Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness

Character and identity

Set beside the Vilcanota River, away from the Sacred Valley's main resort clusters, this 115-room property unfolds across a canal- and lake-laced compound built around a restored 18th-century hacienda. Newer minimalist buildings sit alongside the original architecture, and the grounds are dotted with orchids (housed in a glass pyramid), an art gallery, a library, a private cinema, and a 25,000-square-foot Andean spa. Pukawi, the gourmet restaurant, draws fruit and herbs from on-site gardens. Service is warm and hands-on, with staff ferrying guests between buildings on eco-carts and coaxing the resident alpacas and peacocks into photographs.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The pitch here is grounds, not guestrooms: a sprawling, garden-rich estate with a serious spa and genuinely engaged staff, designed for guests who want the Sacred Valley at a slower pace. Splurge on a hacienda room for the period character, and time a stay around shoulder season (April-May or September) to enjoy the gardens without peak Machu Picchu crowds.