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Destination Traveller

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

By the Destination Traveller editors · 30 October 2026

Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), Peru

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo is a small Andean village of whitewashed adobe casitas in 12 acres of cloud forest, with waterfalls, stone paths and the world's largest collection of native orchids. Just across from the train station, it lets you visit Machu Picchu twice, at dusk and at dawn, and return each time to peace and birdsong.

Best for: Travellers who want to stay beside Machu Picchu in a peaceful, nature-rich setting.

Where it is

The hotel sits at 2,020 metres in Machu Picchu Pueblo, the town below the citadel formerly known as Aguas Calientes, on a private five-hectare reserve opposite the station. Trains from Ollantaytambo take about an hour and a half, and buses up to Machu Picchu leave every 15 minutes from before dawn. See our Peru trip.

Rooms and suites

There are 80 casitas with beamed ceilings, terracotta floors, Andean textiles and, in many, fireplaces. The best have terraces, private plunge pools or gardens; the Villa Inkaterra combines two suites with plunge pools and round-the-clock butler service.

Food, spa and the rest

The restaurant, a glass house overlooking the Vilcanota River, serves Peruvian cooking with a modern touch, and the complimentary afternoon tea features the estate's own award-winning black tea. Unu Spa uses local botanicals such as eucalyptus and orchid. Naturalist guides lead daily walks for birds (317 species recorded), orchids, the tea plantation and a spectacled bear rescue centre.

The moment

Walking back through the gardens at dusk after your first visit to Machu Picchu, with hummingbirds still feeding in the orchids.

Why we chose it

Staying at Machu Picchu rather than day-tripping from Cusco transforms the experience, and Inkaterra is the most delightful place to do it: green, quiet and full of nature, with excellent guiding. It pioneered sustainable tourism in Peru and still leads the way.

When to go

May to September is the dry season, with clear skies and the most visitors. April and October are good compromises. Heavy rain falls from January to March. Machu Picchu tickets have timed entry and daily limits, so book early.

The longer stay

One or two nights. Visit the citadel in the afternoon you arrive and again at dawn, perhaps adding Huayna Picchu or the Inca Bridge, then explore the hotel's trails before the train back to the Sacred Valley.

Part of our Big Trip

The stone ruins of Machu Picchu among green mountains

Peru: Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley

From about £6,500 per person

Questions

How close is the hotel to Machu Picchu?

It is in the town below the citadel; buses from the town reach the site in about 25 minutes.

Is it near the train station?

Yes, just across from the Machu Picchu Pueblo station.

What altitude is it?

About 2,020 metres, lower than Cusco, so altitude is rarely a problem.

Are meals included?

Many rates include meals and guided excursions; check when booking.

Do I need to book Machu Picchu tickets separately?

Yes. Tickets are timed and limited; book early or through your advisor.

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