A Two Day Experience at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
When planning my first trip to South America, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to witness the majesty of Machu Picchu firsthand. Although hiking the Inca Trail sounded fascinating, I knew this wasn’t an option for my husband after his back surgery. Instead, we opted for lodging that allowed us to experience Machu Picchu in the best way possible: emphasizing convenience and avoiding the peak crowds. After all, nothing is worse than having your view compromised by another tourist’s selfie!
Here is what ultimately led us to choosing the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge for our stay:
The Location
Situated only a few steps from Machu Picchu’s gate, the location of the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is second to none. The convenience is worth the price, as the only way to access the gate (unless you are hiking) is a 20-30 minute public bus ride. This means if you wish to arrive at the gate around sunrise you are likely battling a sea of tourists from Aguas Calientes, the small town located at the base of Machu Picchu.
Staying at the Sanctuary Lodge allowed us to optimize our experience by witnessing the Sacred City’s majesty at different times of day and even witness different weather patterns. We completed our exploration and in just a few steps we were back at the lodge and continued to enjoy views of Machu Picchu.
The Exclusivity
We arrived at the Aguas Calientes train station around lunchtime and schlepped our belongings on the shuttle to the Lodge. From there, we freshened up before our afternoon visit to Machu Picchu.
We entered the gate with our rain gear around 3:00pm. I was concerned about the weather, but the rain and low hanging clouds created its own whimsical effect. An interesting fact about Machu Picchu is its volatile weather. An hour went by and just like that, it was blue skies.
Since the last bus returning to Aguas Calientes departs at 3:30pm, we had the opportunity to truly experience the serenity of the Citadel. Around 4:00pm the crowds thinned and suddenly we were outnumbered by over a dozen of Machu Picchu’s resident llamas! We took turns snapping photos, petting and hugging our new furry friends. The best part was that they didn’t seem to mind our presence at all. We also befriended the few remaining tourists who stuck around to enjoy this happy accident.
We didn’t fully appreciate this moment until we returned the next morning after the llamas had retreated due to the crowd of tourists. By visiting in the late afternoon we could truly experience the serenity of Machu Picchu.
The View
Nestled deep in the Andes Mountains, the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge offers uninterrupted views of Huayna Picchu, the famously photographed mountain that towers over the Citadel. After our impromptu llama photography session, we returned to the Lodge to watch the sunset. With traditional pisco sours in hand we toasted to an unforgettable day at the fifteenth century Incan World Wonder.
The next morning, we woke up early to take a guided sunrise tour of the Citadel. From there we took a not-so-leisurely (but totally worth it) hike to the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain.
The Service
While planning a trip to a different country without a travel agent can be overwhelming, the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge made our visit to Machu Picchu seamless. They offered to book our tickets to the Citadel and Machu Picchu Mountain, arrange a private tour guide, and assist with luggage at the train station. We didn’t need to worry about any of these details upon arrival. Plus tickets to Machu Picchu are limited to specific day and time slots and can sell out months in advance.
You can also top off your experience by making your journey into Aguas Calientes via Belmond’s exclusive Hiram Bingham train. This experience remains a bucket list item, since splurging on a night at the Sanctuary Lodge was enough for us.
Belmond also offers multi-destination experiences throughout Peru, including visits to the Sacred Valley, Lima, Cusco and a multi-day cruise through the Peruvian Amazon. Although we did not elect this option, we did stay at another one of Belmond’s beautiful properties – Hotel Rio Sagrado, which I will cover in a future blog.
Been to Machu Picchu? We’d love to hear about your experience! I’m also happy to share additional details about this trip. Message me, if interested!
Note: The Beyond Borders Collective is not paid to endorse this property; commentary is based solely off of our own personal travel research and experiences.
Related: Glamping in the Salar de Uyuni
I love seeing the world through your eyes! Thank you for giving us this window to the beauty of our world!
Your photos are incredible. Your detailed account of your experience made me feel like I was there with you! As a mom of young children in the midst of a pandemic, it was nice to “escape” for a few minutes to learn more about such a serene place. Thank you.
Thank you for your enjoyable input on locations and just earths beauty. I am enjoying your travels and explorations with you. Thank you for sharing!!!