During my trip to Peru, I had the opportunity to spend several days in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. My hotel, Casa Andina Private Collection, was located just outside Urubamba, Peru. Urubamba is located between Cuzco and Ollantaytambo. Most tourists that make a day trip from Cuzco to Machu Picchu barely get a glimpse of this interesting community. I was able to spend a few days exploring Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, which is often viewed as Peruvian “fly over” country. However, the area has plenty to offer.
There are several other hotels in Urubamba that are highly rated. My hotel, Casa Andina Private Collection, was an amazing resort with impeccably manicured grounds. I awoke every morning to a spectacular view of the mountains and the sounds of birds chirping. My hotel was in the $150 dollar range. If you want to spend more money, you can stay at the Tambo del Inka, a luxury resort. Other highly rated hotels include Kuychi Rumi (which is priced closer to Casa Andina rates), Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel and Sol & Luna Lodge & Spa. At the high end of the spectrum is the Hotel Rio Sagrado, which is run by Orient Express (the same company that operates the thousand dollar per night Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu).
Urubamba also has plenty of fine dining. Many of the restaurants are geared towards tourists, but offer exceptional food for reasonable prices. My favorite restaurant in Urubamba was El Huacatay, which is a cozy restaurant in the middle of Urubamba that offers an eclectic menu of fancy entrees priced around ten dollars. My second favorite restaurant in Urubamba is Tunupa Restaurant. This scenic restaurant is located along the Urubamba River and features live entertainment and phenomenal scenery. The buffet includes delicious meals, all-you-can-eat, for around fifteen dollars US.
Urubamba has plenty of other excellent restaurants. Some are geared toward tourists and others just offer great food at awesome prices. There was a Peruvian chicken restaurant located right on the highway between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo that featured all-you-can-eat chicken for less than ten dollars. The slow roasted birds keep coming until you can’t stand it. I noticed that Peru has scads of Italian Restaurants. They are generally priced higher than the more traditional restaurants. If you have to have Italian while you are in Urubamba, visit Green House. For fine dining with large portions, visit Tres Keros Restaurant. Like El Huacatay, the exterior doesn’t look like much. Don’t let that fool you.
If you are looking for something to do while you are in Urubamba, my first instinct would be to point out the excellent hiking trails. One of these trails departed from behind the Casa Andina Private Collection where I stayed. If you are hiked out, you can still explore the area on horseback. Horse tours can be purchased through Perol Chico. The tours can run several hundred dollars, so expect sticker shock if you decide to explore with an equine friend. If you are particularly brave, you can try your luck at rafting on the Urubamba River. This journey will set you back about $65 for two hours of actual river time and a hot lunch. You can add a Zip Line tour to the River Rafting for a few dollars more.
If you are planning a trip to Machu Picchu, you may want to consider spending a few days in the Sacred Valley. Urubamba and nearby Ollantaytambo have plenty of activities to offer. Combined with exceptional hotels and fine dining, you may find that the Sacred Valley has a much richer culture than Cuzco. While there are plenty of sites in Cuzco, you can experience a more pastoral visit in the heart of the Sacred Valley. I was pleased that we were able to absorb much of the culture of Peru by spending additional time in an area that many tour groups simply bypass as the herd travelers from bus to train en route to Machu Picchu. Stop and smell the flowers. You will be glad you did.
Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.