Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel at the entrance to Machu Picchu. Everyone else, including guests at the best hotels in Aguas Calientes, has to ride a bus up the mountain. Here you walk out of the gardens and reach the citadel gate in about three minutes. The lodge has just 31 rooms and suites, set among subtropical gardens on the same mountain saddle as the ruins.
For honeymooners, the reason to stay is time. When the last day-trippers head down in the late afternoon, the mountain goes quiet and you are still up there. In the morning, you can be at the gate for the first entry slot before the buses arrive. The lodge also serves meals in its Tampu restaurant, so you can eat on the mountain rather than descending to town.
It is very expensive for what are, in most categories, small rooms. Expect roughly $1,800 a night or more for two, usually with meals included. It suits couples who see Machu Picchu as the centerpiece of their honeymoon and want to experience it at its quietest, whatever the cost.
Highlights at a glance
- Only hotel at the Machu Picchu entrance
- Three-minute walk to the citadel gate
- Just 31 rooms and suites
- Deluxe Terrace Rooms and suites with mountain-view terraces
- Tampu restaurant and bar on the mountain
Why Couples Love Sanctuary Lodge
Location is everything here. Nothing else in Peru can match it. The lodge sits about 50 meters from the Machu Picchu entrance, on a ridge high above the Urubamba River. Clouds drift through the gardens and mountains rise on all sides.
Couples describe two moments again and again. The first is the late afternoon, when the crowds leave and the lodge's terraces and gardens feel like a private mountaintop. The second is the morning, walking to the gate in a few minutes while the mist is still lifting and the queues from the buses have not yet formed.
The intimacy adds to it. With only 31 rooms, the lodge feels more like a small mountain inn than a big hotel. Staff can help plan circuits, guides and climbs around your entry tickets, so the logistics feel lighter.
Rooms and Suites to Book
Rooms are compact, so choose carefully.
- Standard Rooms are about 15 square meters with a king or twin beds. They are comfortable but small. They suit couples who plan to spend most of their time outside.
- Deluxe Terrace Rooms are 15 to 17 square meters with patio doors opening onto an outdoor terrace with seating and mountain views. These are the honeymoon sweet spot.
- One-Bedroom Suites (35 to 45 square meters) have a private furnished terrace with mountain views and a separate sitting area. There are only two, so book as early as possible.
The terrace makes a big difference here. Sitting outside with a drink while the clouds roll over the peaks is half the reason to stay. If a suite is unavailable, a Deluxe Terrace Room gives you that experience at a lower rate.
Food, Drink and Wellness
Tampu is the lodge's main restaurant, with menus that draw on ingredients from the surrounding rainforest and Andes. It is the place for dinner after the mountain has emptied. Tinkuy serves a casual buffet, which is popular with visitors at lunch. Tampu Bar specializes in Peruvian spirits, so try a pisco sour or a cocktail with local botanicals.
The lodge also offers cooking classes and tastings, a good way to fill an afternoon if you have seen the citadel in the morning.
Wellness is low-key. There is a relaxation area and a massage room offering Andean-inspired treatments. After climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, a massage followed by an early dinner is an ideal way to end the day. Belmond usually sells rates here with meals included, but confirm exactly what your booking covers.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Plan your stay around Machu Picchu tickets. Entry is sold by circuit and timed slot, so buy tickets for two different visits, one in the afternoon you arrive and one early the next morning. Each circuit follows a set route, so choosing different ones means seeing more of the site.
Consider adding a climb. Huayna Picchu is steep and exposed, with a view straight down onto the ruins. Machu Picchu Mountain is longer and higher but less vertiginous. The walk to the Sun Gate, Intipunku, is gentler and lovely in the morning.
If one of you wants a big climb and the other does not, split up for a morning. One heads up the mountain while the other enjoys the gardens, then you meet on the terrace for lunch. Back at the lodge, hummingbirds and orchids keep the gardens busy.
Getting There
Fly into Cusco (CUZ), then drive to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. From there, the train takes about 1.5 hours to Machu Picchu Pueblo; from closer to Cusco it is about 3.5 hours. Belmond operates the Hiram Bingham luxury train on this route, which makes a romantic arrival for couples who want to splurge.
At Machu Picchu Pueblo, shuttle buses climb the switchback road to the citadel in about 25 minutes. The lodge is at the top, beside the entrance.
Train luggage is limited, typically one small bag per person, so leave large suitcases at your Cusco or Sacred Valley hotel. Plan your train times around your citadel entry slots and allow buffer time in case of delays.
Is It Worth It?
For the right couple, yes, but go in with clear eyes. You are paying for location. The location is unique. Being on the mountain after the crowds leave and at the gate before they arrive is something no other hotel can sell you.
The value case is weaker on the rooms themselves. Standard and Deluxe rooms are around 15 square meters, smaller than many city hotel rooms. The rate is among the highest in South America for that size.
If you want more space, privacy and nature for less, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in town has cloud forest casitas with fireplaces and suites with plunge pools. If you want a modern hotel with good food at a lower price, look at Sumaq. Choose Sanctuary Lodge for one night of the most memorable timing in Peru.
Good to Know
Staying at the lodge does not include citadel entry. You must buy Machu Picchu tickets for your chosen circuits and times separately. They sell out early in the dry season from May to September. Book them first, then build your trains and hotel nights around them.
The lodge sits at about 7,900 feet, lower than Cusco, so altitude is rarely an issue. Weather is the bigger variable. Clouds and rain can come at any time, especially from November to March. Pack light rain jackets for both of you, along with sun protection for clear spells and insect repellent for the gardens.
One night is enough for most couples, combined with a night or two in the Sacred Valley.
Insider tips
- Buy citadel tickets for two different circuits, one on arrival afternoon and one at first light.
- Book a Deluxe Terrace Room if the two suites are taken; the terrace matters more than square footage.
- Arrive by the Hiram Bingham train for a celebratory journey.
- Pack one small bag each; train luggage limits are strict.
