Urubamba, Peru
Rio Sagrado is a tucked away, hidden gem of a hotel located in Urubamba, Peru in the Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley lies at lower altitude than Cusco and Machu Picchu, so spending time here first is a great way to acclimatize before visiting those popular destinations. The Rio Sagrado is a Belmond Hotel situated in the most picturesque spot, with panoramic mountain views alongside the bustling Urubamba River. There are 11 suites, 10 rooms, and 2 villas surrounded by lush greenery and flowers, as well as a gorgeous dining room and bar. The garden is situated on the edge of the property and provides many herbs and vegetables for the upscale dishes served in the dining area.
Upon our evening arrival to the hotel, we were greeted by the ceremonial whistle of a staff member blowing on a conch shell. He explained that the hotel is sacred because it is located on the Inca Trail, where many hikers trek each year to their final destination of Machu Picchu. Our suite looked out into the mountains, and each morning you could hear the birds singing merrily while the smell of the fresh lavender permeated the air. The patio contained a yoga mat perfect for some gentle morning stretches, and the flowers paraded their vivid color in the morning dew.
The rainfall shower was a great way to relax after a day of hiking and exploring, and the robes were incredibly lush and soft. No detail was overlooked by the staff. During the turndown service each night, the beds were adorned with warm hot water bottles in the cutest lamb crochet covers. Our family endearingly termed these warm bottles as “lamb chops.” Room service was served late, and tired from our travels, we took advantage of this on our first night here.
One of our favorite events put on by the hotel was the daily alpaca feedings, which occurred twice per day. Watching the baby alpacas run out of their pen with such glee was a delight for our whole family. The alpacas were about 6 months old and needed fed by bottle. Each alpaca had a name, and our favorite alpaca was named Valentina. If you look closely in the photos, you can see some of the milk leftover on their faces.
Dining area
The mountain views were 360 degrees around the hotel, which was designed to feel like a Peruvian village. Overall, this was our favorite hotel that we visited by Peru, and we were even given handmade luggage tags when we departed.
