The Sumaq Machu Picchu hotel is the last hotel in Machu Picchu town before reaching the citadel itself. Located right on the banks of the Urubamba river, the sound of rushing water soothes you to sleep at night and a great view of Machu Picchu mountain greets you when you wake.
Friendly staff meet you at the train station and walk the ten minutes to the hotel where you are greeted with a refreshing iced tea to quench your thirst after the surprising rise in temperature from Cusco just three hours previously. Sumaq is currently being re-modelled and we loved the modern, warm and luxurious feel of the lobby and reception area which is decorated with colourful cushions and rugs and gold masks and objects reflecting the age of the Incas.
Owned by the Clavijo Begazo family, all the rooms in the hotel will be remodelled over the next year in a similar modern style but for now the rooms are decorated in a more traditional style using Incan motifs including the Incan sun or ‘chakana’ in rugs, cushions, bedheads and wardrobes. Rooms are also decorated with ceramic pieces symbolizing the Incan God Wiracocha or a typical Andean wedding or ‘Araq Maqsin’.
There are 60 rooms including 40 deluxe, 17 junior suites and three sumaq suites which come complete with their own Jacuzzi and fireplace. The rooms at the front of the hotel have balconies and stunning views of the surrounding mountains while the rooms at the back of the hotel tend to be quieter. Rooms are spacious, cozy and homely and I enjoyed resting in the comfy chair while gazing out at Machu Picchu mountain after a hard day’s hike around the citadel. All bathrooms have a bath with an excellent shower.
Staff are very friendly and helpful and rates include an a-la-carte meal at the Qunuq restaurant, a complimentary pisco sour, tea-time and a 45 minute cooking class where you can learn to make a ceviche and your own pisco sour when you get back home.
Sumaq will organize tours to Machu Picchu and other local attractions and they have a great time-saving service where they organize for the bus to Machu Picchu to pick you up from the hotel so you don’t have to walk into town and queue like other mere mortals!
Sumaq overall is definitely a good choice for a luxury stay in Machu Picchu town particularly after hiking the Inca trail. Rated by the Ministry of Tourism as the only five star hotel in Machu Picchu town, this is definitely a luxury hotel but don’t expect to find all the frills of a five star in say a big city like Lima or New York. This is five star luxury in a tiny town in the Peruvian cloudforest where every single item – bedding, food and even materials used in the construction itself had to come by train from Cusco over three hours away.
On a final note, we also liked that they are environmentally conscious. Sumaq is certified by both Rainforest Alliance and Eco-Luxury and have a range of environmental policies in place like sensor driven lights throughout the building and controlled water use. Definitely important in a World Heritage site like Machu Picchu.
Book Great Rates at Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel Here!
Best of Peru Travel Recommends:
- If you are celebrating an anniversary or honeymoon Sumaq offers a great, free service where they will prepare your room with candles and rose petals for a romantic evening. Request this service when you book.
- All the buses to Machu Picchu pass just outside the hotel so if you want a lie-in ask for a room at the back of the hotel or on the second or ideally third floors where the noise from passing buses tends to be less. The view isn’t as good but it’s definitely quieter.
- Keep an eye on their website as they regularly have special offers and promotions on room rates.
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