The trek to Machu Picchu, the most visited World Heritage site and main destination in Peru, is the experience that most international travelers have at the top of their bucket lists. Located high in the Andes on a ridge above the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu can only walk on the Inca Trail, or by bus to a long series of crossings on a gravel / dirt road that ends from Aguas Calientes, Trains once to Machu Picchu are quite short, not stopping at The Sanctuary Lodge. The lodge is the only accommodation in Machu Picchu, its entrance door is only a few steps away from Machu Picchu. Before you say, “This is not a problem, we are staying,” we realize that a room in the house will put a ding in his travel budget in Peru. A one-day stay at The Sanctuary Lodge runs from a minimum of $ 795 to $ 1,320 for a suite. The big question is “is it worth it?”
Location, location, location.
The thought of coming up with such a coin to stay in a country where the average income is $ 7,600 per year (2007 estimate) is somewhat frightening to the mind. For Peru, the cost seems extreme. Decision making is not based on normal questions about the comfort, softness of the beds and the quality of the food. In this case, the only decisive factor is location. Sanctuary Lodge has it and no one else does. Staying in the lodge buys you to Machu Picchu before sunrise, before the crowds break away from the buses (although some buses climb to the early opening at 6:00 am) and, quickly, after the crowds left to catch the last bus that will connect to the outbound train in the afternoon. By the end of the day, the only visitors to Machu Picchu are the lodges of the Loggias and campers of the day. This is the most privacy you will find on this site, where annual attendance is about 400,000 people per year.
Food and drink.
The Sanctuary Lodge also has access to a pleasant dinner at the Tampu Restaurant / Bar, where you can find dinner without crowds and lines after a long early morning at Machu Picchu, watching the morning mists and the rising sun. Day trips from Aguas Calientes should stand in long, tenacious lines to eat at the Tinkuy Lodge restaurant (buffet lunch) or in the small courtyard room right outside the house. This expectation requires precious time from your already short day - but there is no food at Machu Picchu, and no one should bring food and drink to the place, except water in the canteens.
Facilities.
The key is to pay for a place that increases your visit to Machu Picchu. In fact, to maximize your visit, you probably slept on your bed under the stars. Fortunately, Sanctuary Lodge is not a trimmed hotel - it’s part of the Orient-Express Hotel and the Empire Train. The staff is all about Lodge Lodge's exemplary guest service, the most comfortable beds we have ever had snacks anywhere, and the food is five stars. Guests can also enjoy the outdoor terrace and stroll through the orchid garden in the loggia, built along a winding stream and waterfall. Massages are available (despite the fact that Peru is more expensive than anywhere else).
The final decision.
In the end, we decided to book (long before the Lodge has only 29 rooms and 2 apartments, 12 of which offer mountain views and a correspondingly higher price). The opportunity to expand our time, exploring one of the "new" seven wonders of the world up to an hour and a half and only hours, made our hit for our wallet.
Council Do not bother to pay for the "view" of the room, as it does not allow you to view inside the actual site, nor is it in your room that much.
Peru is a charming and amazing country, and Machu Picchu may be its gem. My suggestion is to spend money on the Sanctuary Lair and increase your time. For most of us, visiting Machu Picchu is a one-time live concert.
