Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel, Machu Picchu

ANDREA and the staff at the Sanctuary Lodge do not need to make the effort. Its location at the gates of Machu Picchu makes this retreat the most highly sought room in the entire world (not exaggerating). However, as a luxury location, the staff still adds unbelievable special touches to make the high price tag even more special. Have you ever received a chocolate sculpture of the Sun Gate upon check-in? Incredible. The staff, including the chef, Gregorio, will greet you by name, and some may even remember you from your previous stay 8 years earlier. Thank you for another amazing stay. Sleep well knowing that you are at the gates of Incan legends when you stay in this oasis. Savor every moment.

We stayed one evening in this small but nice hotel just outside the Macchu Picchu site. It is just a short walk to the gates of the site. Partial view of the ruins and full view of the Wayna Picchu mount. Nice bar restaurant. We liked the Peruvian cocktails talk and demonstration-tasting by Freddy.

When planning my trip to Machu Picchu I weighed the pros and cons of staying at Sanctuary House. If cost is no object, then staying there is a resounding yes. If cost is a determinant, then all things considered, I conclude it is worth the splurge. I traveled with my adult son and we had a small patio room with two beds. You cannot beat the location. It is the only property within steps of Machu Picchu. The alternative is to stay down the mountain in the town of Agua Calientes or spend all day traveling from Ollyantaytambo or Cusco. Personally, I was not a huge fan of Agua Calientes. Although Agua Calientes is located in the midst of breathtaking nature, the town itself feels like one large souvenir shop. This is the case even if you stay at its nicest accommodation. You simply will not have the same experience as at Sanctuary Lodge. The ease and convenience of being able to walk out of the Lodge to and from Machu Picchu alone is with the price in my opinion. Moreover, since I have some mobility issues, it was a godsend to not have to go up and down the mountain on the bus or stand in long lines. Dealing with the horrible buses going up and down the mountain was unpleasant, especially durning high season when lines were over an hour long at times, with often grumpy bus attendants who herded everyone about. I would say that you don’t stay at Sanctuary Lodge for opulent rooms. The rooms are relatively standard, fairly small, albeit clean and well-appointed. The beds were quite comfortable and the bedding was soft (which I cannot say for all of try accommodations in Peru). If you are full-board, the rooms include all sorts of amenities and the snacks and minibar are included. It should be noted, that it does not appear that any of the rooms have a direct view of Machu Picchu. We had a small room with a small patio. The patio had no view. It was cute, but we actually had no time to spend on it. I observed that there were rooms that had a large patio with a view onto a shared lawn. It was much more spacious but no privacy. It is a small property, so there isn’t a lot of places to hang out. However, it does have a nice shared yard with sofas,chairs and other shared space to relax, either before your check-in, during your stay or after you have checked out. The view from the back of the property, if you walk up the hill a bit, is priceless. If you find a feee chair, the view and sense of peace there is also with the price tag. The Spa was wonderful. Quite small, but the massage was great. I had Maria and my son had another masseuse, who was also excellent. Reasonable priced relatively speaking. One of the real highlights of the property is the staff. They really go above and beyond. The travel concierges, Cinthya and Orlando responded to a plethora of questions and assisted with details of the stay in advance of my stay. When we arrived, we were greeted at the train station by Sebastian who has a beautiful smile and makes you feel

Located just outside the entrance to Machu Picchu - couldn't be better. We were able to beat the morning crowds.

Great hotel in perfect location if you want to see Machu Picchu day 1 (e.g. after Inka Trail) and visit again early the next day before the crowds. Delightful, professional staff (calling out Jean Carlo in the restaurant for his outstanding, caring service).

Exceptional experience in one hotel that ensures comfort and a pleaseant stay before, during and after a Machu Picchu trip