Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

If you are planning a multi-day visit to Machu Picchu, the location of The Sanctuary Lodge is absolutely unbeatable. We stayed here for a two-day itinerary—touring the citadel on day one and hiking to the summit of one of the mountains on day two—and it completely transformed our experience. Being able to step right out of the hotel and into the park entry saved us from having to endure the winding, crowded bus ride up and down from Aguas Calientes multiple times. The hotel really shines in how it caters to hikers, especially after check-out. On the morning of our mountain hike, the staff provided us with hiking poles to use and safely held our luggage. When we finished our grueling hike, they had a dedicated changing room with a hot shower ready for us to use before we headed back down the mountain. It made the logistics seamless. The service overall was excellent—the staff is incredibly kind, warm, and attentive. The beds were highly comfortable, ensuring a great night's sleep before a big trekking day. We also thoroughly enjoyed the dining; the food was delicious, and the live Peruvian music in the evening added a wonderful, authentic atmosphere to the stay. The only caveat is the price relative to room size. The rooms are definitely on the smaller side for what you pay, and the property commands a premium price tag. Considering the logistics of getting food and staff, etc, to this remote location, the price is justified. If your goal is maximize your time on the mountain and eliminate the transit hassle, the sheer convenience and thoughtful hiker amenities make it worth every penny.

After visit Machu Picchu always is good to have a Pisco Sour. Fredy ( somelier) show how to prepare a good pisco sour.

Wonderful, wonderful experience. The service especially from Russell, Freddie and Joseph was amazing !! They kept the restaurant open for us - helped my disabled wife and even made chilli sauce for us on our take with fresh chillies !

Russell, Joseph, Freddie provided amazingly hospitable service! My mum is in a wheelchair and they went out of their way to provide excellent service - making it as accessible as possible. When we asked for spicy food, they did an amazing demonstration of how to make their in-house chilli sauce, which was delicious!! Also they kept their restaurant open slightly longer to accommodate for us and the food (fish burger) was unbelievable!!

We had lunch at Tampu after visiting Machu Picchu and it was amazing! The food was delicious. The service was amazing. Russell gave us an education on the local fish and chocolate with lots of extra tastings. Amazing experience!