Cusco’s New J.W. Marriott Hotel – Much More Than Just a Hotel

Cusco has seen the opening of many new hotels over the last few years, but none quite as big and expensive as the new J.W. Marriott Cusco. Could this be the finest luxury hotel property in Cusco, if not Peru?

J.W. Marriott Cusco

Just a few days ago the large metal fencing that has been covering the facade of the hotel was removed, revealing for the first time the beautifully renovated building of the brand new J.W. Marriott Hotel Cusco. Understated in appearance, the large white building featuring a tall wooden central door is the culmination of a 6 year project rumoured to have cost in excess of 80 million US Dollars. This week I was lucky enough to take a sneak preview of the hotel just a few days before it was fully open to the public.

Located in the colonial centre of Cusco on the corner of Ruinas and Calle San Agustin, the hotel is situated just a few blocks from Cusco’s main square – Plaza de Armas. Originally the site of the San Agustin Convent built in the 16^th century, the building and surrounding areas have a long and interesting history.

As you enter the hotel you pass through an original 16 century stone doorway arriving into large beautiful dome shaped reception room, and you instantly know that this hotel is something special. At some stage during the life of the convent the reception area was used as a panaderia (bakery), and the restoration team were challenged with removing a thick layer of black soot that had built up over the years - apparently the trick is to dab the damage areas with water and toilet paper!

Entrance door to Reception

As you walk further into the hotel you enter the lobby area, which features a mix of large relaxing leather and cloth sofas set around a cosy open fireplace. The low lighting combined with the mix of stone walls and dark wooden features creates a sense of peace and a subtle reminder that this was once an ancient convent.  

The breakfast area of the J.W. Marriott Cusco, which doubles as a bar in the night is elegantly decorated with up floor lighting and effects, which somehow seamlessly merges modern amenities of the bar area into the historic building. Breakfast (served from 5.30 – 10.00 am) consists of everything you would expect from a 5 star hotel, and includes fresh fruits, juices, breads and pastries (made on-site), a selection of 6 hot plates, tea coffees and everything that you would expect from a J.W. Marriott Hotel.

The hotel also includes a beautifully decorated events suite suitable for approximately 50 – 75 people. The white wall that stretches along the back of the room is hand-crafted stone brought in from the region of Ayacucho, and has been cleverly designed to emulate the intricate stone work of the expert stone masons - the Incas.

At the centre of the hotel is one of the largest internal patios of any colonial building in Cusco. Encapsulated by ornate archways on two different levels, the 500 square meter area was the original patio of the convent. The restoration project of the patio alone took 1 ½ years, and a specialist architect from Spain was contracted to co-ordinate the restoration efforts. Restoration started by digging out the foundations to a depth of 15 meters (49 feet) and re-positioning the pillars that would form the archways. During the dig ancient artefacts were uncovered along with a series of original Inca and colonials walls (muros in Spanish). Now painstakingly restored to its original glory, the patio is an incredible monument to colonial architecture from the Spanish era, and must be one of the finest examples found anywhere in South America. At night-time it takes on a third dimension with a cleverly designed lighting system that transforms the patio into a mix textures, shadows and light – simply beautiful and very relaxing.

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Breakfast and Bar Area 

Running the length of one of the sides of the Patio (but inside) is the main restaurant. Featuring large oversized leather chairs and wooden tables the restaurant offers guests a selection of dishes created using ingredients sourced locally. It was explained to me that the menu was designed to be a light selection of dishes, catering for the more sensitive stomachs of foreign visitors (probably a very good idea). Fish, meats, chicken, pastas, soups and salads all featured on the menu, and prices were surprisingly reasonable for a luxury hotel of this stature.

Down one floor of the hotel and into the foundations of the building, is the Sala de Exhibition Cusco (Cusco exhibition area). Here the architects of the hotel created an underground cavern which exhibits some of the Inca and colonial walls that were un-covered during restoration. As I was shown around (and still under construction) I was informed that the walls would also be adorned with further exhibition items lent out by the Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) – the governing body of all historic sites in the region of Cusco.

On the same level as the exhibition area is the spa (yet to be official named) which offers guests a large relaxation pool and a dry and humid sauna – all of which complementary. Furthermore there are 5 individual treatment rooms for additional spa treatments and massages (at additional cost).

Central Colonial Patio

Emerging from the depths of the hotel, I was taken to one of the 153 rooms and 7 suites that the J.W. Marriott Cusco offers. All rooms are beautifully appointed and feature large comfortable beds, marble bathrooms with separate shower and bath unit, dark wooden flooring and cupboards, double glazed windows and a large wall mounted 42 inch television. Constricted by the colonial layout of the hotel the standard rooms are not overly large, but sufficiently ample and accommodating for the needs of most guests. Later I visited one of the suites on an upper level, which consisted of a spacious lounge area (with visitor bathroom) and an adjoining bedroom with an oversized bathroom. All the 153 rooms and 7 suites feature a clever oxygen enrichment system which is administered through the air-conditioning system, creating an atmosphere similar to that of a hotel located in the Sacred Valley – several hundred feet lower. Oxygen enrichment is not included as standard and is charged in addition to your standard room rate.

At the end of my trip around the hotel I was invited for a coffee and a cake, where I took some time to reflect over what I had seen. Could this hotel now be the best in Cusco - perhaps better than the famous Monasterio hotel located a few blocks away? Certainly from what I had seen of the new J.W. Marriott Cusco, it has to be one of the finest premier hotels in Peru - and with its colonial heritage and immense architecture I think there are very few hotels in South America that could rival the experience of spending a few nights here.

For more information on the J.W. Marriott Cusco, and our selection of Luxury Vacations Peru that feature this hotel contact an experttravel advisor today.