Hostal Teatro Inka

There are two cute cats wandering around, the staff were friendly, and we could borrow a hairdryer for free. The manager or owner was especially nice and gave us useful tips about the city and what to do. Because we arrived early in the morning, they were able to let us check in early and move into a bigger room for the same room price, though we paid an extra early check-in fee. The beds were comfortable, and the breakfast was okay, nothing special, but cost extra. Hot water was available, though it took a while to come through. We stayed four nights and our room wasn't cleaned once, even though we always left the key at reception as requested. You can hear everything from inside the room with the door and windows closed, and our room had no windows to the outside. Getting in could take a while: since the door stays locked, we had to ring the bell, and sometimes waited over five minutes for someone to let us in. On our last night it rained again, and the room we were in then leaked right into the middle of the room.

The Wi-Fi was super fast and connected really well. The hostel is basic but neat and clean, and the beds were comfortable. It's a little way from the main center and up a slope. Towels are provided, but soap isn't. We had a comfortable, manageable stay.

The hotel is close to cheap mini markets, restaurants, and places to do laundry, with little traffic noise. It's a convenient spot in Cusco's historic center, just a few minutes' walk from the Plaza de Armas, and good value for how central it is. Teatro Inka is a lovely little place in a colonial building. I've stayed several times, in two first-floor rooms. Both looked onto a pleasant central courtyard, so the windows were frosted. The ground-floor rooms seem to have neither carpet nor curtains, which may make them feel colder. The rooms are simple but comfortable. Each of mine had just two electrical sockets, one by the light switch and door, and the other near the bed. The beds were very comfortable, with thick covers that kept me at a good temperature overnight. The showers always had good pressure and hot water. The sink taps were less reliable. In my first room, the tap pressure was very low and nearly stopped after the toilet was flushed, so I learned to wash my hands first. In the other room, the tap water ran out completely several times during my two-night stay. The pressure was better, but it seemed to come from a separate tank that needed regular refilling. I never waited more than 5 to 10 minutes. One night, while I waited, the man working the desk gave me a bottle of water to brush my teeth with. The staff were kind, especially Danghela Mariel. She remembered my name, the room I usually stayed in, and that I preferred to pay with VISA. She checked that I was comfortable and felt at home, told me where nearby shops and fruit were, and even let me know when the water tank had been refilled. There is a small dining room for breakfast, but it wasn't cheap, and I found less expensive places nearby. They also stored my bag for a four day trek to see Choquequirao, even though the hotel was full when I was due back. When I had to leave at the very unreasonable hour of 4am, the man watching reception overnight put my bag in storage. The security door means people can't just wander in. You ring a bell, and reception unlocks it. The main nuisance was the girls' school surrounding three sides of the hotel. During the day, the girls seemed to scream constantly. I was usually out exploring the city and its surrounding attractions then, but early mornings and late evenings were harder. The school had assemblies where teachers used microphones and loudspeakers to talk, sing, and play music. It was really loud, starting at 7:30am for about an hour, then again in the evening until as late as 9 or 10pm. It didn't keep me from sleeping, since most people are up around then and stay awake until then, but I hope the hotel will spend money on soundproofing to make it less disruptive for guests. I also wish the bathrooms had better places for towels, shampoo, and soap. One room had towel hooks but nowhere to put shampoo or soap in the shower. The other had a spot for shampoo and soap but nowhere to hang a towel. I still had a pleasant stay and could happily recommend the hotel.

We could hear our neighbors through the walls and ventilation in our private room, and the water in our private bathroom was cold to warm at best. There was no fan or fresh air ventilation, just a window opening onto the common area. The location was handy for food, shops, and attractions, but not especially noisy from people passing by. They had our reservation wrong and woke us a day early saying it was time to check out. We had to insist and show the online confirmation repeatedly before it was sorted out. I tripped on the stairs a few times going up and down, mostly my own fault. The common areas were pretty meh and didn't encourage people to meet. Almost nobody spent time there.