Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba sits at kilometre 63 of the Urubamba to Cusco road, in the Huayllabamba area of the Sacred Valley, surrounded by gardens and mountain views. It is a small, calm property with three room types, a Deluxe Double or Twin of about 269 square feet and larger Junior Suites and one-bedroom Cabins of roughly 484 square feet, each sleeping two. The lodge has a spa offering massage, a restaurant and a bar and lounge, a garden and terrace, a concierge desk and guided ecotours, and a complimentary breakfast buffet starts the day. Free self-parking is available, and a roundtrip airport shuttle can be arranged for a surcharge. It is a place to unwind, not a resort with a pool or a gym.

The setting is the main attraction. You are outside the town noise, in a rural stretch of the valley where the mornings are quiet and the evenings are dark and star-filled. That also means distance: the drive to Cusco airport is roughly an hour and three quarters, the Ollantaytambo train station is about half an hour away, and the plaza in Urubamba is around twenty minutes by road.

Plan your days with a car or driver, and arrange transfers ahead rather than counting on a taxi arriving on the spot.Rooms are comfortable and well sized for two, with garden views and a restful style. Guests often praise the staff, the spa, the views and the sense of calm, and the location scores well with people who want a retreat.

Some reviewers mention that the food can be inconsistent, that parts of the lobby look worn, that bathroom lighting is dim and that there is no gym or pool, so set expectations accordingly. Wi-Fi is available in some public areas rather than throughout, which suits a digital break but is worth knowing if you need to work.Practical details: check-in starts at 1 PM and check-out is before 10 AM, guests must be at least 18 to check in, pets are not accepted, and children are welcome but cribs and rollaway beds are not available.

Some rates allow free cancellation, so compare options when you book. Value-added tax of up to 18 percent may be charged at the property, and eligible non-resident travellers with a passport and tourist visa may qualify for an exemption on stays up to sixty days, so ask at check-in. From November the rainy season begins and runs to March, with afternoon showers likely, so bring a rain jacket and use the spa on wet afternoons.

Who is it for? It suits couples, honeymooners and slow travellers who want a restful base with a spa and walking in the gardens, and who are happy to hire a driver for day trips to Pisac, Moray and Ollantaytambo.

It is less suited to travellers who want to walk out the door into a lively town or who need a pool and gym. Pair it with a few nights in Ollantaytambo to be close to the train if you plan an early start for Machu Picchu, and book a transfer in advance for the last morning so you do not rush.