Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel is housed in a historic Cusco mansion on San Juan de Dios, a short walk from the Plaza de Armas. The hotel lists a 4.5-class luxury boutique rating, memberships of Preferred Hotels and Resorts and Historic Hotels of the World, and a guest rating of 9.8 out of 10 from more than six hundred reviews. Rooms combine period character with modern comfort: Egyptian cotton sheets, memory foam beds, pillow menus, heated floors and bathrooms with jetted tubs, plus coffee makers and large TVs. The hotel lists ten room types, from classic rooms of about 220 square feet to suites with street-view balconies. Breakfast is included and cooked to order, and the Mishti Mestizo restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an attached winery and a free daily manager's reception. The restaurant will prepare boxed breakfasts for early Machu Picchu departures. Airport transfers are available for a fee, and dogs are accepted for a fee.
Location
The Plaza de Armas is about three minutes on foot, the Cathedral five, the San Pedro Market seven, San Blas ten and the Coricancha twelve. San Pedro station is nine minutes away and the airport is a seven-minute drive. Restaurants and bakeries are within a minute or two on foot, which makes it easy to eat well without long walks uphill, one of the practical joys of a central address in Cusco.
The experience
The combination of included breakfast, a manager's reception and heated floors suits the cold nights at altitude. Reviewers praise the friendly, attentive staff, the central, walkable setting and the art-filled historic interior. One reviewer noted that in-room oxygen helped with the altitude, and another found the jet system in the shower unusual, preferring rain showers, so ask about your preferences when booking. Check-in starts at three in the afternoon and there is no after-hours check-in, so plan your arrival, especially on late flights.
Who it suits
Couples and travelers who want a boutique, historic base with strong service at a lower price than the palace hotels. Families can use the larger rooms that sleep four. It is a good choice if you want to be near the square but away from its noise, and if you value breakfast and a restaurant on site. Compare room categories carefully: corridor-view rooms are quieter, while balcony suites give a street view and more space. Use free-cancellation rates if your plans might change.
Why stay here
- ✓Historic mansion
- ✓Breakfast included
- ✓Mishti Mestizo restaurant
- ✓Attached winery
- ✓Heated floors and jetted tubs
- ✓Free manager reception
- ✓Boxed breakfasts for early trains
- ✓Airport shuttle for a fee
Good questions
Is breakfast included at Aranwa Cusco?+
Yes. The booking page shows a free breakfast cooked to order, and the restaurant can prepare a boxed breakfast for early Machu Picchu trips.
How far is it from the Plaza de Armas?+
About three minutes on foot. The Cathedral is five minutes away and the San Pedro Market seven.
Does the hotel have heating?+
The booking page mentions heated floors in the rooms, which helps on cold nights at altitude.
