With all the possible places to stay when traveling, it can be difficult to know which one is the best one for you and your fellow travelers. Your accommodations can be such a big piece of your trip; letting you relax that much more during your vacation, or immersing you further into the culture. We know it can be difficult to know all of the features of each hotel option, so we wanted to highlight a few of Knowmad’s favorite hotels in Peru’s Sacred Valley, and share the characteristics that make each one a top Sacred Valley hotel on our list.
KNOWMAD’S TOP SACRED VALLEY HOTELS
Sol y Luna
Sol y Luna’s private casitas, nestled amongst beautiful gardens and surrounded by the high Andes mountains, are simply enchanting. With two restaurants, it’s also known for its incredible food: being a part of the Relais y Chateaux family, it certainly makes Peruvian cuisine a focal point. But your senses will also be tickled by their colorful décor, joyful and bright in true Peruvian style. Take a walk through their gardens, watch a Peruvian Paso horse show and take in the views of the Sacred Valley as you explore the grounds. The Superior Casitas, while relatively small, are a great way to get an excellent property while still keeping an eye on cost, or you can upgrade to the Deluxe Casitas for the cozy wood-burning fireplace and more spacious casita. Their Premium Casitas are a piece of heaven, and with a private terrace with jacuzzi, the perfect spot to soak in views of the Andes mountains above. They also have a great Family Casita with 1 king bed, and 2 more beds in a second story loft.
Best Food & Gardens
Cost $$-$$$$ (dependent on Casita type)
Location Close to Urubamba
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
Situated on a hill overlooking the Sacred Valley, Inkaterra’s Hacienda Urubamba certainly holds a strong place on this list for the stunning views it offers. With tall glass windows and private casitas scattered around the main hotel, guests have the Sacred Valley’s scenic views as their backdrop as they relax and enjoy their stay at Hacienda Urubamba. They also offer a few on-site included excursions, such as a trail walk at sunset, morning bird watching around the hotel, or a half-day hike along the Huasi Challa hillside, making it a great choice if planning to have a day at leisure during your Sacred Valley days. It’s more removed from town than Sol y Luna, which, depending on your preferences, could be seen as a pro or con. It will take a taxi ride if you’d like to journey out to restaurants in the evening, although the on-site hotel restaurant is fantastic.
Best Views; Price for value
Cost $$-$$$
Location Hilltop, about 15-20 minute drive from Urubamba, where you’ll find more restaurants
Explora Sacred Valley
Explora Sacred Valley is an all-inclusive style adventure lodge. Travelers will meet with an Explora guide upon arrival who will explain all of the comforts of the lodge and available excursions. Each night they will assist travelers in planning out their activities for the next day. Excursions range from the must-sees of the area, like day trips to Machu Picchu or Cusco, to unique, off-the-grid guided adventures as well, and have options to fit a variety of activity levels. The flexibility of planning each day combined with the luxurious amenities of Explora Sacred Valley certainly make it an accommodation not to forget.
Best All-inclusive lodge stay; Flexible excursion planning
Cost $$$$ (includes all meals & guiding)
Location About 30 minutes or more from Urubamba
Belmond’s Rio Sagrado
Located along the Urubamba River, Belmond’s Rio Sagrado affords guests with beautiful views of the river as well as ground-level views of the awe-inspiring Sacred Valley. With floor-to-ceiling windows in some of its units, the Rio Sagrado is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the luxurious comforts during your stay in the Sacred Valley.
Best Hotel for relaxation & serenity; Spa
Cost $$$
Location Along the Urubamba river about 10 minutes from Urubamba
Tambo del Inca Resort + Spa
With 128 rooms, Tambo del Inca is the largest of the luxury hotels on this list. It pairs the charms of Peru with the comforts of a large luxury hotel, and all the amenities that come along with its size. Offering various spa services, a fitness center, private train station, delicious fare at the on-site restaurant, and an indoor pool, this hotel is the perfect fit for those looking to not leave modern amenities behind while still enjoying the remote Peruvian Sacred Valley.
Best Luxury amenities
Cost $$$-$$$$
Location Within Urubamba
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay
For a lovely accommodation on a tighter budget Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay is the way to go. You’ll enjoy its traditional Peruvian feel in the tiny Andean town of Yucay. With beautiful gardens around the property and even on-site Incan terraces and a small local chapel, Sonesta makes for a delightful place to stay during your time in the Sacred Valley.
Best Price
Cost $
Location Within Yucay, about 10 minutes from Urubamba
As you begin to plan your trip to Peru’s Sacred Valley, consider what you will enjoy most about your lodging: whether you prefer someplace clean, comfortable, & simple; or perhaps authentic and full of cultural details is more your style; or it may be a place where you can enjoy luxury and relaxation. Whatever it is that stands out to you, finding the best Sacred Valley accommodation for you is one more great way to make your trip the best it can be.
To learn more about which Sacred Valley hotel would be perfect for your trip, give a Knowmad Peru Trip Specialist a call today at 612-315-2894 ext. 105 or email our Peru Trip Specialist Renee at [email protected] to begin planning your personalized Peru itinerary.
Adiós, Carmen
Carmen is Operations Support at Knowmad Adventures, a company dedicated to crafting specialized custom, private trips to South America. Carmen has lived in three countries, spent some time backpacking in Europe and Central America, and studied Spanish, Italian, and Greek. She loves to explore languages, new places, and all the ways in which people can share their stories, and is excited to help travelers add to their own story with their next adventure!
