San Agustin Urubamba

Staying at Hotel San Augustin, you’re less than an hour from the archaeological wonders of Pisac and Cusco city, all breathtaking destinations. The ancient site of Ollantaytambo is only a 20-minute drive from the hotel, and you can reach Machu Picchu via train in about 90 minutes.

Mountain bike or hike to the Salt Pans of Salinas, located between Urubamba and the nearby town of Maras, about 20 minutes by car from the hotel. These shallow pits, dug in the side of a slope, fill with salt water from the river, guided by the channels fashioned by locals. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind a pool of white salt. A few residents of the area still mine the pans for salt.

Hotel San Augustin is a remodeled colonial estate. It's a beautiful hotel with an abundance of amenities.

The staff speaks English (among other languages), and offers money-changing services for visitors who have just arrived in Peru. Take advantage of the luggage storage while you’re out sightseeing. The lobby has seats by the fireplace and a pool table if you’d like to mingle with other visitors. In the morning, take advantage of the included breakfast buffet before you start exploring.

For your accommodations you have a choice of standard, double, or king-sized beds. Standard rooms come with an international phone, cable TV, direct heater, hair dryer, Wi-Fi, and private bathrooms with tubs. In a deluxe suite, you’ll also get to enjoy a private sitting room and a refrigerator. Some rooms come with a safe deposit box – make sure to specify when you make reservations if this is a feature you would like. Rooms are decorated in a color palette that reflects the bold aesthetic of the Andes, and come with their own patios or balconies. Many rooms face the gardens or the pool.

Spa services include facials, full-body treatments, and aromatherapy. After a long day of hiking you’ll be glad to know deep tissue massages and aromatherapy treatments can be ordered to your private room.

In the evening, get to downtown restaurants via mototaxis, three-wheeled motorcycles with a large carriage for passengers. It’s the preferred method of public transportation in Urubamba, and allows visitors to experience the fresh mountain air to and from destinations.

Trade the mototaxis for some horseback riding, another popular way to get around the Sacred Valley. At Perol Chico, a ranch just outside UrubaMba, you can book multi-day horseback excursions through Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley countryside.