Casa Clara

Housed in a sensitively restored 18th-century manor house in the centre of Cusco, Casa Clara is a boutique hotel that preserves a slice of old Cusco but with contemporary flair.

An intimate charm infuses the atmosphere here; there are only eight suites, each wonderfully spacious and distinct in its styling. You’ll notice typical Cusquenian details woven into their design, and across the hotel, including artisanal décor, preserved stonework and Inca ceramics. Adding to the sense of place are beamed ceilings, earthy palettes and original photographs by Peruvian photographer Martín Chambi.

From a Balcony Suite, the largest of the collection, you can look across the peaceful Plaza Nazarenas. A carved door opens into its separate living area, whose staircase leads up to a bedroom raised on a mezzanine level.

Mornings at Casa Clara are spent in the cloistered courtyard, adorned with potted bougainvillaea between its stone arches, where you’ll delight in homemade breakfasts. Your exploration of ancient Peru begins soon after as you step out to Cusco’s centre, once the capital of the great Inca Empire. Come night, return to the hotel for a pisco-based nightcap from the bar.