Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel, Machu Picchu

Clearly the attraction here is the proximity to the ruins of the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, hidden away almost eight thousand feet up in Peru’s Andes mountains. There are other places to stay in the general area of Machu Picchu, but there’s only one luxury hotel within the protected sanctuary itself, on a mountain top literally just yards from the walls of the citadel, offering unparalleled access — you’ll watch the sun rise and set over the ruins, and have the opportunity to visit in the afternoons and evenings, after the tour groups have packed up and gone home.

Created in the Seventies as a government-run lodging, today the Sanctuary is a Belmond (formerly Orient Express) hotel; meaning that while the rooms aren’t overly large, they are comfortable and well-appointed, and the service rivals that on offer in many a big-city luxury hotel. One restaurant serves a buffet lunch to all comers, including day-trippers, while another is for the exclusive use of hotel guests, serving slightly more upmarket Peruvian and international fare.

Guided tours of the ruins are available, of course, and can be arranged by the hotel, which recommends two full days to properly take it all in. Nights are cold, and the rainy season runs from November to March — be prepared to dress accordingly.

How to get there:
A 3.5-hour train trip takes passengers from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, and from there it’s a half-hour bus ride up the mountain to the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. To travel from Cusco to the hotel by foot along the old Inca trail, allow four or five days. There are no taxis from Machu Picchu Town to the Machu Picchu Citadel; the only form of transportation is on public buses.