It is always a pleasure to visit the Tambo del Inka Hotel in the Sacred Valley and our recent stay confirmed this hotel as one of our favourite hotels in Peru. ‘Tambo’ in the local Quechua language means ‘place of rest’ and it is certainly a fabulous choice if you want to relax and unwind in the Sacred Valley. The hotel is surrounded by lush gardens filled with native plants, lies next to the banks of the Urubamba River and is an oasis of tranquility despite its location in the centre of Urubamba town.
It has recently been ranked by Travel and Leisure as the 35th best hotel in the world and the 4th best resort in South America and it’s easy to see why.
Water is a calming feature throughout this hotel from the pools by the hotel entrance, to the outdoor swimming pool and hydro-therapy circuit in the excellent Spa at Valle Sagrado that overlooks the river below. The architecture of this hotel feels almost Swiss-chalet like and invites complete relaxation. Wide open spaces communicate with the surrounding countryside, gardens and terraces through large windows bringing a sense of light and tranquility.
The clean lines of Tambo Del Inka’s contemporary design bring you on a journey through the Sacred Valley with local stones and eucalyptus wood used in the construction and numerous colourful symbols of local culture such as “Taita Inti” the incan symbol for father sun and large multicolored braids recalling the “quipu” or Incan system of communication decorating the high hotel walls.
The same colourful warmth is found in the hotel’s 128 rooms which include two senior and ten junior suites which come complete with butler service and the deluxe rooms all have a terrace overlooking the gardens. The quality of furniture and use of colour and lighting in all bedrooms ensures a soothing, peaceful stay. Exquisite bed linen and firm yet soft mattresses guarantee an excellent night’s rest while bathrooms made of wood and marble with ample daylight and luxury Gilchrist & Soames amenities turn bathing into a pleasure.
Majestic fireplaces warm the main lobby and the Hawa Restaurant which serves an exquisite buffet breakfast (complete with bagel bar and a gluten-free counter) every morning. The cheerful Kiri Bar is a good place to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail (they do a great pisco sour and club sandwich!) while lounging on the outdoor terrace watching the day end. They have fabulous gardens to wander around and a large organic farm where they produce vegetables and flowers for the restaurant. Attention to detail is second to none in this Luxury Collection Resort part of Marriott International and the courtesy and friendliness of staff just makes the Tambo del Inka experience even more special.
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Without a doubt, this is one of the best hotels we have visited in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. A hotel where it actually feels like you are spending a night in your own private luxury villa where all the staff is on hand to meet your every need… Definitely one of our top picks for places to stay in Urubamba.
Best of Peru Travel Recommends:
- For added guest comfort, Tambo Del Inka has an on-site railway station with daily trains to take guests directly to Machu Picchu. Ask at their Venturia travel agency for more details and for help with organizing tours to Machu Picchu or any of the other local attractions.
- This is a great choice for honeymooners! Tell them when you book that you are on honeymoon and they can organise some great romantic extras…
- Tambo del Inka also takes the environment seriously and is one of the first hotels in Peru to have attained the prestigious LEED certification. We loved that all the waste water from the showers, toilets etc. is treated on-site and then re-used to water their gardens which are full of native Andean plants!
- We always recommend visitors to the Cusco region head first to the Sacred Valley for a few days. Its a great base from which to explore Machu Picchu and you can then head back to Cusco once you have got used to the high altitude and will have a much more enjoyable visit.