The boutique-sized, 20-room Tierra Viva Cusco Plaza Hotel is just one of Tierra Viva’s eight mid-range hotels spread across southern Peru. Like many of the hotels in Cusco, it's housed in a historic colonial building with preserved architectural features, including stone archways, columns, and partial stone walls. There’s also a central courtyard which has a historic colonial vibe: there are wooden Spanish galleys, a stone fireplace, and a giant wrought iron chandelier. The decor is traditional, with dark wood furniture and touches of colonial and indigenous art. There’s a restored Lanzon in the front courtyard -- an ancient carved stone statue representing the central deity of the ancient, indigenous Chavin culture. Views to surrounding Cusco and distant Andean hills add to the mystique, and rooms have a similarly traditional feel. Expect to see mostly couples and groups of friends here, as family-friendly features are few.

Tierra Viva Cusco Plaza Hotel is located on a narrow, cobblestone alleyway that’s closed to traffic most hours of the day. The hotel is situated just up the street from the vibrant Plaza de Armas, which is only a two-minute walk away. The 16th century Cusco Cathedral is just next door to the plaza, while the Inka Museum is a four-minute walk from the hotel. Qurikancha, the most important temple of the Inca Empire dedicated to the Inca Sun God, is 10 minutes away on foot. Meanwhile the UNESCO-designated Sacsahuayman, a pre-Inca citadel dating back to 1100, is a five-minute taxi ride away. Wanchaq Station is a 20-minute taxi ride and Poroy Station -- the departure point for Machu Picchu -- is about 30 minutes away by car. Expect a 25-minute cab ride to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport.

Rooms are styled in rich hues of red, orange, and gold, with indigenous handcrafted art and alpaca-and-silk bed throws that add a nice dash of cozy appeal. The dark wooden furniture complements the simple, yet traditional, feel and some rooms have handsome wooden floors. Bathrooms are quite handsome, with dark wood countertops and neutral stone tiling. Some have small square bath tubs, and all come with free toiletries including a body lotion that's made from quinoa seeds. All rooms have heating (usually via an electric heater), flat-screen TVs with cable channels, free bottled water, and free Wi-Fi. Some higher category rooms add a minibar, jetted baths, and balconies with panoramic views of Cusco. Due to the odd layout of the hotel, all rooms are situated on the lower floors, making it easier to transport luggage. Not all rooms have an outward-facing window -- some face the inner courtyard -- while other rooms are susceptible to late night noise coming from neighboring nightclubs off the square. 

The main feature of this hotel is its central courtyard, with preserved colonial architecture including wooden Spanish galleys, stone archways, and large stone columns. Other touches such as a traditional stone fireplace and a giant wrought iron chandelier add to the colonial vibe. A large paneled glass ceiling lets in plenty of natural light, while an abundance of wicker furniture makes it a good spot for relaxation. There’s no bar or restaurant in the hotel, but the hotel does serve a buffet breakfast with a selection of hot and cold food including tropical fruits, yogurt, bread, eggs, and sausage. There’s also a relaxed lounge space and connecting patio with free coca tea, muna tea, and coffee, with nice views over Cusco’s characterful terra-cotta rooftops and distant hills. A small business center includes two computers with a printer (free to use), and there's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.