Hello, looking to travel to Peru in August and considering a private tour with Belmond, with stays at Belmond properties in Lima, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley. Does anyone have experience with Belmond's tour offerings?
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8558 posts
We did not take a tour with them, but we did stay at the Sanctuary Lodge AT the summit of Machu Picchu. While I would not normally book a hotel that's over $1,000 a day, this tiny luxury property allows you to be at the attraction before the first bus arrives from Aguas Calientes, and to have a high-end hot lunch while going right back to your sightseeing.
You don't actually mention Machu Picchu, but I assume you are going. The Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel at the top of the mountain. Everything else is in Aguas Calientes, at the base of the switchback road restricted to busses.
This type of trip is likely to have many VERY early departures. Our breakfasts were often at 5:00 or 5:30.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
7484 posts
Wow. Nose-bleed territory for multiple reasons! It does look like the place to stay, if you can manage the cost...
While I would not normally book a hotel that's over $1,000 a day, this tiny luxury property allows you to be at the attraction before the first bus arrives from Aguas Calientes
@Tim - It may be a while since you checked prices there. Just looked online and I'm seeing twice that number (for the "cheap" rooms).
I guess this is one way to address overtourism!
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8558 posts
David, you are right that we were there decades ago. But Belmond is a luxury company, priced much higher than many regular posters on this board are willing to pay. We were on a custom tour for 24, so we didn't have a separate number for two nights at Sanctuary Lodge, but it was one of the reasons I booked the trip.
I'd point out that there is crime concern in Lima, so hotels in the more expensive district of Miraflores are necessary. Belmond's Miraflores Park is double the price of familiar brands there. Their Hotel Monasterio in Cusco is a similar higher price. It's not clear whether the OP knows this yet. Belmond also brands SOME of the trains to Aguas Calientes, like the Hiram Bingham.
Posted by
9497 posts
We are not into such expensive choices as Belmond.
We usually go with Gate 1 Travel or Road Scholar and stay in great places and our tours are wonderful.
Why pay so much for so little in return ? Gate 1 provides us with 5 star hotels when in third world countries.
Posted by
new york
922 posts
If Belmond îș running the tour, I imagine it will be done to perfection!
Their hotels, as you know, are all prime x 10!!
I doubt if you can compare Belmond hotels with those a Gate One tour but I would be very interested in the luxury hotels that you stayed at, GG, while on any of their tours.....if they are the same, I'd certainly consider Gate One if I ever took a tour. Friends of mine have taken a few and liked them, but did not discuss the accommodations....
Please tell us about those hotels!!