Inkaterra La Casona Named Best Luxury Hotel in Latin America 2026 | Travel News

Inkaterra La Casona has begun the year with a major international distinction, topping Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List 2026 in the category of Best Hotels and Resorts in Mexico, Central America, and South America. The annual list, curated by the magazine’s editorial team, highlights properties recognized for design, service, authenticity, and a strong sense of place.

For Inkaterra founder and president José Koechlin von Stein, the recognition marks both a milestone and a tribute. He described the honor as a celebration of Inkaterra’s five decades as a pioneer of ecotourism and regenerative hospitality in Peru, and as a dedication to Denise Koechlin, whose vision shaped Inkaterra La Casona as a lasting expression of respect for history and cultural heritage.

The property has received sustained international attention over the years. In January 2011, Condé Nast Traveller awarded Inkaterra La Casona its Editor’s Pick Blue Ribbon on the Gold List in the Ambience and Design category. In 2018, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards named it the Best City Hotel in Central and South America and ranked it fourth among the Best Hotels in the World.

According to Condé Nast Traveller’s global editors, the building itself reflects centuries of Cusco’s history. It stands on land once used for the education of Inca nobility, later occupied by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, and subsequently by Simón Bolívar during Peru’s struggle for independence in the 19th century.

Following a five-year restoration, the inner courtyard reveals original stone arches and wooden balconies alongside a refined, intimate atmosphere. The hotel has just 11 suites, each featuring details such as velvet armchairs, working fireplaces, and freestanding bathtubs traditionally adorned with fresh eucalyptus leaves.

Additional international recognition

Inkaterra La Casona also holds two Michelin Keys, part of a total of five Michelin Keys awarded to Inkaterra properties across Peru. The Michelin Guide distinction recognizes hotels for hospitality, authenticity, and sustainability. Koechlin noted that the recognition reinforces the idea that hospitality can serve as a form of conservation.

• Ranked first on Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List 2026 for the region
• Editor’s Pick Blue Ribbon recipient in 2011
• Named Best City Hotel in Central and South America by Travel + Leisure in 2018
• Awarded two Michelin Keys

   

Recognized by the United Nations as the world’s first Climate Positive hotel brand, Inkaterra operates in some of Peru’s most emblematic landscapes, combining scientific research, conservation initiatives, and community development. With its latest inclusion on the Gold List, Inkaterra La Casona reinforces its position as a benchmark for heritage preservation through luxury hospitality in the heart of Cusco.