XO Art House: An Art-Filled Boutique Inn in Historic Cusco, Peru

History is everywhere in Cusco, the city in the Peruvian Andes that’s the gateway to Machu Picchu. But if you’d like to mix history with modern art during your Cusco stay, consider the boutique-style XO Art House.

Here’s the scoop:

XO Art House

Managed by Mountain Lodges of Peru, the XO Art House is located about a 10-minute walk from the city’s historic center, below the San Blas neighborhood. Compared with many of Cusco’s narrow lanes, which are lined with a cacophony of bars and restaurants, the street outside this boutique hotel feels relatively quiet, with small shops, laundries, bakeries, and cafes.

The hotel itself is small, with just seven guest rooms set around a central glass-roofed courtyard. There are two rooms on the main floor, and five more upstairs.

Guest Rooms and Amenities

The XO Art House guest rooms, each decorated differently, feature a mix of modern and heritage furnishings, with brightly colored textiles providing vibrant accents.

The largest units, dubbed the “Superior Deluxe,” feature mini-kitchenettes equipped with a microwave, fridge, compact cooktop, coffeemaker, and tea kettle. They’re stocked with complimentary crackers, juices, and other snacks. These rooms also have sofas or sitting areas.

The “Superior Rooms” are smaller and lack kitchen facilities, but there’s plenty of space for a couple or solo traveler.

The XO Art House has the quirks of a historic building — creaky wood floors, occasionally fluctuating water temperature in the shower — but the Wi-Fi is fast, there are electrical outlets where you need them, and if you want to watch TV when you’re resting up from your explorations around the city, there are TVs, too.

Facilities and Services

An ample buffet breakfast is served each day in the covered courtyard, which gets light through the glass roof. On chilly days, radiant heaters keep you cozy while you eat.

You can help yourself to fruits, breads and pastries, cheeses, yogurts, and juices, and the staff will prepare eggs to order.

Coffee and tea are available at any hour, including both coca tea and coca leaves, which are traditional remedies for the altitude sickness that strikes many new arrivals, particularly if you’re coming directly from Lima — at sea level — to Cusco, which is located at 11,152 feet.

An attendant monitors the hotel’s front door, which is kept locked for security, opening it as guests arrive or depart.

There is a staff person on site 24/7, at least some of whom speak English. If you have some Spanish, they’re happy to let you practice. They’re also quick to offer tips on things to do.

One staffer suggested we visit the historic aqueduct a short walk away, just at the top of the street, although we hadn’t realized it was there. From the aqueduct, you can continue up the hill (and up and up and up!) to Sacsayhuamán, the magnificent Inca site that spreads out above modern Cusco.

The Art at XO Art House

But the property’s real charm is the art that gives the hotel its name. Each room at the XO Art House is decorated with eclectic contemporary art pieces — paintings, sculptures, ceramic work, and more — which extend into the hallways as well.

Even if you’re in Cusco for the history, a little modern art can certainly liven up your stay, when you book a room at the XO Art House.

Rates

Double room rates at the XO Art House start at US$78-110 per night, including a full breakfast.

Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.

 

Looking for other accommodation options in Cusco? Hotel-Scoop has reviewed several other Cusco properties:

• Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel – Fit for Incan Royalty
• Costa del Sol Ramada Cusco – Room with a View
• A JW Marriott With History: El Convento in Cusco, Peru

Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. I paid a slightly discounted media rate for my stay at the XO Art House.