Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel

Luxury retreat

Homey, laid-back luxury with Andean culture woven into every corner. Earthy tones, woven textiles, and original Inca and pre-Inca artwork crafted by local artisans throughout. Then there’s the goosebumps-inducing atmosphere right outside its door: the rushing river, dramatic cliffs, and misty mountains

In the small valley town at the base of Machu Picchu

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Rainforest Alliance certified. Reusable water-filled glass bottles waiting in my room. Motion-activated hall lights go dark when no one was around. LED lighting throughout. At Qunuq, 85% of the menu is locally grown and sustainably harvested, sourced from the Sacred Valley and Cusco. Cocktails at Suquy crafted with locally distilled cane spirits. Aqlla Spa treatments center on local traditions and community: massages using hot stones from the Andes, pink salt from Maras (a town in the Cusco region, prized by the Incas for its high energetic and mineral value), facials with local honey and quinoa. Interiors showcase local artisans and textile weavers

I honestly don’t recall. Probably peaceful and ambient. The whole stay was so relaxing and the surroundings so magical that I was perpetually zenned out

2008

A family affair. Built by the Clavijo Begazo family in 2007 and now run by the second generation, Anibal and Angie Clavijo, with a deep commitment to showcasing Inca culture and Peruvian gastronomy. The hotel’s name, Sumaq, means “beautiful” in Quechua, the native language of the Incas

There’s no pool or gym, which is a good thing—you’ve got to be careful about altitude sickness. Aguas Calientes sits around 6,700 feet above sea level, and Machu Picchu is even higher. Your real workout is climbing Machu Picchu’s steep, rocky paths. The hotel offers unforgettable excursions, including “The Mystical Tour in Machu Picchu,” a shaman-guided hike that I highly recommend. You’ll be begging for a massage afterward, so book a treatment at Aqlla Spa. Hidden below the lobby bar, the cave-like, zen-luxe sanctuary with treatments rooted in ancient Andean traditions. The Andean Stone Massage is sublime

Qunuq, the hotel’s bright, airy second-floor restaurant, is a rustic-chic stunner with sweeping views of the Vilcanota River and verdant mountains. Traditional Peruvian cuisine made with locally sourced Andean ingredients. Don’t skip the desserts. I took a cooking and cocktail-making class, creating a cacao cocktail with Peruvian cane spirits that I’m still thinking about. But the real showstopper: “The Pachamanca Culinary Demonstration,” an ancient Andean tradition where food is buried underground with hot rocks and cooked by Mother Earth herself. I watched the ritual unfold, then sat down to a private terrace lunch of potato, fava beans, corn, and meats, washed down with chicha de jora (a traditional fermented corn drink)

Off the lobby is the laid-back Suquy Café & Bar. It’s an unbeatable spot to unwind with a pisco sour or two

Deluxe rooms come stocked with complimentary bottled water, soft drinks, and beer. Upgrade to a suite, and the entire minibar is on the house

One dedicated accessible room is available. Worth noting that Aguas Calientes is a rather hilly town, so those with mobility challenges should plan accordingly

No, but you’ll find dogs everywhere you look in Aguas Calientes. Most are owned by locals and simply left to roam during the day. Absolutely part of the town’s charm

Yep. All little ones automatically get a welcome drink, robes and slippers, pillowcases featuring Allco, the hotel’s Peruvian hairless dog mascot, and a dedicated kids’ menu. Plus, the hotel offers an extensive kids’ program, from "Mini Chef Classes" to "Adventures with Allco and His Friends," a playful guided tour through Machu Picchu, complete with two tour guides, a map, and a stuffed Allco doll

Boutique luxury prices in one of the most remote and magical places on earth. Worth every penny

51 84 211114

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