Archives for posts with tag: Cusco

It’s official! Palacio Nazarenas is launched

September 27, 12 //
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By Stephan Post, Launch General Manager, Palacio Nazarenas

Last week saw the culmination of years of hard work: a spectacular party launched Palacio Nazarenas onto the Cuzco scene. The evening was filled with fireworks, fabulous food and fashions, and lots of fun. Our team welcomed over 150 guests to the hotel, including politicians, diplomats, film stars and international media.

The evening kicked off with the official cutting of the ribbon beside Cuzco’s first outdoor swimming pool, and finished with the Afro-Peruvian sounds of one of South America’s top musicians, Micky Gonzales.

The celebrations marked the conclusion of four years dedicated to restoring this beautiful building while taking it forward as a contemporary hotel. Now we turn our attention to our guests, and to ensuring that they discover all that Cuzco has to offer in an exceptional way.

So now that the hotel is fully fledged it’s time to say “goodbye” to this blog. This is the final post, as we focus all our energies on ensuring that our guests have a fantastic stay.

We’ll be leaving the blog in place for a while so that anyone who wants to discover our “back story’ can find out more. Please, come and visit us and let us turn these words and pictures into an experience to remember.

Candles illuminate the area surrounding Cuzco's first outdoor pool

Candles illuminate the area surrounding Cuzco's first outdoor pool

Vanessa Saba

Vanessa Saba

Anna Laevski, Dominika Paleta and Lorena Pérez Moya

Anna Laevski, Dominika Paleta and Lorena Pérez Moya

Eduardo Ferrero and his wife Verónica, María Rosa Arrarte

Eduardo Ferrero and his wife Verónica, María Rosa Arrarte

Mauricio Bustamante and his wife Claudia Abuid. Pedro Diez Canseco and his wife Jessika Gómez

Mauricio Bustamante and his wife Claudia Abuid. Pedro Diez Canseco and his wife Jessika Gómez

Gina Gabbard and her husband Chris, Kimberly Wilson Wetty

Gina Gabbard and her husband Chris, Kimberly Wilson Wetty

Mr. Manuel Zúñiga

Mr. Manuel Zúñiga

Fátima Arrieta and her husband Alfredo Arosemena

Fátima Arrieta and her husband Alfredo Arosemena

Vania Masías and her husband Erick Hanschke

Vania Masías and her husband Erick Hanschke

Our neighbours come to visit

July 5, 12 //
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By Laurent Carrasset, Managing Director, Peru

One of the high points of reopening Palacio Nazarenas has been welcoming in local people to a building that has been closed for seven years. We’ve had so many heartfelt comments from visitors who’ve said how proud and how grateful they are to Orient-Express for bringing ‘their’ convent back to life. It was very important to them that an historic building in such a key location, close by a national museum, should be properly cared for and open to the public.

Mass is held in the nun's cell with the painting of Senor de Huanca.

Many of these visitors headed straight to the former nun’s cell where the miraculous image of Senor de Huanca covers one wall. At last they were able to pay their respects to this depiction of a vision of Christ once again. Seeing them venerate this sacred painting—now beautifully restored—made all our work worthwhile.

Christmas Greetings from Cuzco

December 22, 11 //
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Christmas music in the courtyard of Hotel Monasterio

by Stephan Post, General Manager Hotel Monasterio and Palacio Nazarenas

Our Christmas celebrations are in full swing in Peru. Hotel Monasterio, our first Orient-Express hotel in Cuzco (adjacent to Palacio Nazarenas), has a Christmas market and carol singing every evening.

As I look at everything that’s happening I’m thinking about what Christmas will be like this time next year, when Palacio Nazarenas is open. We’ll be making sure that all our guests have the chance to get involved in local events and experience the festivities in a really Peruvian way.

Christmas is just one of many festivals that are marked with huge gusto throughout the year. Easter is another big occasion, when there are processions through the streets, and then there’s the festival of the sun, Inti Raymi, in the middle of June. This will take place around the time that the hotel opens, and so we’re gearing up for big celebrations.

All good wishes for the festive season and I wish you a happy new year.

The spa shapes up…

September 1, 11 //
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By Michael Simonato, Spa Creator for Palacio Nazarenas

As building work progresses on our spa, the concept behind its atmosphere and treatments is taking shape. We’re looking to create a truly spiritual sanctuary within the hotel, an oasis where guests can escape and enjoy an experience tailored to their exact needs. I feel confident that we will set a new benchmark for spas in South America.

What we will offer goes way beyond regular spa treatments such as massages, scrubs, wraps and beauty treatments. When guests arrive they will be asked what they would like to achieve: more energy, total relaxation or a boost to their health. We’ll then arrange a personalised programme that could include massage, aromatherapy and other rituals. They can choose their own music, food and drink, and post-treatment activities such as stretching or sports.

Palacio Nazarenas Spa

The emphasis will be on aromatherapy using local products and experiences: steam baths scented with fresh muna (a mountain herb), massage creams and oils from Andean plants, drinks made from Sacred Valley fruits. Peru’s local culture is interwoven with the use of flowers and herbs, and this will be reflected throughout the spa. Many of our natural products will be hand-picked by communities from the Cuzco region.

We’re also planning to have rooms scented with natural fragrances where guests can relax on a mattress, wrapped in an alpaca blanket, and dream…