Best Eco-Friendly Resorts and Sustainable Stays in Cusco

If you are searching for the best eco friendly resorts in Cusco, let me save you a few months of inbox confusion. I have slept in straw bale lofts in the Sacred Valley, eaten farm-to-table breakfasts at 3,200 meters, and argued with receptionists about greywater systems. Cusco has quietly become one of the most interesting sustainable stays destinations in South America, and it is not just yoga retreats and mint tea.

The city sits at the foot of the Andes, the altitude catches you on day one, and the entire region runs on a kind of practical environmentalism that pre-dates the word "sustainability." Terraces, water channels, solar exposure, it is all there in Inca stonework. So the eco lodges around here are not performing a trend. They are continuing a logic. Below is a working map of the stays, cafes, and projects I keep going back to.

Inkaterra La Casona: Colonial Walls, Living Roofs

Inkaterra La Casona sits on Plaza Nazarenas, two blocks southwest of the Plaza de Armas, hidden behind a heavy wooden door on Calle Plaza Nazarenas. It is the only colonial mansion in Cusco with original 16th-century murals, and the entire restoration was done without touching the original pigments. The hotel is part of the Inkaterra conservation network, and most of the staff are locals from San Blas and the surrounding highland communities.

What to Book: The Cusco Suite, which has a working fireplace and a private interior courtyard.
Best Time: Late afternoon, after the day-trippers have filtered out, when the Plaza goes quiet and the bells stop ringing.
The Vibe: Museum-quiet, with thick walls and a faint smell of eucalyptus. The drawback is that it feels almost too hushed, so if you want energy, this is not the building for you.

They do not advertise it, but the kitchen runs a small Andean seed bank and the head gardener, Hector, will walk you through it on request. Ask the front desk, they do not volunteer it. The seed program has been running since 2007 and preserves roughly 350 native varieties.

El Albergue Ollantaytambo: A Working Farm at the Station

This one is technically in Ollantaytambo, not central Cusco, but no serious list of green travel Cusco options leaves it out. El Albergue sits inside the train station, across the platform, and the family has been farming this land for four generations. The kitchen pulls from the fields you can see out the window.

What to Eat: The breakfast bowl of purple corn porridge, fresh cheese from the dairy across the river, and muña tea (a local mint relative that settles the stomach at altitude).
Best Time: Early morning, before the 7:00 a.m. train to Aguas Calientes, when the patio is still in shadow and the air is sharp.
The Vibe: Backpacker-meets-campesino, the walls are adobe, the chapel bell rings, and the roosters do not know what time it is. The noise from the railway is real, so light sleepers should request a courtyard room, not a track-side one.

Owner Edith chose this land because her great-grandfather built the original station house. The property composts 100% of its kitchen waste and runs on a hybrid solar-grid system. If you ask, they will show you the worm farm behind the herb beds.

Casa Cartagena Boutique Hotel & Spa: A Patrón-Style Restoration

Casa Cartagena is on Pumacurco, the pedestrian street that climbs toward San Blas, on the left side as you ascend. The building is a former colonial mansion with five interconnected patios, and the restoration preserved the original Inca foundations underneath. They have an on-site oxygen bar and a small spa using local muña and eucalyptus.

What to Order: The 7-day Sacred Valley facial, and the alpaca carpaccio at the courtyard restaurant.
Best Time: Mid-morning between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., after the breakfast crowd thins but before the lunchtime tour buses arrive.
The Vibe: Warm stone, soft lighting, the sound of fountains. Spa bookings can be slow to confirm, so call ahead by at least 48 hours.

Owner Carmen Rauch worked with a Cusco-based NGO called the Andean Textile Association. The hotel sources 60% of its textiles from Quechua weavers in Chinchero and rents a small shop on-site where you can meet the weavers in person on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Green House Cusco: A Backpacker Eco Lodge in the Old City

If you want an eco lodge Cusco experience that costs less than a Sacred Valley taxi, Green House is on Calle Recoleta, two blocks up from the Plaza de Armas toward the San Cristóbal viewpoint. It is a small, plant-filled colonial house with a green roof visible from the street.

What to Book: The dorm bed with a wooden locker, or the double with a skylight.
Best Time: Weekdays. Weekends pull the trail crowd coming off the Inca Trail and the place turns into a community kitchen.
The Vibe: Rooftop hammocks, floor cushions, a dog named Lucho who thinks he runs reception. Hot water is solar-fed, so do not expect a 6 a.m. steam shower, give it an hour after sunrise.

The hostel runs a reforestation program in the high cloud forest near Quillabamba. For every five nights you stay, they plant one native queñua tree. Owner Raúl keeps a public ledger on the wall behind the bar, real receipts, GPS coordinates, the whole thing.

Yuraq Hotel & Spa: Modern Sustainability Near Avenida El Sol

Yuraq sits on Calle Suecia, a quieter side street two blocks off Avenida El Sol, near the church of La Merced. The name means "white" in Quechua, and the building is intentionally minimal, which is unusual for this part of Cusco where most buildings lean baroque.

What to Book: The courtyard-facing room on the second floor.
Best Time: Around sunset, when the staff lights the fire pits in the central patio.
The Vibe: Design-magazine clean, with cacti on the windowsills. The bar staff can be slow during the 7 to 9 p.m. rush, so order when you sit down, not when you want the second round.

Their thermal recovery system pulls heat from the showers to pre-warm the incoming water. Most guests never notice. The hotel also sources 80% of its produce from the Pisac market on Sundays, and the kitchen will tell you which farmer grew your breakfast potato if you ask.

Tierra Viva Cusco San Blas: Practical Sustainable Stays in the Artists' Quarter

Tierra Viva runs two properties in Cusco, but the San Blas one is the most interesting for anyone tracking sustainable hotels Cusco options. It is on Calle Carmen Alto, a sloped street in the bohemian San Blas neighborhood, with views over the red-tile rooftops of the old city.

What to Book: The room with the terrace, room 12 if you can ask for it.
Best Time: Sunrise, which is the quietest hour in San Blas and the best time to photograph the tile roofs before the clouds move in.
The Vibe: Quiet, almost monastic, the kind of place you read a book in. Parking is genuinely difficult, so do not arrive by car.

The hotel participates in the Cusco Recicla program, which sorts waste into 5 streams, and the breakfast buffet is built around seasonal Andean grains. They keep a printed map of their suppliers at reception, and it is the kind of map you should actually photograph.

Rumi Punku: A Solar-Heated Stay in the Historic Core

Rumi Punku, "stone door" in Quechua, is on Calle Choquechaka, just off the Plaza de Armas, and the name refers to an actual Inca stone that sits in the courtyard. The hotel is a cluster of colonial houses, and the central plaza was once an Inca ceremonial space.

What to Order: The breakfast Andean omelet with quinua.
Best Time: Weekday afternoons, when the courtyard is yours and the stone has not yet been climbed on by every child in the neighborhood.
The Vibe: Friendly and a little worn, the kind of place where the porter knows your name by day two. The mattresses are firmer than they look, so if you need soft, ask for a topper.

They have run on solar thermal for hot water since 2008, and the rooftop array is visible from the upper floors. The family who owns it comes from the Yucay area and keeps a small museum of pre-Columbian agricultural tools in the basement that most guests never visit. Ask.

Apu Lodge in Pisac: Sacred Valley Eco Lodge With Working Farm

Apu Lodge is technically in Pisac, about 35 minutes from Cusco by collectivo, but it is one of the most considered eco lodge Cusco options in the region. The property is on a hillside with views of the Pisac ruins, and it operates as a working farm with dairy cows, chickens, and a vegetable terrace.

What to Book: The standalone cabin at the top of the hill.
Best Time: Late afternoon, when the light hits the ruins across the valley and the temperature drops fast.
The Vibe: Rustic and serious about it, no Wi-Fi in the cabins, hot water comes from a wood-fired tank. The walk up to the cabins is steep, so pack light.

Owner Enrique runs a small NGO that teaches traditional dry-stone wall building to local youth. The lodge funds the program and you can sign up for a half-day workshop. Their bread is baked in the wood oven and most of the greens on your plate will have been picked an hour before you arrive. This is one of the cleanest examples of green travel Cusco has.

Huacarpay Lake Wetlands Project: A Working Conservation Stay

This is not a hotel, but it deserves to be on this list because any serious conversation about the best eco friendly resorts in Cusco has to acknowledge the wetland restoration projects around Huacarpay Lake, about 40 minutes southeast of the city. Local eco lodges partner with the project and offer stays in family guesthouses in the village of Lucre.

What to Book: A two-night homestay in Lucre, organized through the Lucre Community Tourism Association.
Best Time: May through September, dry season, when the migratory birds are present and the reeds are not flooded.
The Vibe: Working farm, no air conditioning, no spa. The draw is the 4:00 a.m. birding boat ride, which is colder than you think and worth it.

You will see Andean ducks, giant coots, sometimes puma tracks along the shoreline. The community has restored 14 hectares of totora reeds since 2012 and they count species monthly. Book through the association, not through a third party, so the money stays in the village.

When to Go / What to Know

The dry season, May through September, is when the skies clear and the eco lodges in the Sacred Valley and the high cloud forest become accessible. Rainy season, November through March, brings landslides and occasional road closures, so any lodge outside the city proper requires more flexible planning. Altitude is the real factor here. Take it seriously. Spend your first night in Cusco, not at 3,800 meters in the highlands, no matter how beautiful the brochure looks. The sun in Cusco is intense even when the air is cool, and a wide-brimmed hat will do more for you than a fourth bottle of water. Bring a refillable bottle, most of the lodges on this list have filtered water stations and they will appreciate the gesture. Tipping is in cash, soles not dollars, and 10% is the standard at the lodges that include service. Finally, book the Sacred Valley stays directly with the property. Platforms take up to 20%, and most of these places are small enough that the owner picks up the phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days are needed to see the major tourist attractions in Cusco without feeling rushed?

Plan on 4 full days in the city itself: 1 for acclimatization and the Plaza de Armas, San Blas, and the San Pedro market, 1 for the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero), 1 for Sacsayhuamán and the four ruins above the city, and 1 for a buffer, weather delays, or a slow morning. Add 2 more days if you are continuing to Machu Picchu via Ollantaytambo, which is the standard route and requires a 1.5-hour train from the Ollanta station.

Do the most popular attractions in Cusco require advance ticket booking, especially during peak season?

Yes. The 4:00 a.m. climb to Huayna Picchu, located behind Machu Picchu, caps at 400 people per day in two timed windows and sells out 2 to 3 weeks ahead from June through August. The Cusco city 4-ruin ticket, valid for Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay, does not require advance booking and costs around 70 soles, but Sacsayhuamán closes Mondays. The Sacred Valley combined ticket, around 70 soles, covers Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and Moray and is available at the first site you visit. The Cathedral and Coricancha both require separate tickets, around 25 and 15 soles, and the Cathedral has a 45-minute guided schedule enforced during Holy Week.

What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Cusco as a solo traveler?

Within the historic center, walking is the safest and most reliable option. Distances are short, the Plaza de Armas is a 10-minute walk from San Blas, and most of the sustainable hotels listed above are within 15 minutes on foot. For Ollantaytambo and Pisac, the Peru Hop shuttle or Urubamba- and Pisac-bound collectivos (small vans) from Calle Pavitos near the Coliseo Cerrado run every 20 minutes and cost 6 to 10 soles one way. For airport transfers, official taxi apps like Beat and InDriver are safer than hailing on the street and run 15 to 25 soles. Avoid unmarked taxis after dark, especially around Avenida El Sol.

Is it possible to walk between the main sightseeing spots in Cusco, or is local transport necessary?

Yes, almost everything inside the historic core is walkable. The Plaza de Armas to San Blas is a 12-minute uphill walk. The Plaza de Armas to Coricancha is an 8-minute walk. Sacsayhuamán, however, is 2.5 km uphill and the walk takes 45 to 60 minutes at altitude, so a taxi (15 soles one way) is reasonable. The ruins of Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay are all past Sacsayhuamán along a single road and are not practical on foot. For those, hire a driver for 2 to 3 hours, around 80 to 100 soles, or join a small group tour that departs twice daily from the Plaza de Armas.

What are the best free or low-cost tourist places in Cusco that are genuinely worth the visit?

The San Pedro market at Calle San Pedro and Santa Clara, open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., is free, and the best place to see everyday Cusco life and buy native ingredients like chicha morada and ají panca. The San Blas viewpoint and surrounding artisan streets, Calle Hatun Rumiyoc (home to the 12-angled stone), and the Plaza de Armas are all free and walkable. The 7 Templo de la Merced colonial complex on Calle Marqués costs 6 soles, includes a small museum, and most visitors skip it. The Cristo Blanco statue, on the hill opposite Sacsayhuamán, is free, reachable by 25-minute uphill walk, and the only spot in the city with a clear sunset view of the entire valley in winter.