Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Machu Picchu… one of the seven world wonders…. for many people it’s a dream destination, to put on their “bucketlist”. I can honestly say, visiting Machu Picchu was a dream come true. The town at the bottom of Machu Picchu, is called Aguas Calientes, a place where travelers from around the world gather before and after their visit to the ancient Inca citadel.

Aguas Calientes is filled with hostels and hotels in every price range. There’s only one that will take your breath away though… and that’s Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel! This ecological resort has 81 small "casitas" and 2 private villas scattered over the terrain (12 acres), making it feel as though you were in a little Andean village.

You are in the middle of the cloud forest here. There are many types of tropical birds, including the tiny but oh so beautiful hummingbird. Furthermore, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo has the world’s largest native orchid collection (372 species). A few of them are pictured here.

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel is located at an altitude of 2020 meters / 6627 feet above sea level. The hotel is part of the ecological Inkaterra chain, which was established in 1975. It now includes 6 eco-friendly properties near Cusco and Puerto Maldonado.

The casitas and public areas (restaurants, bar, lounges) are all decorated with traditional materials and furniture. At night, there are candles and fireplaces lit everywhere, making it an incredibly romantic place to stay. My casita even had its own fireplace; a bellboy came to lit it at night. Pure bliss!

There’s a spa, a jacuzzi with spring water and a small shop with beautiful handmade souvenirs. Everything is sustainable, in fact the water used in the bathrooms is real rainwater! A small card in your room explains exactly how it is obtained and warns you that in case of heavy rain fall, the water might appear slightly muddy. That doesn't sound too atractive, but I can guarantee you, that the hotel feels very clean and luxurious.

To me, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel was a perfect place to stay, beautiful, authentic and very romantic. It's also an oasis compared to the busy town of Aguas Calientes. It’s only a 5-minute walk from Machu Picchu Pueblo train station to the hotel. Trains run daily from Cusco to Machu Picchu (3 hour ride) and from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu (1 hour 20 minutes).

For more information about the hotel, please visit:
http://www.inkaterra.com/inkaterra/inkaterra-machu-picchu-pueblo-hotel/the-experience
For more information about Peru:
http://www.peru.travel

Tambo del Inka Resort & Spa, Valle Sagrado, Peru

Tambo del Inka Resort & Spa is one of those places, the minute you lay eyes on it.... you fall in love with it! The architecture, the surroundings, the warm and elegant interiors... it's all stunning! Oh and don't even get me started on the swimming pool, the spa and all the other wonderful amenities. They have thought of absolutely everything.

The beautiful lobby has a big fireplace, with lots of couches on both sides, where you can enjoy your afternoon (coca) tea or late night drinks. The restaurant is huge, but still manages to be cozy. We had dinner close to the fireplace (yet another one), accompanied by lovely Peruvian live music.... so romantic!

Tambo del Inka offers organic food and even grows their own vegetables in the garden. At breakfast there's a wide range of homemade jams, bread, cereals, fruit, fruit juices and there's also a gluten free section. And of course you can order eggs and other dishes à la carte.

The rooms exude pure luxury. Tambo del Inka actually reminded me of a decadent hotel in the italian Alps, warm, cozy and chic. Although I usually prefer historical buildings,Tambo del Inka took that prejudice away completely. I wouldn't stay anywhere else in the Sacred Valley! In fact when it was time to leave, I didn't want to go.

This hotel is just too comfortable! It's located perfectly to go sightseeing; they even have their own train station to Machu Picchu.... but they make it really hard to leave the premises. Swimming, relaxing in the spa or garden, having lunch or dinner in the wonderful restaurant, or just hanging out in your room... it's as good as it gets.

The cherry on the cake is the small giftshop, that sells beautiful inca inspired jewelry... Be sure to take it home as a souvenir... it will last a lifetime (and will remind you every day of your wonderful trip)!

For more information, please visit:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3285&language=en_US

For more information about Peru:
http://www.peru.travel

Special thanks to PromPeru and USP Marketing PR.