There’s no shortage of hotels in Cusco, Peru—and honestly, that’s part of the problem. From ultra-budget backpacker hostels to five-star splurges like Palacio Nazarenas, choosing where to stay can feel overwhelming. Your hotel choice really does shape your experience in Cusco, especially when you’re dealing with altitude, stairs, and long sightseeing days.
That’s exactly why I went the Goldilocks route and booked a five-night stay at Mistico San Blas Boutique Hotel—not too expensive, not too basic, but just right. If you’re someone who likes to balance comfort, location, and value (hi, same!), this Mistico San Blas review will help you decide if it’s the right fit for your Cusco trip.
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Where Is Mistico San Blas Boutique Located?
Mistico San Blas Boutique is located in San Blas, widely considered Cusco’s most charming neighborhood—and for good reason.
San Blas has attracted artists for centuries, and today you’ll still feel that creative energy while wandering its narrow cobblestone streets. Along the way, you’ll find boutique shops, cozy cafés, hillside restaurants with panoramic city views, and an eclectic mix of influences—from French and German expats to Rastafarians selling handmade art.
What really sets San Blas apart is the balance: it’s noticeably calmer than the streets directly around the Plaza de Armas, yet still only about a 13-minute walk away. It feels like a peaceful escape without being inconvenient.
That said, San Blas comes with one unavoidable reality: stairs. So many stairs. Combine steep hills with Cusco’s high altitude, and you’ll definitely feel it. Every day is leg day in San Blas!
Getting to Mistico San Blas Boutique Hotel
Getting to Mistico San Blas from Cusco’s airport is refreshingly easy. An Uber takes about 25 minutes with traffic and is extremely affordable (We paid less than $10 USD!).
As you get closer to the hotel, you’ll notice the streets narrow dramatically—these are ancient Incan roads, after all. We were lucky our Uber was a sedan and could pull up right in front of the hotel. However, when we later traveled by tour vans and buses, they physically couldn’t fit. So, we had to walk several blocks downhill to reach larger streets to meet them.
This is something to keep in mind if you’re traveling with heavy luggage.
Check-In Experience at Mistico San Blas
The lobby at Mistico San Blas Boutique Hotel is adorably small and immediately welcoming. Like many hotels in Cusco’s historic center, it’s housed in a converted historic building (I feel like Captain Obvious for making this statement), so everything feels more intimate.
From my estimate, there are fewer than 20 rooms in the entire hotel, which gives it a quiet, personal atmosphere. While checking in, you’re greeted with a tea station offering several teas—including dried coca leaves to help with altitude. You can grab tea to go throughout your stay, which became a daily ritual for us.
The hotel has two floors and no elevator, but a staff member helps carry your luggage. On the way to your room, you’ll pass a cozy covered courtyard with lounge chairs and a teeny restaurant space used for the included breakfast.
The Rooms at Mistico San Blas Boutique Hotel
We stayed in a double queen room, and it was the perfect size for two people.
The beds were topped with colorful Peruvian blankets and were extremely comfortable—something you’ll appreciate after long days exploring Cusco. There are nightstands by each bed, though only one had a charging outlet. A desk and chair between the two beds gave us a place to eat snacks, journal, or sip tea.
For your first night, the hotel leaves a canister of hot water along with a selection of teas and plenty of dried coca leaves so you can make tea in your room (The tea selection stays, but extra hot water has to be requested after the first night). There’s also a television, though we never turned it on.
The bathroom layout is thoughtfully designed for shared stays. The sink is outside the bathroom, while the toilet and shower sit behind a frosted glass door—no fighting over mirror space when getting ready (crucial on a girls’ trip).
There’s also a small closet area next to the bathroom area with safe and a shelf that doubled as much-needed makeup storage since counter space near the sink is limited.
A Few Honest Downsides
In the spirit of transparency, here are the minor drawbacks:
- The windows face inward toward the courtyard, so we kept the curtains closed for privacy. Not a big issue since we were rarely in the room.
- There’s no heating or air conditioning. During our stay, there was even a sign over the furnace reading “Not functional.” That said, the room temperature was consistently comfortable, even at night. The tile floor by the sink did get chilly, but we solved that issue by bringing the alpaca fur rug from the bed area to the sink area.
Included Breakfast at Mistico San Blas Boutique
Breakfast is included with your stay, and the way it’s handled really reflects the hotel’s personal touch.
Each evening, the front desk asks what time you plan to have breakfast the next morning. On our first day, we told them we’d be leaving at 4am for a Machu Picchu tour and assumed that meant skipping breakfast.
Instead, they smiled and said, “No worries—we’ll pack you a to-go breakfast ready at 4am.”
We were genuinely surprised. It felt like being handed a packed lunch by your mom before a school.
Because of our packed sightseeing schedule, we only sat down for breakfast at the hotel once—on our final day. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was doable: toast, jams, cheese, deli meats, and freshly cooked eggs made to order.
The Staff: The Real Highlight of Mistico San Blas
The staff at Mistico San Blas Boutique Hotel is the true standout. Attentive, warm, and genuinely caring—they make you feel less like a guest and more like family.
Because the hotel is so small, they quickly recognize you. When you leave, you can hand your room key to the front desk so you don’t have to carry it. When you return, they know exactly who you are and which room you are in and hand it back with a smile.
The sweetest moment came on New Year’s Eve. In Spain and much of Latin America, there’s a tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight for twelve wishes in the new year. We planned to buy grapes ourselves at the store—but the hotel surprised us by placing two plates of exactly twelve grapes each in our room, along with an explanation of the tradition.
It was such a thoughtful, personal gesture and perfectly sums up what makes staying here special.
Is Mistico San Blas Boutique Hotel Worth It?
Absolutely. Staying at Mistico San Blas Boutique Hotel made our time in Cusco even better. Between the quiet cobblestone street location, proximity to major attractions, and heartfelt service, it felt closer to a homestay than a traditional hotel.
If you’re looking for a mid-range boutique hotel in Cusco that prioritizes warmth, location, and value over flashy amenities, Mistico San Blas is a fantastic choice.
Mistico San Blas Boutique Hotel Ratings
- Room: 3.5/5
- Amenities: 2/5
- Location: 5/5
- Service: 5/5
- Overall Rating: 4/5
