Machu Picchu: Sanctuary Lodge has got Location

Machu Pichu has been well-established on the backpacker tourist circuit but only in the last few years has the 5 star luxury version of this fascinating place become available.

Machu Picchu is a remote and special place and you can only admire the Inca’s for their good taste in location, location, location! The Inca ceremonial city was always a piece of exclusive real estate, with probably the priests and leaders actually ever living in the city, the workers housed elsewhere.

Today very little has changed, although there are now several options on how to arrive at Machu Picchu there is in fact only one hotel to stay at: the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge And there will always be only one option to stay at the site. There is no room for another hotel, and the Lodge in fact dates from the 1950’s. The Sanctuary Lodge was extensively renovated in 2001 and is now a comfortable 5 star property. The backpackers? Oh the stay down the hill about 20 minutes away in Aguas Calientes which boasts a host of middle range and cheaper accommodations.

The two main ways to arrive at Machu Picchu: either walk the Inca Trail which take four to six days or come by train: preferably the very comfortable luxury Haram Bingham train from Cuzco.

The Sanctuary Lodge is not a huge property with only 31 rooms, 12 of them, with an amazing view of the mountains. The Lodge’s interior garden, apart from the beautiful panoramic view, has a variety of local flowers and orchids. The rooms are comfortable and attractively designed but not large by today’s deluxe hotel standards. All rooms come standard with normal facilities. Bookings are essential.

The overnight tariff includes meals and there are both formal and buffet dining options.

As we said earlier what makes the Sanctuary Lodge special is not so much hotel itself, though you will be quite comfortable there: its the location. You are right at the site you can have the whole city of Machu Picchu almost to yourself before the crowds arrive at 10am and after they all leave at 4pm. Its a steep, narrow track but climbing to the top Huanya Picchu – the peak in all the pictures – will give you a literal birdseye view as dawn breaks over the Machu Picchu site. Remember the Inca’s worshiped the sun and built their ceremonial sites to be most spectacular at dawn and dusk: just when the vast majority of visitors don’t see them. From the peak of the Huayna Picchu, situated opposite Machu Picchu, there is a panoramic view of the imposing spread of ruins and the Urubamba Valley.

Alternatively walk the other way to the start of the Inca trail to admire the view back across the Machu Picchu ruins with Huanya Picchu in the background. Staying on site and not having to leave to catch the last bus down the hill means that anyone with average fitness can do both walks in the day.

Even if you don’t normally stay a luxury hotels: consider springing for the Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu, it really is a unique property and is well worth the money.