Sacred Valley, Peru
Right on the banks of the Urubamba River, with the mountains rising on every side, Río Sagrado is the Sacred Valley at its most peaceful. Stone and wood casitas cascade down through the gardens to the water, and the only sound at night is the river. It is one of my favorite places to slow down between Cusco and Machu Picchu.
The Property
The hotel opened in 2009 between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, and soon became part of Belmond. It is small and intimate, with just 21 rooms and suites and two family villas, all built in natural stone and wood in a traditional Andean style and spread across riverside gardens.
There is El Huerto restaurant, cooking with vegetables and herbs from the hotel’s own garden, riverside barbecue lunches at El Jardín, a heated pool with river views, and the Mayu Willka Spa, set among native trees and wildflowers. Days can include horseback riding, rafting on the Urubamba, yoga or an Andean ceremony. And Belmond’s Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu departs right from the hotel.
Why It’s Here
Río Sagrado gets the Sacred Valley right. It’s small, with just 21 rooms and suites and two villas, so it never feels like a resort, and it sits on the banks of the Urubamba, lower than Cusco, which is exactly where I tell my clients to spend their first nights in Peru.
What makes it special is how much of the valley you can enjoy without leaving the hotel. Mornings start with Andean yoga or a horseback ride through the fields. Children feed the alpacas, walk with the llamas and paint their own Andean bull, and there’s a cooking class with produce from the hotel’s garden. At night there are films under the stars and stargazing. And on Machu Picchu day, Belmond’s Hiram Bingham train departs right from the hotel.
It’s the rare hotel that works just as beautifully for a honeymoon as for a family trip.
The Rooms
All rooms have river and valley views, a private terrace, king or twin beds with Peruvian pima cotton sheets, local art and marble bathrooms with heated floors.
Deluxe Terrace Room: Comfortable and bright, with a large private terrace facing the river and the mountains.
Garden Junior Suite: More than twice the space, with a living area and a large terrace opening onto a private garden.
Villas: Two family villas with two or three ensuite bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and riverfront access, for 4 to 6 guests.
My recommendation: The Garden Junior Suite. The Deluxe rooms are lovely, but the suites give you so much more space and your own garden by the river, which is what this hotel is all about. For families or friends traveling together, the villas are perfect: you get your own house with all the hotel’s services.
Ideal For
Families with young children, especially in the villas: two or three bedrooms, a kitchen and riverfront access, plus alpacas, llamas and picnics in the garden to fill the afternoons.
Honeymooners and couples who want privacy: a Garden Junior Suite by the river, the Mayu Willka Spa, a cacao ceremony and a barbecue lunch in the garden.
First-time visitors to Peru who want to adjust to the altitude gently before going up to Cusco.
Travelers doing Machu Picchu in style, with the Hiram Bingham leaving from the hotel.
Less ideal for travelers who want to walk to restaurants and shops: the hotel is in the countryside between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, so you’ll need a car or a driver to get around.
Good to Know
Location: Sacred Valley, on the banks of the Urubamba River between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, at about 2,850 m altitude
Nearest airport: Cusco (CUZ)
Getting there: About 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Cusco airport. Belmond’s Hiram Bingham train departs from the hotel; the regular trains to Machu Picchu leave from Ollantaytambo
Price: From around $570 per night
Best time to visit: April through October is the dry season, with sunny days and cold nights. May, September and October are the sweet spot: good weather and fewer people than in July and August. November through March is the rainy season, when the valley is at its greenest.
Good to keep in mind: Being at a lower altitude than Cusco, the Sacred Valley is the best place to spend your first nights in Peru and adjust to the altitude.
Tip: Ask for a room or suite closest to the river: the sound of the water at night is part of the magic.
Book It
Book Río Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel through me and you’ll receive:
Daily à-la-carte breakfast for two
A US$90 hotel credit per stay (US$200 in suites)
A complimentary upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
VIP welcome treats with local flavors
Send me your dates and I’ll take it from there.
Travel Advisor
Natalia Soler
Let’s talk about your travel plans, whether it’s this trip or another destination.
