It is a telling sign of a site’s fame when the sheer volume of tourists actually puts the place itself at risk. Machu Picchu was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, and though that helped bolster the famous ruins as an important tourist destination, it also led officials in Peru to impose a 2,500 a day cap on the number of visitors for the Inca Trails. Either way, the fame of the location is still going strong – taking the No. 1 spot in TripAdvisor’s Landmarks of the World ranking for 2016.
That said, if you’re ever planning a trip to the famed mythical site here are a couple of hotels to consider and a few complete tour packages that you might want to look into:
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
As the only hotel directly next to the Machu Picchu itself, this is definitely high on the list of any of the possible accommodations in the area. You can just wake up and go for a morning stroll and you’ll already be in sight of the ruins. Besides that, they also have a number of amenities, such as massage treatments, massive gardens, and even shamanic wedding vows renewal ceremonies.
Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
While not being directly located at the site, this luxury hotel boasts of a wide range of possible activities and amenities, as well as a good offering of Peruvian cuisine. Not only are there cooking classes and bar classes (we assume cocktail mixing hands-on types of offerings), but they also perform the shamanic marriage ceremony, and storytelling sessions for traditional tales and myths. The menu at the hotel is prepared by executive chef Carlos Pardo Figueroa Thornberry, who has long standing experience in many renowned restaurants and with many different cuisines. Rooms range from the Sumaq Deluxe rooms all the way up to the Imperial Suites – but no matter what kind of room you go for, the service promises to be impeccable.
Jacada Travel Packages
If you don’t want to have the hassle of doing all the planning yourself, or you want to go for a wider range of sites over in Peru and South America rather than just Machu Picchu, Jacada Travel is willing to land a hand, for a price. They’ll help you tailor an itinerary best fitting your needs – and, most importantly, they’ll also help to keep it private and comfortable.
One of the possible packages involving Machu Picchu is the “Ultra Private Luxury Galapagos Cruise with Exclusive Machu Picchu Adventure” which has a luxury train ride all the way to the ruins as well as a long cruise to explore the Galapagos on a private luxury vessel. Another involves jetting across South America in what else but a private jet.