Casa Cartagena Boutique Hotel & Spa

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Casa Cartagena is a boutique hotel that opened in mid-2009 in a colonial mansion in Cusco.

Casa Cartagena Boutique Hotel & Spa

Casa Cartagena is a boutique hotel that opened in mid-2009 in a colonial mansion in Cusco. It is a short walk from Plaza Las Nazarenas and two other colonial mansions restored and converted into hotels, the Hotel Monasterio de Orient Express and La Casona de Inkaterra. Casa Cartagena is owned by Italians, has a full spa and much of the furniture and decoration were brought from Italy; With these characteristics one would think that this hotel, of modern design, does not fit among the historic stone palaces by which the Inca city is known. However, not everything is as it seems and Casa Cartagena is a beautiful place and a very original idea.

Like many hotels in Cusco, stone walls and colonial arches have been preserved and are a common factor in architecture. Much of the property dates back to the 17th century, when it was the residence of the Encomendadoro of Cusco, Don Fernando de Cartagena and Santa Cruz (member of the court of the Viceroy Blasco Núñez de Vela). One can instantly realize that, unlike the Monastery or La Casona where colonial decoration and large paintings of the Cusquena school with gold leaf frames predominate, the decoration at Casa Cartagena is modern and avant-garde. There are glass walls and brightly colored accents. Italian avant-garde chairs and tables decorate the lobby and bar. In the middle of the main courtyard a large sphere is lit and illuminated during the night.

Casa Cartagena Boutique Hotel & Spa

The 16 suites — all rooms are suites — are spacious, elegant, and with amenities that are the best of the best. The eight standard suites have 40 square meters, of which the third part is occupied by the bathroom. These suites have a Tamai shower, tub — Jacuzzi, and a separate toilet and bidet environment. The floors are dark wood and the decoration is minimalist and contemporary, totally opposite to the colonial or Andean decoration that most hotels in Cusco use. Each room has a different mural and fun colors.

The only Peruvian touches in the decoration are the beautiful sepia photographs of Andean motifs taken by the Peruvian photographer Morfi Jiménez Mercado (these photos can be found in the decoration of the entire hotel) and a trio of hand-woven pillows on the bed. Some great advantages: personal laptops if one does not have one, oxygen system for altitude sickness, and LCD televisions.

Luxury Cartagena The six luxury suites have 100 square meters, more space than the standard suites but with the same details. The Presidential suite and the Royal suite are particularly creative. These are the best rooms in Cusco and ready to receive royalty, powerful businessmen and celebrities.

Casa Cartagena Boutique Hotel & Spa

The Presidential suite with 120 square meters is on the second floor and the view is beautiful towards the main courtyard and the San Blas neighborhood. The large space allows for a separate living and dining room, as well as a terrace and a Teuco whirlpool tub for four people. The even more spacious Royal suite, has two floors and in addition to everything the Presidential suite has, it has a fully furnished terrace, dry sauna and a special massage room.

The restaurant at Casa Cartagena, which also serves customers who are not staying at the hotel, was decades ago the acclaimed picantería La Chola preferred by celebrities such as Pablo Neruda and Che Guevara. Today it is more refined and presents Novo Andinaa cuisine at a high price. Room service is available 24 hours a day, and they are very attentive to bring you snacks before dinner, as well as making sure you want to have breakfast in the room or in the restaurant. The lobby bar, with a fireplace and stone arches, is fairly quiet and serves a few cocktails based on pisco, wine and snacks.

The three-level Qoya spa is the most complete and best in Cusco. The main feature of this is the large heated pool of whirlpools with large windows that face the hill of San Blas. It also has a sauna and a variety of massages, exfoliations, facials, and packages for paradoxes.

The main drawback of the Casa de Cartagena is the price. At the close of this edition, the cheapest room costs $ 200 more than a similar room in the Monastery or La Casona. While the personal service and amenities can certainly be better, the unique atmosphere of these hotels are the reason for their high prices.