Marriott Hotels in Cusco: Palacio del Inka vs. JW Marriott El Convento Cusco

As part of my recent trip to Colombia and Peru, I stayed at both Marriott Bonvoy properties in Cusco and figured it would be useful to provide a comparative review. Both are high-end properties: the Palacio del Inka is a Luxury Collection property, and JW Marriott El Convento Cusco is, well, a JW.

However, despite most online discourse saying they’re both luxurious and quite similar, I do feel like there are enough notable differences that you can make a definitive choice.

The courtyard at JW Marriott El Convento Cusco

Both Properties are Very Nice

Both hotels excel at creating a sense of place. Each occupies a beautiful colonial building with a historic courtyard, offers complimentary pisco sour classes and property tours, and even brings in a local woman with an alpaca each afternoon for photos and handmade alpaca goods.

Palacio del Inka has two courtyards compared to JW’s one, but both are older, colonial properties with a lot of history. Both hotels offer a property tour as part of their daily activity roster, and I joined the one at Palacio del Inka. It was fairly interesting to hear about the property’s Inca foundations, how it changed hands over the years, and how it eventually became a luxury hotel, but it’s by no means a must-do activity.

One of Palacio del Inka’s two courtyards

Rooms at Palacio del Inka feel more set in historical times, just design-wise, since it’s very up to date on technology and otherwise. JW rooms feel renovated and modern, and one isn’t better than the other. I personally enjoy Palacio’s more rustic rooms, while others will prefer JW’s more contemporary set-up.

JW Marriott El Convento Cusco

Breakfast is very good at both properties, so I wouldn’t say this is where you should draw the line. The JW Marriott has a larger selection, while I think Palacio del Inka has a nicer restaurant vibe in the courtyard.

Elite Treatment

Elite treatment is also good at both. My Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUA) cleared into a 1-bedroom suite at Palacio, while they did not at JW, but that could be more of a sign of how busy the hotel is than anything else. As a Titanium Elite member, I got the sense both properties would offer a suite upgrade if available even without NUAs. JW Marriott does offer two free pisco sours per day for Platinum members and above, which is a nice touch.

Palacio del Inka has suites with 2 beds, which is handy

Both properties also offer complimentary oxygen tank use for 10 minutes each time.

Notably, Palacio del Inka also waived the $40+ USD nightly destination fee, which I believe applies to all Platinum members and above.

JW’s Spa Deserves a Special Mention

Spoilers for the rest of the review are I like Palacio del Inka more, except the JW has a very nice spa, and this alone leaves me torn. JW’s spa facilities, including the pool, jacuzzi, and sauna, are complimentary for guest use and are very nice. You get a locker, slippers, and a bathrobe, and plenty of towels are provided.

JW Marriott Cusco spa

Hotel Activities

Both hotels include complimentary activities. Daily, there is a pisco sour lesson, a hotel history tour of the grounds, and a Quechua woman bringing an alpaca for photos and petting. She’s also selling handmade alpaca wool items.

The resident alpaca at Palacio del Inka

The other activities I believe are offered more sparsely. JW Marriott informed me there are cooking classes some days and sound therapy/breathing exercises sessions on others. I suspect Palacio del Inka has more activities on other days also, but my one-night stay only had the pisco sour, hotel tour, and alpacas on offer.

The pisco sour class at Palacio del Inka was very interesting and worth the time. The mixologist gave a brief history of pisco, how it’s made, and what a traditional pisco sour encompasses. At the end, everyone gets a free pisco sour sample.

Palacio del Inka’s pisco sour lesson was fun

I didn’t participate in any activites at JW since I wasn’t interested in doing another pisco sour class and the hotel tour conflicted with a dinner reservation.

Location, Service, and Price

Here’s where things differ — the biggest pro of staying at JW is its central location in Cusco, just a block from the central square in town, Plaza de Armas. Palacio del Inka is on the edge of town, a 7-minute walk away. Yes, it’s not much further, but if you’re walking across town, it adds about 15 minutes round-trip, and one block can feel like three blocks with the high altitude in Cusco. Staying at the JW was very convenient for shopping and visiting the market as it was easy to drop off our bags before going out again.

However, that’s where the pros end. Throughout my stay, Palacio del Inka simply felt better staffed. There was always someone proactively offering assistance, whereas JW felt more like a busy city hotel trying to keep up with demand. Both properties were around 90% capacity when I stayed (per my conversations with front desk staff), but Palacio del Inka had three people standing by the front door, ready to grab bags and suitcases, while JW had two front desk agents managing a 10-minute check-in line.

Lobby at Palacio del Inka

JW also lacks dedicated Concierge services. All I needed were restaurant reservations, which the front desk was able to help with, and WhatsApp did make communication easier. But for any more complex requests, I highly prefer a proper Concierge. At the end of my stay at JW, I booked a car to transfer our luggage to Tambo del Inka in the Sacred Valley (the sister property of Palacio del Inka), but hours later, nobody could locate the details and quoted me a higher price to (re)book this service.

It was eventually resolved, but I’m also confident this wouldn’t have happened at Palacio del Inka with a Concierge team.

Takeaway

You really can’t go wrong with either property. Both deliver an excellent luxury experience, strong Elite recognition, and enough included activities to make your stay feel like more than just a place to sleep.

That said, if I had to choose just one, I’d pick Palacio del Inka. The service feels more polished and personal, the historic atmosphere leaves a stronger impression, and I found myself enjoying the overall ambiance a little more. On the other hand, JW Marriott El Convento Cusco has the better location and complimentary spa facilities that almost tip the scales in its favour.

That’s not to say I wouldn’t happily stay at JW Marriott again; its location alone makes it an excellent choice. I simply think Palacio del Inka offers the stronger overall luxury experience.

While hotel hopping is not for everyone, you can certainly try out both properties as they’re only about a five-minute walk apart.