Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel

The hotel is the epitome of a majestic Inca palace, but as you walk through the stone archway you'll feel contemporary Cusco come alive. The outdoor pool sits within the largest of seven beautifully-landscaped terraces, while the chic poolside bar will lure you in for a Pisco cocktail - or two or three. Breakfast and lunch happen at Senzo restaurant, offering a modern take on Peruvian classics, and in the guest lounge (formerly a chapel!) you’ll find an iMac, TV and even a snooker table. And, of course there's the heavenly spa when R&R calls.

The rooms are what travel dreams are made of. Each of the 55 luxurious suites combines 17th-century architecture with modern indulgences, including oxygen-enriched AC to help combat altitude sickness. Picture four-poster King-sized beds, hand-embroidered silk covers, carved headboards and marble bathrooms with beautiful hand-painted frescoes. Ranging from 37m2 to a whopping 130m2, suites offer garden, courtyard or city views, while some feature original Inca stonework and even the original colonial arches. Amazing bonus: each comes with a Pisco station. Nightcap anyone?

Palacio Nazarenas offers plenty of onsite activities and experiences including art tours of the hotel’s chapel to herbal baths and Pisco sour and cooking lessons. Venture outside and Cusco’s emblematic cathedral and main square are only a couple of blocks away, as is San Blas Plaza, where you'll find some of Cusco’s most talented artisans. The hotel can also help with all and any day tours you can think of, but chilling by the pool under the beautiful Andean sky is always a good plan too...