packages for honeymooners or couples which include champagne, cheese platter, couples massage and aromatherapy baths.

 Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• Visit Qoya to use the wet sauna and to lounge by the pool and soak up the view of San Blas.

Click here to see other great spas in Cusco

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The spa itself has been created with the vision of using local plants and traditions giving guests a subtle but deep insight into the Peruvian ‘curandero’ or healing culture in each treatment. Hypnoze also works with local plant specialist Enzo to create their own exquisite plant bath mixes and massage oils which contain an incredible 34  plant essences!

Beige, cream and blue tones complement the wooden furnishings and heated floors in the treatment rooms and changing areas create a peaceful haven in the heart of Cusco.  Hypnoze as its name would suggest breathes tranquility.

Treatments include a variety of massages, facials and body treatments including body scrubs. I opted for a free style massage that combines several different massage techniques and a body scrub and was so relaxed by the time it finished that I couldn’t belive the hour had passed so quickly! Scrubs include local ingredients like pink Andean salt from Maras and quinoa grains.

Post-treatment, head to the spacious steam room for a steam and then out to the conservatory style relaxation area. Here you are surrounded by medicinal plants and soothing music as you sip on herbal tea made from herbs from the plant garden outside.

The Hypnoze spa is small and without all the facilities of a larger spa but it offers one of the best massages and face and body spa treatment experiences currently available in Cusco with friendly, discreet staff and a luxurious yet cozy ambiance.

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• Ask to have your treatment in the calendula or floripondio treatment rooms. While building the spa, a series of Incan walls were discovered and were kept as part of the structure. Guests can gaze at water running through these Incan channels while having a massage. Not a bad view for a massage bed!

Click here to see other spas in Cusco

Our favourite places to stay in Cusco

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