Built in 1595, the building became a base for Catholic priests and, amazingly, the original artwork from this period still adorns its walls. Heavy wooden doors and courtyard gardens, bordered by dozens of stone archways, make for an unusual exterior, while guest rooms and suites are cosy and intimate, decorated in traditional Spanish Colonial style and looking out onto the central courtyard or the city. Culinary experiences include acclaimed restaurant, El Tupay, where live opera accompanies the refined cuisine and Oqre, with its contemporary Peruvian menu served within the atmospheric cloisters or in the pretty courtyard. Other amenities include a stylish bar, a chapel and a therapy suite for massages. The hotel can also organise a variety of exciting activities, including cookery classes, art tours, treasure hunts for little ones, sightseeing tours of Cuzco and Pisco-tasting with the barman.

Monasterio is located at an altitude of eleven thousand feet, so oxygen replenishment is a welcome in-room luxury for much of the accommodation, while the large roaring fireplace in the lobby accentuates the hotel's homely appeal.