Drive up through the tree-lined dirt road to enter the INKATERRA Hacienda Urubamba complex and be immediately struck by the mountain views. With a main hacienda, 20 casitas, a spa and organic farm, you could very easily check in and not leave until you check out. Private, serene, well serviced and extremely friendly, it’s the perfect base to truly relax and take in the majestic Valle Sagrado.
The Hotel
Set over almost 100 acres, everything here focuses on the views. The hacienda-style main lodge has arched ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout. Incan artwork adorns the walls, antique furniture is dotted around, and Peruvian fabrics accent most pieces – beds, sofas, chairs. This truly is a mix of styles, both colonial and local, with a hint of ski-cabin vibes about it, too.
The Vibe
In a word: serene. By day, if the sun is out, you are enveloped by the mountains in a warm hug. By night, twilight brings a pewter tone that illuminates the valley. They have a social tea hour to encourage guests to mingle, and when the lodge is busy, other special nights, but privacy is really the draw for most people here. Be social if you want to dip in, and retreat to your hacienda when you’re ready to be alone.
The Rooms
Rooms have the signature INKATERRA fireplaces and own-brand natural bathroom products, as well as terraces, candles, bluetooth speakers, and heavy Peruvian baby alpaca blankets for those colder valley evenings. Showers are rainforest, and bedding is Egyptian cotton. Lighting is low at night, and there are USB plugs and plenty of plants. Birds chirp in the morning and stars twinkle at night. There are three daily turndown services, heated floors and towel racks, and Peruvian books to read.
Restaurants/Bars
The restaurant has tables inside and on the terrace, with an earth-to-table concept that uses produce from their 10-acre organic farm. Local produce forms the basis of their menu, which has dishes like guinea pig (a delicacy in Peru) with corn cake, Peruvian black mint and borage flowers; grilled trout from Lake Titicaca with black quinoa and lavender sauce; potato cream soup with Yucay smoked cheese; beet gnocchi with Brazil nuts from their plantation; and grilled alpaca with Andean herbs. Breakfast is similarly local, with French toast on potato bread and quinoa pancakes.
Their intimate bar, just off the living room, has sunken armchairs, views of the Sacred Valley, and is open until 11. There are bar ‘specials’ from 5-7PM with a menu to accompany.
Wellbeing
Their spa, MAYU, which means ‘river’ in the Andean language Quechua, uses natural materials to create a sanctuary on the grounds. A lit stone pathway leads to the reception, where you’ll check in for treatments like The Walker (good for legs post hiking), a treatment from their on property healing garden (they grow their own herbs, and you choose which you use), and Garden Pindas, an Ayurvedic treatment where cloth bags filled with seeds and aromatic herbs are heated and placed on pressure points to relieve tension. There’s also an outdoor shower and hot stone pool, a dome-dry sauna, and an open-air relaxation area. Leg and foot therapies are done in armchairs, and juices are from their vegetable garden.
Highlights
The casitas. There’s something about having your own house in the valley. And with 12 rooms and 20 casitas, the size of this property is just right: small enough that everyone says hello, but large enough that you don’t feel like you are part of the same party.
Anything Else
They offer several excursions, some which are complimentary, like their twilight walk, trail hike, and Chica de Jora beverage making class, and others like day trips (hikes, bike rides, museums) that come with a fee; you can order packed lunches to accompany too. They have a reasonably priced gift shop, and someone is always on hand to help with ideas, reservations, or to light your fire.
