peru-8-cuzco-sacred-valley

oLas Chullpas CABINS $$
(%20-1568; www.chullpas.pe; Pumahuanca Valley;
s/d/tr/q S120/150/180/220; iW) Hidden 3km
above town, these rustic woodland cottages
make for the perfect getaway. Rooms feature
comfortable beds and fireplaces. The
site, nestled among thick eucalyptus trees,
is spread out with inviting pathways and
lounge areas with hammocks. There is also
an open kitchen serving vegetarian food,
holistic treatments and a sweat lodge (available
on request).
Much of the food is grown organically on
site, and efforts are made towards composting
and recycling. The affable Chilean owner
also guides treks, especially to the Lares Valley.
Highly recommended. Come with good
directions, the roads are unmarked and not
all taxi drivers know it.
Río Sagrado Hotel LUXURY HOTEL $$$
(%20-1631; www.riosagradohotel.com; d incl
breakfast from S1311; iW) A design haven of
cottage-style rooms with rough-hewn beams
and exquisite accents of Ayacucho embroidery,
this Orient Express property is the
epitome of understated luxury. The steep
hillside location affords privacy for rooms
set on terraced pathways perfumed with jasmine
blooms. Or enjoy the river view from
hammocks set amidst cascading waterfalls.
Service is smooth and top-notch.
Facilities include a spa, hot tubs, a sauna,
restaurant, and breakfast in a hot-air balloon
suspended above the lawn.
K’uychi Rumi BUNGALOW $$$
(%20-1169; www.urubamba.com; d/q S470/810;
iW) ‘Rainbow Stone’ in Quechua, this
walled compound of two-story cottages
tucked into gardens offers a lost retreat. It’s
family-friendly and popular among European
travelers. There are various configurations,
but most are two-bedroom with kitchenette,
fireplace and terrace balcony, linked
by a labyrinthine trail with hummingbirds
zipping around and very friendly dogs that
guard the property. It’s between Km 74 and
Km 75 on the main highway, more than 2km
west of town.
Sol y Luna BOUTIQUE HOTEL $$$
(%20-1620; www.hotelsolyluna.com; Fundo Huincho
lote A-5; iWs) A bit of a living fairytale,
this luxury property runs wild with whimsy.
Fans of folk art will be overwhelmed – its
43 casitas feature original murals and comic,
oversized sculptures by noted Peruvian
artist Federico Bauer. The playful feel spills
over to bold tropical hues and a decor of
carved wooden beds, freestanding tubs and
dainty rod-iron chandeliers.
French-Swiss owned, it all conspires to
charm you. Avant-garde circus productions
with former Cirque de Soleil artists provide
evening entertainment. For daytime fun, Peruvian
paso horses can be ridden on the fifteen
hectares and beyond. With eccentric atmosphere,
its acclaimed restaurant Wayra is
the creation of Lima’s Malabar-famed chef,
there’s also a more casual open-air offering
featuring food tours and chef visits.
Tambo del Inka LUXURY HOTEL $$$
(%58-1777; www.libertador.com.pe; d from US$689;
iWs) Just like Hogwarts, Tambo del Inca
features its own train station – handy in this
case for a morning jaunt to Machu Picchu.
Stark and commanding, this Leed-certified
hotel (with its own water treatment plant
and UV air filters) occupies an immense riverside
spread dotted with giant eucalyptus
trees.
The resource does not go unnoticed: eucalyptus
is a staple of interior decor and even
spa treatments. The hotel’s best features: the
chromo-therapeutic indoor-outdoor pool
which changes colors at night, and a hipster
lounge with round tables with leather
armchairs, backlit by an immense mural of
fractured onyx. Rooms are appealing and
comfortable, but it seems a little cheeky that
standards like breakfast and wi-fi cost extra.
Los Jardines HOTEL $
(%20-1331; www.los-jardines-urubamba.com; Jr
Convención 459; s/d S56/80) Noted for its very
accommodating service, this reader-recommended
family hotel occupies a large adobe
home surrounded by flower gardens. Rooms
are basic but clean, some feature large picture
windows. The buffet breakfast served
in the garden is extra. It’s within walking
distance of the plaza.
Hostal los Perales GUESTHOUSE $
(%20-1151; ecolodgeurubamba.com; Pasaje Arenales
102; r per person S25) Tucked down a hidden
country lane, this welcoming family-run
guesthouse offers good-value, basic rooms
around lovely overgrown gardens. Its elderly
owners are sweet, serving banana pancakes
and sacha tomato jam from their own tree
for breakfast. It’s easy to get lost, so take a
mototaxi (S1) from the terminal.
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Cuzco & the Sacred Valley T S U H L R E U E B S P A AC I M N G R B E A D VA L L E Y