Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

On the banks of the Urubamba, among the Apus of the Sacred Valley, Tambo del Inka holds an unusual position: it is the valley's only hotel with its own private rail station to Machu Picchu. The wide windows frame the surrounding peaks like paintings. Contemporary lines and warm timber shape an architecture that folds into the landscape rather than standing against it. At 2,870 metres, the altitude is more forgiving than Cusco's — ideal acclimatisation before or after the citadel.

The Deluxe Mountain View rooms are the most requested for their outlook onto Chicón; for longer stays, the Presidential Suite, with its panoramic terrace. Kiri Restaurant pairs Peruvian haute cuisine with international technique — the Urubamba trout tiradito is the signature; Hawa, more relaxed, works for outdoor lunches. In cooler months, a table by the lounge fire is worth reserving.