Legacy of the Incas
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(11 days/10 nights)
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(12 days/11 nights)
Empire of the Sun
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(14 days/13 nights)
Ancient Civilizations of Peru
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Colca Canyon - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca
(16 days/15 nights)
Archaeological & Ecological
Treasures
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru & Ecuador:
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca (or Amazon)
(18 days/17 nights)
Grand Tour of the Inca Empire
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Colca Canyon - Amazon
Machu Picchu- Lake Titicaca
(22 days/21 nights)
Ancient & Colonial Capitals
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu
(10 days/9 nights)
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu
(13 days/12 nights)
Machu Picchu & Galapagos
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru & Ecuador:
Machu Picchu - Galapagos
(15 days/14 nights)
Galapagos & Machu Picchus
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador & Peru:
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
(18 days/17 nights)
Enchanted Isles of the Galapagos
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Galapagos
(11 days/10 nights)
Galapagos & the Kingdom of Quito
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Galapagos - Andes
(16 days/15 nights)
Galapagos & the Amazon
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Galapagos - Amazon
(16 days/15 nights)
Historic Haciendas of the Andes
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Cotopaxi - Antisana - Otavalo
(7 days/6 nights)
© 2013 Inka's Empire Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours & Travel
One of 372 species of native orchids in the garden.
Photo: Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu Luxury Tours & Travel.
This charming hotel, built in the style of a villa,
offers the best accommodations for visitors to the ruins.
Even if Machu Picchu did not exist,
it would be worth it just to visit the Inkaterra Machu Picchu.
-- OAG Worldwide Limited, 1997
The best place to relax and explore the Machu Picchu Sanctuary
The Inkaterra Machu Picchu is an ecological hotel designed in accordance with boutique hotel standards. Surrounded by lush vegetation and rich biodiversity, the hotel is located in the heart of the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary. Its comfortable facilities and excellent service guarantee the traveler an unforgettable experience combining direct contact with nature, a glimpse of Peru's millenary past and the advantages of outstanding service. The hotel is the best option for exploring the sanctuary as well as for relaxing and experiencing the power of Machu Picchu.
Sustainable tourism
Inkaterra, the owner of the Inkaterra Machu Picchu, is a Peruvian organization that has promoted and practiced sustainable tourism for the past 26 years through exploration, research and conservation of the environment and natural resources as well as through the proactive interaction with local residents of the most enigmatic, magnificent places in Peru, which possess a rich historical and cultural heritage and enormous biodiversity.
Inkaterra provides innovative, sustainable tourism services for a world in which nature, culture, social responsibility and service combine in perfect harmony.
The gardens of the Inkaterra Machu Picchu.
Photo: Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu Luxury Tours & Travel.
A spring-fed swimming pool shimmers near the main lodge,
with its great stone fireplace and local art...
A huge clay oven serves diners above the roiling Urubamba River.
Nowhere do you escape the sound of water
-- tumbling, tinkling, cascading, churning...
-- Best Practices Award for Sustainable Travel
Keith Bellows, Editor, National Geographic Traveler, May/June 2002
Closer to the sky than to the earth
Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary is located between the high Andes Mountains and the Peruvian Amazon basin. It is the land of the Incas and a wonder of the world. It seems that Machu Picchu was the ideal refuge during ancient times, permitting the Incas to satisfy their need for direct contact with nature and their cosmos. Its perfect symmetry and imposing serenity demonstrate a high level of spirituality.
The Inkaterra Machu Picchu sits amid a private, five-hectare (12-acre) cloud forest at 2,020 meters above sea level (6,627 feet). The hotel is located on the right bank of the Urubamba River, on the outskirts of Aguas Calientes village, a short distance from the train station and just three blocks from the bus station to the Citadel.
Rustic, colonial-style architecture of the Inkaterra Machu Picchu.
Photo: Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu Luxury Tours & Travel.
This stunningly beautiful ecolodge is set in a high tropical cloud florest...
The stone bungalows, none with the same design,
have cathedral ceilings, exposed beams, and an atmosphere of rustic elegance.
-- Fodor's South America, 2002
Service, space and serenity in a natural environment
The Inkaterra Machu Picchu has 76 rooms and 9 suites built in a rustic, colonial style. The handiwork of local artisans adorn the rooms. Hotel facilities include the Hiram Bingham Lounge Bar; two restaurants -- the main dining room and Cafe Inkaterra, a self-service lunch buffet restaurant; cozy lounge areas near the lobby and overlooking the gardens; a boutique; more than five kilometers of private ecological paths; several observation points for viewing flora (372 native species of orchids), birds (172 species) and butterflies (111 species); and the Unu Spa.
All of this in an environment perfumed by the scent of wildflowers and sweetened by the songs of abundant birds. The relaxing sound of the river serves as a perfect background for Machu Picchu's graceful, bucolic atmosphere and omnipresent charm. Without a doubt, a place to remember.
One of the junior suites at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu.
Photo: Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu Luxury Tours & Travel.
Hiking the Inkaterra Machu Picchu orchid trails perfectly complements
a visit to Machu Picchu...
-- Downs Matthews, author of Beneath the Canopy, Orchids of the Incas, and Wild Places.
Wildlife Conservation, February 2000
A sub-tropical cloud forest
Machu Picchu has a semi-tropical highland climate, with a relative humidity ranging from 77 to 91 percent. The temperature varies between 8 degrees C (46.4 F) and 22 degrees C (71.6 F). The orchid season is from November to April.
An ideal way for travelers to acclimatize gradually to the high altitude of Cusco (3,399 meters above sea level -- 11,152 feet) is to descend upon arrival to Cusco for the first night of their visit into Aguas Calientes (2,020 meters above sea level -- 6,627 feet); then go back to overnight in Cusco.
Native orchid species Epidendrum friderici-guilielmi Rchb. f. & Warsz.
Photo: Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu Luxury Tours & Travel.
This may be the largest orchid collection in Peru that is open to the public.
In all probability it is also the world's largest orchid species collection
set in a natural environment in a private facility.
-- The Magazine of the American Orchid Society, May 2001
The Hiram Bingham Route
A one-hour commercial flight from Lima is the most rapid, comfortable way to reach Cusco. From Cusco, travelers usually have taken the train to Aguas Calientes early next morning for a day excursion to Machu Picchu. This trip takes approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes.
Today, visitors can also travel, upon arrival at the Cusco airport, by road to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, which is halfway between Cusco and Machu Picchu, and then take the train at the Ollantaytambo station to Aguas Calientes for their first overnight at a comfortable mid-level altitude.
From there, visitors take a 30-minute bus ride to the Machu Picchu Citadel. Buses depart on a regular schedule, beginning at 6:00 a.m., which gives hotel guests a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the sunrise at Machu Picchu, and later on sleep amongst the soothing sounds of running water and the fragrance of lush cloud forest.
Nightfall at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu.
Photo: Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu Luxury Tours & Travel.
It's worth staying in the area an extra night just to enjoy the Inkaterra Machu Picchu.
-- Traveller's Peru Companion, The Globe Pequot Press, 1999-2000
Ecotourism activities
The hotel offers a wide range of educational and recreational activities; including walks, expeditions and tours throughout the day. Different activities of varying levels of difficulty and duration are designed to respond to guests' interests and preferences. The hotel provides professional guides as well as the information and tools necessary to guarantee complete satisfaction. A walk through the gardens, a tour of the orchids or birds, or a spiritual walk at twilight will enable guests to genuinely experience the cultural and natural world of Machu Picchu, while simultaneously contributing to its preservation and the welfare of its people. The proceeds from these activities, all of which are coordinated and paid locally, will support our conservation projects, whose goal is to assure the future of the beautiful and fascinating megadiversity of species you will be experiencing.
Nature Walk
Walk through the megadiverse cloud forest flora and fauna of the Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Highlights include a world record of 372 native orchid species plus medicinal plants, ferns, bromeliads, butterflies and even petroglyphs.
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Activity level: Easy (walking).
Departures: 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm.
Equipment: Magnifying glass and orchid list.
Optional equipment: Rain poncho and binoculars.
Orchid Walk
Walk down the orchid path amid the lush vegetation within the hotel gardens. According to the American Orchid Society (AOS), the Inkaterra Machu Picchu has the world's largest number of native orchid species in their natural habitat in a private facility open to the public. Orchid Conservation Award (AOS, 1998). The best time is November through May.
Attractions: 372 native orchid species that bloom year-round.
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Activity level: Easy (walking).
Departures: 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm.
Equipment: Magnifying glass and orchid list.
Optional equipment: Rain poncho.
Birdwatching Walk
Walk down the hotel paths to watch some of the 172 bird species registered on the hotel grounds. Local residents include the world's largest concentration of hummingbird species (16), the cock-of-the rock, golden-headed quetzal, white-capped dipper plus endemic birds, such as the Inca Wren (Thryothorus eisenmanni), Highland Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis) and the Green and White hummingbird (Leuccipus viridicauda).
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Activity level: Easy (walking).
Departures: from 6:30 am to 8:00 am, according to climate and availability.
Equipment: Binoculars and bird list.
Optional equipment: Rain poncho.
Twilight Walk
Walking or meditating in soliitude gives guests the opportunity to spiritually integrate with the soul of Machu Picchu. Along the trail you will find a sacred, pre-Inca rock painting, or petroglyph, where our ancestors offered rituals to the Pachamama (Mother Earth). You will also reach the Rocotal and Alccamayo lookouts, which offer spectacular views of the Apus (sacred mountains). The exuberant landscape gives a sense of place.
Duration: 2 hours.
Activity level: Moderate.
Departures: from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
Equipment: Rain poncho.
Alccamayo Waterfall Trek
Trek up the path that meanders and crisscrosses the creek flowing along the Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Accompanied by the tumbling water of the Alccamayo River; enjoy waterfalls, springs and hot springs, dense cloud forest and contemplative places to rest in solitude. At the third waterfall, the path ends and the very few adventurous and hardy may continue the upward climb for several hours to be rewarded by a magnificent view of the Machu Picchu citadel.
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Activity level: Moderate to High.
Departure: 8:00 am.
Equipment: Rain poncho and binoculars.
One-Day Inca Trail
This expedition will take visitors to the areas surrounding the Machu Picchu citadel to the last stretch of the Inca Trail and to various archaeological sites. The expedition starts early, at 6:00 am, taking the train to Km. 104, followed by a slow walk up the imposing Andes Mountains toward the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna. After few hours trek along the Inca Trail, you will arrive at Inti Punku or the Gate of the Sun, with a fantastic view of Machu Picchu, start descending toward the Machu Picchu ruins and finish the trail by bus, arriving at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu.
Duration: 7 hours, 30 minutes, roundtrip.
Activity level: Moderate.
Departure: 6:00 am.
Optional equipment: Binoculars and rain poncho.
Visit to the Wiñay Wayna Archaeological Site
You will start this interesting walk from the Machu Picchu historic citadel, through the last part of the Inca Trail, to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna. This fantastic site, located on a steep ledge overlooking the Urubamba River, offers a perfect example of Inca terrace farming. The name Wiñay Wayna translates as "forever young". It is believed to be a site reserved for ceremonies and religious rites involving water. From Wiñay Wayna one returns to the citadel of Machu Picchu and then to the hotel. These beautiful ruins can be observed from the meditation area of the hotel.
Duration: 7 hours, 30 minutes.
Activity level: Moderate.
Departure: 6:00 am.
Optional equipment: Binoculars and rain poncho.
Climbing Putukusi Mountain
Climb one of the most beautiful mountains of the Sanctuary; from its summit climbers will have a magnificent side view of the Inca citadel. It is a new way to see Machu Picchu.
Attractions: A climb up wooden stairs set into the rock and views of the Urubamba River, the village of Aguas Calientes, the Mandor Valley, the Wayna Picchu mountain and the Machu Picchu citadel.
Duration: 3 hours.
Activity level: High.
Departure: 8:00 am.
Optional equipment: Rain poncho and binoculars.
In the nearly forty years that I have studied birds in Peru, I have never been in a place where Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and Highland Motmots can be seen in a hotel garden, but the careful placing of the rooms amid lovely gardens of native and exotic trees and flowers at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu makes such sightings possible. Not only are the gardens a birder's paradise, with flocks of tanagers and other birds, as well as a profusion of not-so-easily-seen hummingbirds, but the view from the dining areas overlooking the roaring Urubamba River, where Torrent Ducks and White-capped Dippers play, as well as the pristine forest on the other side, where the Cock-of-the-Rocks probably nest, is unique. The Inkaterra Machu Picchu, with its wonderful trails, is situated at the elevation where many of Peru's hard-to-find birds are seen with regularity, and in one of the most comfortable settings imaginable. The Hotel is a must for the serious ornithologist as well as the casual lover of nature, and there is enough to see to warrant a several day stay!
-- John O'Neill, Ornithologist and Artist, LSU Museum of National Science, June 1999
The Highland Motmot, one of the 172 bird species in the gardens.
Photo: Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu Luxury Tours & Travel.
© 2013 Inka's Empire Corporation, Machu Picchu Luxury Tours. All rights reserved.
