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My Review

I’ve stayed in hundreds of nice hotels over the years, but Tambo del Inka is one of my new favorites. The standout feature of this hotel is the private train station to Machu Picchu, a privileged level of convenience that makes this arguably the best hotel in all of Peru (and a fantastic option if you’re looking for where to stay for visiting Machu Picchu).

But what really stood out to me was the massive, sprawling property set on acres of green space. It feels more like a private estate than a hotel. Almost every amenity you could think of is available on-site. The service was stellar. Our room was huge. And the food and beverages we enjoyed were fresh and on point. We loved enjoying the massive breakfast spread by the side of a fire while a harpist played each morning. And, of course, we loved playing with the resident alpaca, named Chasca. 

Although you definitely pay for the privilege (I paid over $500/night for our room), this is a hotel I would return to in a heartbeat. 

Watch My YouTube Video Review of My Stay at Tambo Del Inka:

Watch the above video for an extensive review of my entire stay at Tambo del Inka, but keep scrolling for a rundown of my opinion about the hotel’s key features:

The Private Train Station: This is such a cool feature of Tambo del Inka. Peru Rail runs a single service that leaves at 6 am each day and returns at 7:30 am. You can book your entire trip through the property’s on-site travel agency. That said, we didn’t actually take this specific train because our itinerary had us staying in Machu Picchu town before visiting the Sacred Valley. We did this so we could create more content and review more hotels for our readers. 

But, for your average visitor, I think it makes total sense to just do the long day trip to Machu Picchu directly from the hotel. It couldn’t be more convenient. That said, if you prefer a different train time, Ollyantambo station is just a 30-minute drive away and offers frequent departures on both Peru Rail and Inka Rail. 

Our Room: We booked a standard Deluxe King Room, but were upgraded to a 1 Bedroom King (room 138). The room was just huge, featuring tons of seating space, a roomy ceiling, and two outdoor patios facing the river. 

The bed was extremely comfortable. The walk-in closet provided tons of space to unpack. The living and dining area was also massive, though it felt somewhat wasted on us as we spent most of our time outside the room exploring the hotel’s endless greenspace. 

The one complaint I did have on check in (as you’ll see in my YouTube video) was that the outdoor furniture was fairly dirty from all the birds. However, as soon as I brought that to the hotel’s attention, they immediately cleaned it. 

Housekeeping service came twice daily and was very attentive. They left lots of water in our room (help at this elevation) and a chocolate on our pillow each night during their second turndown service. 

The Hotel Grounds: The grounds of Tambo del Inka stretch for what feels like a kilometer along the Urubamba river. I loved walking around and bathing in the natural sounds of the river and the birds.

In front of the hotel is a large pool with a fountain that adds to the ambiance. Behind that you’ll find a private little “village” area, featuring a brewhouse, an art gallery, several shops, a game area, a movie room, and the offices for Peru Rail. 

There’s also a large outdoor event space, which I think would be ideal if you wanted the perfect place for a Peru destination wedding. And there’s even a small soccer area by the rail station. 

The Spa & Gym: Tambo del Inka’s Kallpa Spa is considered one of the best in Peru. The massages and treatments are expensive (starting at around $200 USD), so we didn’t partake. But we did enjoy using the free spaces, including the large indoor/outdoor pool and the jacuzzi area. 

During our stay the week of Christmas, there were a lot of families at the hotel. This meant that sometimes there were rowdy children in the pool, which kinda ruined what was otherwise a really peaceful ambiance.

Another complaint I have about this hotel is the gym. It wasn’t exactly bad, but it was about the size of what I’d expect of a Courtyard by Marriott – not a 5-star best-in-class luxury hotel. And it was so crowded it took me several visits just to be able to take photos and film without bothering other guests. Considering the hotel markets itself to the wellness crowd, and considering the clear demand among the clientele, I think they could improve by tripling the size of the gym.

Dining & Drinks: We ate breakfast every morning in the Hawa Restaurant. The buffet is huge and includes pretty much everything we could have wanted (most importantly for me: lots of fresh fruit!). There are also a la carte dishes that can be made to order. I highly recommend the “Sacred Valley Toast,” which was a delicious sweet treat involving the chef’s local spin on French Toast. 

We also ate dinner twice at Hawa Restaurant, including once with a nice couple that we made friends with at the Pisco Sour experience. The food was fresh (I understand some of it was locally grown in the hotel’s on-site garden) and the menu largely consisted of healthy farm-to-table options.

On our last night, we ate at Kiri Bar, which serves a selection of sushi, pizzas, and small bites. Clara really enjoyed the cocktails.

We never did get a chance to try the room service, but it was available 24/7.

***

Overall, I really enjoyed our stay at Tambo del Inka and would happily return. There is room to improve with the gym, but otherwise, almost everything about our stay was perfect. I think it’s an ideal hotel for couples, honeymooners, or families who just want to experience the absolute best on their Peru vacation.

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Pros & Cons

About the Location

Tambo del Inka is situated in the town of Urubamba, in Peru’s “Sacred Valley.” The hotel itself sits on the southern edge of town, along the Urubamba river. From the hotel’s entrance, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the town’s center square.  

The town is quite small, with a population of about 3,000 people. You’ll find a number of restaurants, bars, and shops in the area near the hotel. Walking around even at night felt quite safe to us. 

Urubamba is about a 30-minute drive from Ollyantambo, the area’s most significant town and the base for most trains to Machu Picchu town (apart, of course, from the hotel’s single daily train via Peru Rail). Ollyantambo is home to a significant archaeological site and is frankly a little more interesting as a town than Urubamba, so I’d recommend hiring a driver and visiting during your stay). 

Urubamba’s elevation of around 9,400 feet (2,870 meters) above sea level makes it an ideal place to acclimate to the elevation before attempting physical activity like hiking Machu Picchu (which actually sits at a slightly lower elevation). Since Urubamba is lower than Cusco (over 11,000 feet), you might consider starting your Sacred Valley itinerary here before ascending to Cusco to end your trip.