Sacred Valley Sacred Valley Travel Guide: Best Hotels, Restaurants & Experiences

Where to Stay

1. Tambo del Inka

1 Michelin Key· Forbes Five-Star

Tambo del Inka commands the only private railway station in Urubamba, dispatching guests to Machu Picchu aboard 1920s-style carriages with a panoramic Observation Bar Car. The property spreads along the Vilcamayo River beneath Chicón mountain, its interiors anchored by a soaring stone hearth and dressed in Andean textiles. A 22,000-square-foot organic garden feeds the Novo Andean kitchen, while Kallpa Spa channels local waters through thermal circuits and underwater beds.

2. explora Valle Sagrado

1 Michelin Key

During construction, builders uncovered ancient Inca foundations—prompting architects to weave the ruins into this adobe-and-wood lodge overlooking terraced fields and the Vilcabamba peaks. The 44 rooms embrace powerful minimalism, while the Pumacahua Bath House delivers a full spa circuit: outdoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and steam rooms. Guides tailor excursions for families exploring the Urubamba Valley en route to Machu Picchu.

3. Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

2 Michelin Keys

Spread across a hundred hillside acres between Cusco and Machu Picchu, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba comprises 24 casitas with private terraces facing the Andes. The zero-carbon farm—worked by oxen rather than machines—feeds an earth-to-table restaurant, while rooms layer local craftsmanship over heated floors and down duvets. Hikers find Inca Trail-grade terrain without the crowds; evenings end with proper pisco sours.

4. Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel

1 Michelin Key

Designed to echo a traditional Andean village, Rio Sagrado's 19 rooms and two villas dissolve into the Sacred Valley landscape, their earthen forms framing the Urubamba River below. Televisions are deliberately absent—morning views of the sacred river prove far more compelling. The restaurant draws from on-site gardens for its Peruvian menu, while a spa with jacuzzi and sauna, plus an outdoor pool, rewards guests after days exploring on foot or horseback.

5. Sol y Luna

Relais & Châteaux

Spread across 25 acres where exotic flowers bloom in rich red earth and giant hummingbirds dart between endangered trees, Sol y Luna channels ancient Inca building traditions through clay-walled casitas with native stone foundations. Private outdoor Jacuzzis, wood-burning fireplaces, and underfloor heating ensure comfort at altitude. Killa Wasi restaurant draws from on-site gardens, while the stables offer rides through the valley—ideal for families seeking active immersion.

6. Skylodge Adventure Suites (Peru)

Suspended high above the Urubamba Valley, these transparent pods of aluminium and polycarbonate cling to sheer granite cliffs, offering an experience closer to sleeping in a spacecraft than a conventional hotel. The night sky becomes an unobstructed canopy overhead. Each capsule accommodates four berths, welcoming families with children from age six for an adventure that trades lobby formality for vertical glamping thrills.

7. Andenia Boutique Hotel

Nine rooms scattered through terraced gardens give Andenia the atmosphere of a private Andean estate rather than a conventional hotel. Each accommodation opens onto mountain panoramas via its own terrace or balcony, while the restaurant draws on valley-sourced ingredients to craft regional cuisine. Handwoven textiles and locally made ceramics reinforce the connection to Sacred Valley traditions. An outdoor pool provides a tranquil counterpoint to Machu Picchu excursions.

What to Do

1. Spa Yaku Wasi

Relais & Châteaux

Yacu Wasi—"House of Waters" in Quechua—honors the element the Incas revered most. At 2,800 meters, the ritual unfolds: an herb-infused sauna, then a heated pool facing Andean peaks, finally hydrotherapy baths steeped in local salts and essential oils. Three candlelit treatment rooms, their stained glass catching the flame, host therapies built on organic highland botanicals and centuries-old tradition.