Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

a surprisingly modest but pricey property

Set alongside the main entrance into the archaeological site of Machu Picchu (the only property situated ’up the hill’), Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is an upmarket property which offers a good deal of comfort and elegance given the relatively small site and tight restrictions which have been rightly imposed upon them by the various conservation bodies.

The property is set in a lush cloud forest environment and has the most spectacular views out over the surrounding mountains (but not directly over the ruins).

The hotel offers a full concierge service and has facilities including a small spa, which offers a range of Inca-inspired therapies.

Perhaps most importantly, staying at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge should enable you to be first into the archaeological site when it opens (usually around 0600 hrs), ahead of the people coming up from Aguas Calientes by bus. This sometimes simply means being at the front of the line, but at times can give you a 30 minute head start, which should remain with you throughout much of the visit, since the guided tours largely follow the same route.

Rooms

Guest accommodation is in 31 relatively modest rooms (by the elevated standards of Belmond and given the high prices), which come in four specification levels …

• Standard Rooms
• Superior Terrace Rooms : with small terrace
• Deluxe Rooms
• One Bedroom Suites : with separate lounge and terrace

Activities

If you are lucky enough to be staying at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, then the ruins of Machu Picchu are on your doorstep, so early access is easy and multiple visits are feasible.

Machu Picchu is usually visited in the middle of a week-long exploration of the Inca Highlands, in between Valle Sagrado and Cusco. The order is defined by ascending altitude, to facilitate acclimatisation.

Seasonality

The best time to visit Machu Picchu is generally considered to be during the Apr-Sep cool dry season.

Of course the other seasonal issue is visitor traffic, with numbers peaking during Jul-Aug, which could make Apr-Jun and September more optimum if this is important to you.

Machu Picchu has a subtropical highland climate, which is generally dry and temperate, with two clearly defined seasons.

During the Apr-Sep winter conditions are usually cool and clear, with lots of sunshine. The peak daytime temperatures are usually around 20C/68F and the nighttime lows plunging to around 1C/33F, with regular frosts. Average sunshine is up around 7-8 hours per day, peaking in July.

During the Oct-Mar summer the weather is often clouds and wet, with rainfall around 100mm (4”) per month. The peak daytime temperatures usually climb to around 27C/80F, with the nighttime lows holding up around 6C/44F. Average sunshine drops to only around 4 hrs per day in February.

Like many of the high elevation locations in the Andes, the ultra-violet radiation is extremely high, so sun protection is essential.

Getting there

The lodges in the Machu Picchu area are usually accessed by train from Cusco and the Valle Sagrado (either the standard Vistadome train or the luxury Hiram Bingham train), usually with a single overnight stay in the immediate area.

Famously the area can also be reached by a number of different trekking routes through the mountains, most of which at least partially follow ancient Inca routes. Some of these trails are rather touristy, whilst others are really rather remote and incredibly scenic.

multiple visits to the famous citadel