Maison Fortaleza

The hosts speak excellent English, which is not very common in Peru, so talking with them was a real pleasure. They are very knowledgeable, and we learned a great deal about the history, current social issues, and local culture of Cusco. Our conversations gave us a deeper understanding of modern-day Peru and broadened our perspective. Unlike a hotel, their home felt warm and welcoming, and we truly felt as if we were staying with friends in Cusco.

The place is located on a steep street, although it is very close to the center of Cusco. When we used Uber, we had to ask the driver to drop us off a short walk from the house because cars could not easily reach the entrance. However, this was not a big deal for us.

Maison Fortaleza is in a lovely old colonial building a bit outside of the crowded historical center of Cuzco, but still an easy, 10 minute walk into town (quite steep uphill to return). We have stayed in the center before, but wanted to explore a quieter neighborhood. The view from the upper floors across Cuzco is spectacular. The owners have family roots in Lausanne, and the place reminded us a bit of Switzerland -- not just the framed posters from Switzerland, but also the clean lines of the furniture and the highly functional showers and bathrooms. Our room was also warm and cozy, which is unusual in Cuzco. The owner, Mimi, was very welcoming and helpful. I really enjoyed talking to her. We didn't get a chance to try the breakfast -- we had plans with friends on the first two days, and then had to leave early to get to the airport on the third -- but the coffee smelled delicious.

Everything was perfect.

The rooms were spacious and comfortable, but what really lifted this hotel was the staff, who were warm, friendly, and helped in any way they could. I asked for restaurant recommendations, and they came up with excellent suggestions that enhanced our experience of this lovely city.

I liked it all. You need to be aware that Cusco is hilly and it's a bit of a climb to the hotel. You will be rewarded by beautiful views of Cusco.

Very nice place to stay, very close to everything and clean and nice room. We had som great talks with Itala and felt very welcome!