Picolo recommends · Hotel in the Sacred Valley, Peru
Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel
Small houses stepping down a green slope to the Urubamba River, with the Andes on every side and the sound of the water at night.
The river is the first thing you hear in the morning. At Rio Sagrado, the rooms are spread across small houses on a slope, and the gardens run all the way down to the banks of the Urubamba.
It is a green, quiet place, ringed by mountains, with a spa for tired legs. The Sacred Valley was the farming heartland of the Inca, and its villages and ruins lie within an easy drive.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel
Of the valley’s hotels, this is the one we would book. It works as a soft landing before Cusco or a place to unwind after Machu Picchu, with the valley’s best sights close by.
There is not much to do in the evening beyond the hotel itself, and you need a driver or a tour to get around. If you want restaurants and street life, base yourself in Cusco.
What you get
- Gardens down to the Urubamba River
- Spa
- Rooms in small hillside houses
- Drives to Ollantaytambo and Maras
- Mountain views on all sides
A day at Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel
- Morning
- Coffee in the garden as the mist lifts off the river.
- Midday
- The Inca terraces and fortress at Ollantaytambo.
- Afternoon
- The white salt pans at Maras, worked by hand since Inca times.
- Evening
- Back at the hotel for the spa and a quiet dinner.
Location
Sacred Valley, Peru
Open in MapsQuestions about Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel
Is Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel close to Machu Picchu?
It is in the Sacred Valley, on the way to Machu Picchu, and works well as a stop before or after the trip by train from Ollantaytambo.
What is there to see near Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel?
The ruins at Ollantaytambo and the salt pans at Maras are both a short drive away and make a good day out.
Does Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel have a spa?
Yes, there is a spa on site, welcome after days of walking at altitude.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
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