ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: After an early-morning flight and a long drive to the town of Urubamba, we finally arrived at Inkaterra
Hacienda Urubamba. Even though it was dark outside, I could tell the hotel entrance and surrounding scenery were breathtaking. The friendly staff greeted us with a welcome cocktail and guided us to the lobby to meet our guide for the trip and hear more about the hotel. After a brief introduction, we then took a golf cart ride up to our casitas to settle in and get ready for dinner.

GUEST QUARTERS: My room was separate from the main building and was a stand-alone casita. We had the choice to walk to our casitas or take a golf cart; since it was dark out and we didn’t know the lay of the land yet, we opted for the golf cart. As I entered my accommodation, I was in awe — the space was huge!

© Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

To my left, a seating area held a couch, two arm chairs, a coffee table and a little dining area. To the right was a TV and a working fireplace which I could request to be turned on at any time throughout my stay. Continuing through the casita, I came upon a king-sized bed with fluffy pillows and nightstands on both sides.

Across from the bed, floor-to-ceiling doors led out to a patio with a sitting area perfect for soaking up the sweeping 360-degree mountain views. In the back of the room sat a giant bathroom with a separate area for the toilet, a separate shower area and a double sink vanity. The bathroom also included a little closet area which proved the perfect place to keep my suitcase tucked away and out of sight.

© Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

SERVICES/AMENITIES: Staff welcomes all arriving guests with a traditional chicha drink to enjoy in the lobby. During that time guests also receive a voucher for a complimentary pisco sour to be used at any time during their stay. Each stay includes a daily buffet breakfast, express check-out, daily tea time, a welcome gift, around-the-clock reception service and in-house excursions. Additional excursions can be tacked on for an extra cost.

In-house excursions include Chicha de Jora, where guests learn the preparation and steps to make the traditional, ancestral drink; Twilight Mountain, a sunset trail walk up the mountain on the property to get the best views of the setting sun and learn about the importance of astronomy in the Andean world; Birds of Urubamba, a guided walk around the property to find the indigenous birds of the area; and Challa Huasi Trail, a walk along the trails of the Huasi Challa hill to get the best views of the
local valleys.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

• Take advantage of the complimentary excursions to get the most out of your trip; you will learn about the local flora and fauna, cultural traditions, and an insight into the life of the Incas.
• Stay in one of the casitas for 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains at any time of the day. Although the views from any part of the property are great, the ones from the casitas are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

INKATERRA HACIENDA URUBAMBA
Sacred Valley of the Incas

Km. 63 Cusco-Urubamba-Pisac-Calca Highway, Huayoccari, Huayllabamba, Urubamba 08670 Peru
tel 51 1 610-0400