To get to know Machu Picchu well, the best option is to spend the night in Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes), and Sumaq is the best accommodation in the region. Check out what your hotel stay is like here!
The village located closest to the Inca ruins of the lost city of Machu Picchu is small, but it serves well as a stopping and resting point for those who venture there. Among the accommodation options in the region, the Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel It is one of the only five stars, located just 5 minutes from the train station and offering a series of differentiated experiences that make the trip even more special.
No wonder, Sumaq was elected by Travel & Leisure as one of the five best resorts in South America, being one of the main options considered by the traveler who, even in the midst of adventures, values maximum comfort. In the hotel, the varied activities attribute an immersion in the local culture. There are tastings of Peruvian cafes, restaurants with traditional cuisine, as well as exclusive tours to contemplate nature.
I have already stayed there and, to demonstrate a little bit of what it is like to stay at the Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, in this guide I will share my experiences. So you find out why you should choose to stay there too. ?
In this post you will see:
- About or Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
- Location of the Hotel Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
- Check in no Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
- Rooms at Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
- Beautiful Deluxe Suite
- Junior Suite Deluxe
- Suite Imperial
- Gastronomy at Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel – Qunuq Restaurant
- Breakfast at Qunuq
- Lunch at the Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
- Jantar – Gastronomic tour at the Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
- Suquy Cafe & Bar
- Choose the Spa of Hotel Beautiful
- Activities at Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
- Andean cooking classes at Sumaq Machu Picchu
- Visit to Manuel Choqque's fields
- Andean Marriage at the Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
- Payment to the Earth – Pachamama
- Walks with the Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
- Beautiful Wellness Crossing
- Travel insurance for Machu Picchu
- Flights to Peru
- Internet chip not Peru
About or Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
The Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel is a 5 star hotel located in the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo, formerly known as Aguas Calientes. It is one of the only luxury hotels in the city.
The property is strategically located at the foot of the mountains of the historic city. The ascent to Machu Picchu is done in a municipal bus, in a journey of about 30 minutes, and the hotel concierge makes all the arrangements to buy tickets and schedule the bus time.
As for going out at night, the village center is close to the hotel, a 10-minute walk. The calm of the surrounding nature guarantees a relaxing stay.
The hotel is modern and has excellent service. Even the name has meaning – Nice means “beautiful” in Quechua, an indigenous language. The hotel's great differential is the activities offered, from Peruvian cooking classes to a typical Andean wedding. The proposal is to offer a unique experience of the local culture for guests.
One of the hotel's novelties is an unprecedented gastronomic lesson, which teaches travelers how to prepare a hot ceviche and an exclusive drink, called Munay Songo. There is also a new wellness program focused on providing a stay along the same lines as a healthy lifestyle – the Beautiful Wellness Crossing.
If you are looking for where to stay in Machu Picchu to rest after a day exploring the ruins, bet on Sumaq. The cozy rooms, with comfortable beds, the Choose Spa and Peruvian cuisine Restaurant Qunuq make the experience even richer.
Location from Hotel Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
Machu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes, as it is also known, is a simple, small place with an interior city atmosphere. The Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel is located in this village, in a very quiet area, next to the Urubamba River and at the end of Avenida Hermanos Ayar. From there, many of the trails to the Inca ruins depart.
Machu Picchu Pueblo is located about 6 km from the Inca ruins. As we already mentioned, to get to the city of ruins you need to take a municipal bus in a 30-minute journey. In the village you will find a central square, Plaza Manco Capac, surrounded by the church and typical shops, as well as several restaurants and cafes.
>> Read more in our post on how to get to Machu Picchu
Fun fact: the name “Águas Calientes” is derived from the many hot springs that existed in the city in the past. They were destroyed by floods, and today the “baños termales” are no longer so famous in the area.
See prices and availability of Sumaq Hotel on Booking.com by clicking here
Check in no Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
We arrived at the village after lunch, coming by train IncaRail. At the station, Sumaq employees were already waiting for us with signs. The hotel provides a trolley for luggage – which helps a lot, as the train station is a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
>> Read our Inca Rail experience – How to Travel in Comfort to Machu Picchu
Upon arrival at the hotel, we were greeted with a welcome drink and damp towels to refresh our hands. Check-in was standard 5-star hotel, personalized and fast. First class service with friendly and helpful staff.
The reception is open 24 hours, with modern and luxurious decoration, all decorated with elements of the Andean culture. Colorful rugs, sofas and pillows made of wool with small colorful pom poms enrich the atmosphere. There is a closet with golden Inca masks to complete the decor. Even the lighting contributes to making the hotel cozy from the moment you enter.
See prices and availability of Sumaq Hotel on Booking.com by clicking here
rooms no Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
In the room, I was greeted with a personalized, handwritten letter, fruit basket, and a dessert. It is these details that make the reception even more unique. ?
Altogether, Sumaq has 63 rooms, divided into Imperial Suite, Junior Suite Deluxe and Sumaq Deluxe. All are equipped with anti-allergic sheets, goose down comforters, cable TV, Wi-Fi, minibar, great amenities, among other details.
One of the highlights of the room is the view from the balcony to the Urubamba River. Huge (but really huge!) rocks permeate the entire course and landscape. The best part is the noise of the water, super relaxing, complementing the calm of the hotel.
Book your hotel room here.
Suite Beautiful Deluxe
The Sumaq Deluxe was the room where I stayed. It is the simplest hotel in the hotel, but still super comfortable, sophisticated, very cozy and with a large king-size bed. The decor is inspired by Andean traditions, but follows a less colorful style than the lobby.
The accommodation is ideal for a good rest after a day walking through the Inca ruins. Rooms overlook the river or the garden. The bathrooms have a bathtub and shower, great for an invigorating shower, and there is a heating system for the coldest days.
Check Sumaq Hotel prices and availability on Booking.com by clicking here!
Junior Suite Deluxe
The Junior Suite Deluxe is more spacious with a living room. It has a king-size bed, table with two chairs, jacuzzi and balcony overlooking the river. Undoubtedly, the room is suitable for an even more special stay in the region, a great tip for those who are going to honeymoon in Machu Picchu.
Other features of this room are Mlesna aromatic teas, and amenities by Clarins Paris or DAMANA, as well as a Peruvian-style bathrobe and slipper. The decoration is more special, with wood, tapestry and more accentuated colors, all inspired by the Inca culture. Only two Junior Suites Deluxe are available at the hotel. – book yours now.
Suite Imperial
“An accommodation worthy of Inca royalty”. This is how the Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel describes the Imperial Suite, the most luxurious room in the hotel. There is only one room of this category available – suitable for those looking for a truly exclusive treatment.
In addition to being larger than the other accommodations, the living area has a comfortable sofa in front of the large TV. It has a spa bath and the balcony has the best view of all the rooms. There is also a dining table and the decor is refined, with pre-Columbian objects to enrich the Andean atmosphere.
Service available to Imperial Suite guests includes a butler, selection of hotel wines, pillow menu and MLesna teas. In addition, there is the opportunity to carry out the activities promoted by the hotel in the comfort of your room.
See prices and availability of Sumaq Hotel on Booking.com by clicking here
Gastronomy in Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel - Restaurant Qunuq
The Qunuq Restaurant, in Quechua means Cozy, is located on the second floor of the Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel. The cuisine is typical Peruvian, and those responsible for the cuisine are the chefs Carlos Pardo and Ribelino Alegría. The idea is to provide guests with a sensory experience with ingredients from local producers.
They have some fun dining experiences outside the traditional hotel dining route. Later in the text I will tell you more details.
At the Qunuq restaurant, all meals are served – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast and dinner are included in the daily rate.
Breakfast no Qunuq
The breakfast at the hotel is complete, with several options of breads, fruits, cold cuts, juices, coffee, all with great quality. There are à la carte options in addition to the buffet, with hot dishes such as eggs, bacon, pancakes and other options, including vegan ones.
It is served from 5 am to 10 am, and is included in the daily rate. A truly reinforced meal to follow with the tour to Machu Picchu.
Lunch Preparations no Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
My lunch experience at the Sumaq Machu Picchu hotel was unique. I had the opportunity to taste an authentic Peruvian dish: the Pachamanca. It's a way of cooking food underground – that's right! An oven is set up on hot stones and covered with leaves and earth, where potatoes, corn, meats and other typical foods from the region are roasted.
But calm down! No food gets soiled. Everything is packed in banana leaves and the result is a very tasty lunch, with simple ingredients. But what really counts is the contact with the local culture, and participating in one of the oldest ways of preparing food in Peru.
Also in this experience is the tasting of Chichas, an alcoholic drink typical of the indigenous peoples of the Andes. Very different from anything I've ever known, the one I had was made from potatoes.
The cost of the entire Pachamanca service is 28 dollars per person.
Dinner – Gastronomic tour at the Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
Dinner at Qunuq restaurant is wonderful. On my stay I tried the tasting menu and the communal dinner. Dinner is included in the rate.
The six-step tasting menu is known as Apucc Mikhuna, which in Quechua means “food provided by the mountain”. The dishes are prepared with ingredients from local producers, something that the hotel itself values in the dishes offered. The highlights of the gastronomic tour are the hot salmon trout ceviche and the palta risotto with duck magret.
The common dinner has a starter, main course and dessert. I tried the Lomo de Alpaca, a very typical main dish. To close, a different dessert, called Fantasia de Lúcuma – the “gold of the Incas”, a fruit from the region. Divine!
Suquy Cafe & Bar
Suquy is a bar located on the first floor of the Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel. There you will find varieties of cocktails. A complimentary drink is included in the rate.
It is in this space that the coffee tasting also takes place, a special experience prepared by Sumaq. The barista explains the differences in selected beans, and guests can sample the drinks. Peruvian coffee is great, and this was a find!
Choose Spa from Hotel Sumaq
Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel has a wonderful spa. It is the best activity you will choose after hours of traveling and exploring the region. I tried the massage and left feeling refreshed! I highly recommend.
Aqlla offers several services – massage rooms, steam room and jacuzzi with hydrotherapy. Natural oils and coca oil are used in the treatments, in a totally relaxing environment with candlelight and flower essence. Ideal for a couple experience.
Massages are of different types: foot reflex therapy, Andean stone massage, relaxing massage, Champi massage and Aqlla massage, which consists of an integral treatment.
This is a part of the hotel that you will enjoy a lot after visiting Machu Picchu (and before too, why not?). Be sure to take advantage of this luxury to relax your mind and body with ancient Inca massage techniques. ?
Activities no Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
One of the biggest differentials of the Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel is the cultural activities it offers. Several details are thought to provide an authentic Andean experience to those who visit the region.
Even the tour of Machu Picchu can be booked with the hotel itself. You can choose to go by bus or risk walking along the trails in the region. All are carried out with a private guide scheduled by Sumaq himself.
An exclusive service provided by the hotel is the ceremony with Shaman, on top of the ruins of the lost city. He does a special ceremony for Sumaq guests, and it's a very interesting activity to what to do in Machu Picchu.
cooking classes andina no Beautiful Machu Picchu
One of the main cultural experiences offered by Sumaq is the cooking class. Before checking out, be sure to enjoy at least one gastronomic demonstration. You will learn how to make authentic Peruvian ceviche and pisco sour, typical of Peru.
There is a new cooking class at the hotel, which teaches a distinctive ceviche dish, made over coals of Andean stones and with regional products. Another novelty is the Munay Songo class (beautiful heart, in Quechua), a special drink made with blue cane and bitter cocoa, extracted from the lands of Quillabamba.
A cooking class for children is also offered, where the little ones learn to decorate the dishes, all to make mealtime a lot of fun.
This activity is included in the daily rate.
Visit to Manuel Choqque's fields
Another very different experience that the hotel offers is a visit to the fields of Manuel Choqque, the largest potato (tuber) producer in Peru. There you will taste food cooked in a rustic way, in a structure set up with tents.
The most interesting part is discovering the hundreds of potato species that are grown in Peru. A tip, to make the most of the tour, I suggest doing this activity at the beginning of the trip in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
A curiosity, in Peru there are more than 3 thousand types of potatoes!
The price of this tour must be consulted with the Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel itself.
Andean marriage no Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
One of the most unique experiences at the Sumaq Hotel is the Andean marriage, called Arac Masin. Couples can celebrate union with the indigenous tradition of Machu Picchu.
The ceremony is symbolic, wrapped in the spirituality of Machu Picchu. The bride and groom wear traditional Inca wedding attire, and an Andean priest conducts the ceremony. The package also includes floral arrangements, bouquet, cocktail and gift for the couple.
This service can be hired for 650 dollars.
Payment to the Earth – Pachamama
Pachamama is the ritual of “payment to the land”, dedicated to the Mother Earth of the Andean culture. The ceremony is part of the immersion in the local culture that the hotel seeks to offer its guests.
During the offering, shaman Wilco conducts a mystical ritual through typical songs and prayers. Gratitude to nature is the main pillar of this experience. The environment is decorated with carpets of flowers, cereals, coca leaves and precious metals. In addition to regional foods that are buried at the end of the ceremony, as an offering.
During the session I attended, the most incredible thing was the phrases that the shaman prophesied for each participant. Everyone I talked to said it made a lot of sense with the moment they were living. Mountain Mysteries?
This activity costs $320 for two people, and groups of up to 15 can participate.
Tours com or Beautiful Machu Picchu Hotel
At the Sumaq Hotel, other activities in contact with nature can be scheduled. Between hiking, climbing and bird watching on guided tours.
The trail to Machu Picchu itself is offered by Sumaq, in case you want to face the path on foot. There is also the option of hiking to Wayna Picchu, in addition to visiting the Puerta del Sol, hiking to Mandor and to Ponte Ruínas.
Other options are tours to observe birds, flowers, and even a guided visit to the Machu Picchu Museum.
The price of these activities must be consulted with the hotel itself.
Beautiful Wellness Crossing
It is also worth mentioning the new Travesía de Bienestar Sumaq, a program focused on a healthy stay. It lasts for three days and two nights, and includes special amenities, in-room meditation kit, relaxing music playlist, bath with medicinal herbs and oils, food with a focus on locally grown sustainably natural ingredients, plus a crystal purification ceremony and tour to see the sunrise at Machu Picchu.
Book your hotel room here.
If you still haven't been enchanted by the Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, read the post again! LOL
Jokes aside, tell us in the comments what you think of our review, or if you have any questions about the hotel. ?
Flavio traveled at the invitation of Belvitur, Promo Insurance, Xmart and Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel.
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See also:
- Luxury hotels in Machu Picchu
- Hotels in Machu Picchu
- Where to stay in Machu Picchu
