Inkaterra La Casona

The Peruvian Andes may seem at first glance to be more a backpacker’s sort of adventure, but La Casona is an option for those who want to start the Inca Trail in high luxury style. This rehabilitated Spanish colonial manor at the heart of the old town of Cusco has joined the Inkaterra family of environmentally friendly boutique hotels. Its eleven suites are massive and solidly built; there’s a residential feel to La Casona, from the heavy carved wooden doors to the stone fireplaces and the underfloor heating. It’s a small hotel, with the intimacy that comes along with its size — no passersby clogging the lobby — and if you’ve got the means, and a dozen and a half friends to share it with, you can book the whole place to yourself. The small size doesn’t preclude a few big-hotel luxuries, though, things like massage and spa treatments, and private guides available for all manner of Andean excursions. It may seem a paradox to look for this kind of luxury at the edge of one of the world’s great outdoor adventures — but as a beginning or an ending, easing the transition, a bit of pampering may be just the thing. How to get there: Inkaterra La Casona is located 15 minutes from the Cusco Airport. Transfers can be arranged for US$40 for up to 2 guests.