Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba sits on a hillside at kilometre 63 of the road through the Sacred Valley, on about 100 acres between Cusco and Machu Picchu, with green mountains rising on every side. The hacienda-style main house holds 12 rooms, and 24 freestanding casitas are scattered across the grounds, all with views over the valley. Rooms are unpretentious and rooted in local craft, with handmade headboards, Inca masks and alpaca blankets, and comforts kept discreet: heated floors, down duvets and private terraces facing the Andes. The estate farms its own produce by low-carbon methods, using oxen and hand tools, and the restaurant's earth-to-table cooking draws on it. There is a bar that pours a fine pisco sour. Much of the appeal lies in what you can do without leaving: bird-watching, walks from the door and sessions on how traditional Andean drinks are made. Farther out, the hiking has much of the drama of the Inca Trail with far fewer people, and the valley's Inca sites, villages and markets are close by.
- Nearest airport
- Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, Cusco (CUZ), 19 Miles / 30 Kilometres
- Rooms
- 12 rooms and 24 casitas
Insider tip Make use of the in-house excursions; bird-watching and Andean drink-making sessions on the estate give a feel for the valley without long drives.
Why I choose it A calm, well-run base in the Sacred Valley, between Cusco and Machu Picchu, that suits the first nights of an Andean journey.
