Sacred Valley | Perú
Pumaqwasin
Pumaqwasin is a cooperative in Pucamarca (near Chinchero) dedicated to preserving and sharing Andean culture and traditions, particularly through textiles. The women of Pumaqwasin follow ancestral techniques for wool washing, natural dyeing, spinning, and weaving, ensuring that their craft remains alive.
Beyond textiles, they also welcome visitors, offering an immersive experience in their way of life, including home made food and a deep connection with their traditions. Braulia, the heart of the project, is a radiant woman who is hard to forget.
The guesthouse is a new project they have been building little by little with a lot of hard work and effort. It is part of their home and a simple place. There is no heating, and it gets cold at night. You sleep with plenty of blankets and a hot water bottle at your feet.
The experience is about getting to know their traditions, learning to weave with them, and enjoying their spectacular home made food.
If staying in such a rustic place doesn’t suit you, you can visit for the day, share a meal with them, and learn from their deep textile knowledge.
Chinchero | Guesthouse | from 20€/person/night
Text Braulia on whatsapp to book: +51 984 633 296
EL ALBERGUE
We also stayed here and loved it. The hotel is located right inside the train station in Ollantaytambo, which makes it feel truly magical. You can depart to Machu Picchu directly from there. The rooms are spacious and very comfortable, and we also loved the food.
Ollantaytambo is at one end of the Sacred Valley, so if you're going to spend several days in the valley, you should know that you'll have longer travel times each day to go on excursions or visit other towns. We did it this way, and it wasn’t much of a problem.
Ollantaytambo | Hotel | from 140€/night
BELMOND Hiram Bingham
The Hiram Bingham is a high-end train that travels to and from Machu Picchu (you don't sleep on the train). It's beautifully designed with a vintage aesthetic, making you feel like you're in a movie.
The landscape is breathtaking, and the journey itself is an unforgettable experience. The food is excellent, and the live music is a really fun addition—it makes the trip super enjoyable. They play lively songs from different parts of the world, and people gather to dance and sing along (At times, it felt like we were at a party). The staff are incredibly kind and helpful in a very friendly way.
We also loved the guided tour with Belmond's guide. She shared the history of Machu Picchu with a unique twist—something spiritual but not over the top. It was truly a day to remember for a lifetime and far exceeded my expectations.
I would highly recommend it, as it makes the trip to Machu Picchu even more epic.
Train | from 500€/person/journey
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