Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

It was a pleasure to stay at the sanctuary lodge of Belmond in Machu Picchu. We combined this tay with a round trip Hiram Bingham train trip from Cusco. The end to end experience was just impeccable. The hospitality of the staff at the sanctuary lodge was outstanding. They took care of all of our needs and requests. The Sanctuary Lodge offers end to end luggage transfer (cabin bags and backpacks only) from the Agusas Calientes train station. This is super convenient but it's not advertised anywhere on the Hiram Bingham website. They also offer overnight laundry service, which is great (4 pcs free person).

We loved the Sanctuary Lodge, which has an amazing location at the entrance to the Machu Picchu site. The cookery class was a particularly fun with Chef Daniel. The food and drinks were first rate.

Sanctuary Lodge provided a respite before and after walking through an architectural wonder. We had a meal that was wonderfully created by the chef who was raised in the area and was able to share the ingredients of his home. We were humbled by the natural and manmade beauty surrounding us - new and ancient.

This was a fantastic stay. Because of the uncertainty about whether the Peruvian government would renew the hotel’s licence or not after May 15 many guests had been cancelled. Thankfully it did indeed remain open and we were able to stay there 2 days ago. The position of the hotel adjacent to Machu Picchu meant we were able to visit it once in the afternoon and once early the next day, without having to make the bus journey from the town below twice. It also meant the hotel had majestic views of the mountains from its gardens. This is an oasis of peace away from the traffic outside. We checked in after our first visit to Machu Pichu and at reception we were told we were the only guests that night and that the hotel wanted our stay to be very special. To be honest even without the extras they gave us it would have been special anyway. The room was lovely, the food delicious and the staff helpful and charming. The management gave us an experience to remember and we are very grateful.

This hotel is the perfect place to stay when visiting Machu Picchu. It is located right at the entrance to the historic site, which allows for a late afternoon visit on the first day, when the crowds are on their way back down into the valley. The next morning, one can be the first to visit again, and once the crowds arrive again, you will already be enjoying breakfast at the hotel. This makes for a very special and personal experience of the magic of Machu Picchu. This is not your typical luxury Belmond hotel, as rooms and baths are small – but clean and nicely equipped. It’s all about the location here. The restaurant is very good, and the staff extremely friendly and accommodating and they make sure one has a pleasant experience. We would strongly recommend the hotel for anyone visiting Machu Picchu, to guarantee the best possible experience of this magical place.