Cusco — Traveler Guide
The best views in Cusco are reserved for those who know where to look — and the hotels in this guide have positioned themselves precisely where those views are most dramatic. Whether you're watching the city's lights come on from a floor-to-ceiling window, or taking your morning coffee on a terrace that overlooks the landscape with unobstructed clarity, these properties use their views as a core part of the experience. In Cusco, the view from your room is as carefully considered as the design of the room itself.
Quick Answer
Our top pick for hotels with views in Cusco is JW Marriott El Convento Cusco in Plaza de Armas — rated 9.2 Exceptional and offering Plaza de Armas, Convent cloisters. For an excellent alternative, El Mercado Hotel in San Blas is a superb choice at the $$ price point.
About This Guide
The views from Cusco's best hotel rooms are among the most compelling in Peru — and the properties in this guide have been chosen specifically because they understand that a great view is not a feature but a defining quality of the entire stay. From the moment you arrive in your room, the view changes the way you relate to the city and to the experience of being there.
View hotels in Cusco span all price points, which is one of the encouraging discoveries in compiling this guide. Some of the most dramatic outlooks available in the city belong to properties that are not at the very top of the price range — the secret lies in location and room category rather than total spend. The guidance in each hotel entry below tells you exactly which room categories deliver the best views.
The quality of light in Cusco is particularly significant for view rooms — the city's position and climate create conditions where the view from your room changes dramatically through the day, from the soft morning light to the golden hour that makes even ordinary buildings look extraordinary. The best view rooms here face west or south-west for this reason, though each hotel entry specifies the optimal orientation.
In This Guide
4 hotels · Updated March 2026
Plaza de Armas
A 16th-century convent facing the Plaza de Armas converted into JW Marriott's most historic property, with cloistered courtyards, original stone arches, and a rooftop terrace with one of the finest views of Cusco's cathedral and the surrounding Andean mountains. The spa and the LIMA restaurant serving elevated Peruvian cuisine are both excellent.
San Blas
A converted colonial house in the bohemian San Blas neighbourhood with a rooftop terrace, a ceviche bar, and rooms that celebrate contemporary Andean craft. The social atmosphere and the location walking distance from the best Peruvian restaurants in the city make it excellent value.
Historic Centre
The most sociable budget option in Cusco, Loki has a bar, pool tables, movie room, and an events programme that makes it a genuine community for the backpacker circuit. The altitude warnings and coca-tea service from the staff are genuinely helpful, and the Inca Trail coordination service is better organised than many tour operators.
Sacred Valley — Urubamba
Not in Cusco city but in the Sacred Valley — which all serious travelers to the region should use as a base for at least one night — Rio Sagrado hugs the Urubamba River with glass-fronted casitas, a river-view infinity pool, a spa using highland herbs, and a restaurant that celebrates the valley's extraordinary agricultural biodiversity.
Keep Exploring
Common Questions
Never rely on 'request' — book the specific room category that includes the view (e.g., 'ocean view room', 'city view suite'). If in doubt, call the hotel directly to confirm which floors and room categories have unobstructed views. Some 'view rooms' have partial obstruction not visible in photos.
Not always. In some hotels, lower floors with direct pool or garden access offer better experiences than high floors with distance views. The key is matching the view type to what you actually want — not all high floors have spectacular panoramas.
For views and photography, absolutely. For serious swimming, a ground-level pool with more space is often preferable. The best rooftop pools combine a swim-up bar and infinity edge with a genuinely spectacular outlook.
Sunrise and sunset are almost universally the most dramatic, but the quality of view depends on orientation. East-facing rooms offer sunrise and morning light; west-facing rooms catch golden hour and sunset. Ask the hotel for orientation details before booking.
Many hotels with famous rooftop bars welcome non-guests, especially during off-peak hours. Call ahead or check the hotel website for walk-in policy. Some have minimum spend requirements; others operate first-come-first-served. The best views in a city often require no room booking at all.
Prices and availability change daily. Lock in the best rate by booking early — most of our top picks offer free cancellation.
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