Hostal Casa De Selenque

After an overnight bus, we arrived at 6am, tired and hoping to rest. Two people had just checked out, but we were told to wait five more hours until check-in in their barely-there lobby. It was cold and open to the air, and it was raining outside. We offered to pay for breakfast, but they said no. The receptionist then said our room would be ready in two hours, so we waited. I slept for an hour on their tilted couch, only to be told we’d need to wait another hour. Across our stays in Bolivia and Peru, other hotels had let us have breakfast on arrival or use an empty room while we waited, so we’d never faced anything like this. It was terrible, especially after choosing this hotel for its good reputation and its location close to the Plaza de Armas. We knocked on their door for quite a while, but they didn’t seem to care about helping with our luggage. There’s no elevator, and all the rooms are above the second floor. This is how Cusco surprised me.

That spot on Plaza de Armes is hard to beat, though the Sunday morning noise certainly isn't. Cuscoans seem to love parades, and the drums and fireworks started around 0630 and woke me right up. I was there for two nights before the Inca trail. The room was huge, the bathroom clean, and the TV small, but I wasn't there to sit indoors. The staff were lovely and friendly. I did notice the 'hostel' sign on arrival and worried I'd be put in a dorm with sweaty travellers, but that wasn't the case.

They were kind enough to let us check in early, which was a big help after we arrived around 5-6am. The door was unlocked, but nobody was around at first, so we let ourselves in and waited about 20 minutes before someone came to assist us. The reception isn't actually staffed 24 hours. One night we tried to leave around 2am and found the door locked with no one at reception. For an early tour, say something to the receptionist so they'll get up to let you out, and if you'll be returning late, give them an approximate time. We were once locked outside the gates and had to call twice, so having a phone helped. They're very nice, but the page should be updated about the reception hours.

The staff were so helpful and looked after my wife and daughter, which made our stay especially pleasant and memorable. Honestly, anyone who can handle those three deserves an A+++ 😂. It's a beautiful place in a great location, and when we come back to Cusco, we're staying here again. Thank you so much.