Machu Picchu, Peru: See luxury accommodations – 11/22/2023 – Tourism

Between January and September this year, Brazil was the fifth country that sent the most tourists to Peru — in 2022, we occupied seventh position. According to the Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Tourism del Perú, 92,106 Brazilians were there.

The hype surrounding Peruvian gastronomy, which has been accumulating international awards — the Central restaurant, in Lima, is the best in the world according to the 50 Best 2023 ranking — helps to explain why Brazilians are increasingly interested in visiting Peru. But not only.

The second most visited destination in the country, behind only the capital, the department of Cusco, which encompasses the city of the same name, the Sacred Valley and the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, is no longer an itinerary just for traditional backpackers.

In the last decade, luxury tourism gained traction with the arrival of high-end hotel chains that brought amenities along for the ride for those who want to explore the ruins and get to know Andean culture in comfort.

In the 1980s and 1990s, a boom time in the region, exploring Machu Picchu meant facing precarious transport, navigating long trails, climbing challenging mountains and camping in inhospitable settings. Today, the two companies that operate the railway to the archaeological site compete for customers with perks.

The oldest of them, Peru Rail, even has a vintage train operated by the Belmond hotel chain — decorated like the carriages from the beginning of the last century, the Hiram Bingham train, which connects Cusco to Machu Picchu, welcomes passengers with a welcome drink, carriage -restaurant and live music. The round-trip ticket costs 2,152 soles, or R$2,824.

Those who stay at the Tambo del Inka Resort & Spa, in the Sacred Valley, are entitled to an extra treat: there is a train station in the hotel gardens. Opened in 2011, the stop is open to the public, but there is little movement, as most tourists board at Ollantaytambo, the next station.

The Marriott group, owner of Tambo del Inka, specializes in pampering this new tourist. “The demand for unique and luxurious experiences is growing, and the destination has elegantly adapted to this change in demand”, says Antonio Villarroel, marketing director at Intursa, which operates the chain’s hotels in Peru.

It’s not that backpackers have given up on the place, on the contrary — many people still walk to Águas Calientes, the village that is the gateway to Machu Picchu, on a walk that lasts four days into the forest. But the Marriott customer prefers to spend this time at the spa, tasting beers and cusqueño potatoes or attending a class on pisco, the local drink. Or, go there, exploring native forests by bike, assisted by bilingual guides.

For those who like isolation, Tambo del Inka, located in Urubamba, in the heart of the Sacred Valley, is the choice. All 128 suites (daily rates from US$562, approximately R$2,820) are surrounded by silence and have a balcony or garden with views of the mountains. From Alejandro Velasco Astete airport, in Cusco, it is possible to make the journey of just over 90 minutes by private transport.

Once there, tourists can enjoy Andean cuisine at the Hawa restaurant and drinks at the Kiri bar, relax in the thermal water circuit at Kallpa Spa or schedule a “farm to table” experience, which goes from harvesting in the garden to an outdoor table .

Experiences bring local culture into the hotel. It is not even necessary to visit the region’s weaving factories, for example, to watch the presentations that Peruvian artisans usually give, dressed in typical costumes — they reproduce the ritual in the lobby, accompanied by docile alpacas on a leash.

More urban, the Palacio del Inka, also owned by Marriott, occupies a 500-year-old mansion in the heart of the historic center of Cusco, but is not far behind in luxurious experiences. Guests in the 203 suites (daily rates from US$415, or R$2,082) have the privilege of circulating among 195 works of colonial art and visiting museums and restaurants on foot.

Going to Machu Picchu can be a one-day plan. The train journey takes two and a half hours from Urubambo, or an hour more from Cusco. The only problem is getting to Aguas Calientes during the day, because there are only two ways to get to the ruins: on foot uphill, a two-hour walk, or by minibus, which is always full and takes 20 minutes. There are queues to board — they are quick, but not glamorous.

The solution to avoid the rush is to arrive in Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, stay overnight in the village and visit the archaeological site in the early hours of the day, as the turnstiles open at 6am. The place doesn’t excel in charm — the narrow, crowded streets have a touch of March 25th during Carnival, but there is a luxury hotel away from the hustle and bustle, the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, right next to the gate of Machu Picchu (nightly rates from 5,931 soles , or R$7,783).

The most important thing, at any time, is to plan your trip in advance, because the rules for visiting the ruins are strict. On the website reservas.machupicchu.gob.pe, you must choose one of the four walking routes in advance and purchase a ticket with a set day and time — entry costs 152 soles per person, around R$200.

Traveling in the low season to find Machu Picchu emptier is not always a good option. The busiest months are July and August for good reason — it’s when it rains the least. And the rains, when it comes to the Amazon climate, are real. In any case, the dry season starts in May and
It runs until October, which offers tourists more date options. To be on the safe side, it’s best to include a rain cover in your suitcase.

_{The reporter traveled at the invitation of Marriott Brasil}