Casa Andina Private Collection Hotel - Urubamba, Peru

My wife and I arrived at the Casa Andina Private Collection in Urubamba following a day-long tour of the Sacred Valley. We were on a bus full of other tourists, the rest of whom were headed back to Cuzco for the night. The location off the main thoroughfare that runs along the Urubamba River did not look very impressive. But as we pulled into the driveway, we could hear the collective gasp of the other passengers. The hotel is an oasis of serenity with carefully manicured grounds with an impressive layout.

After collecting our backpacks, we entered the spacious lobby of the hotel. A large fireplace was situated in the center of the lobby, emanating soft light and the gentle crackling of real wood burning. The reception desk was located to the right as we entered, with a large restaurant to our left. The front desk clerk, Daniel, spoke exceptional English. He quickly checked us in. Because the hotel is not located near any other businesses, Daniel also assisted us in arranging for a driver and making reservations at El Huacatay in the nearby town of Urubamba.

One of the hotel staff assisted us to our room on the sprawling grounds of the hotel. We were located on a second floor room in a building past the gym and spa. The large room is designed like many European hotels we have stayed at. The room key inserts into a key holder near the door to power the room. This green feature automatically shuts down energy sucking devices when you depart with your room key.

Our hotel room in Cuzco was somewhat small, so we were delighted to find plenty of space to sprawl out at the Casa Andina Private Collection. The room had large, vaulted ceilings, attractive decorations and a delightfully comfortable bed. The spacious bathroom seemed to have a floor that was perpetually wet. I never discovered the source of the small trickle of water that found its way to the drain in the center of the floor, but I was careful not to wear my socks in the bathroom. The shower also took a few minutes to get hot. Otherwise, the bathroom was exceptional. The shampoo, soap and conditioner were all high-end products. There was plenty of room for two people to get ready without tripping over each other.

After freshening up, my wife and I met our driver and headed to dinner. The individual rooms at Casa Andina Private Collection are not equipped with wifi. However, it is free in the lobby area. When we returned from dinner, we sat near the fireplace and cleared out our email inbox. The wifi was adequate for this purpose and I was using my iPhone, so the connection speed never seemed to lag. The hotel also has two computers for guests to use, located behind the check-in desk near the restrooms and ATM Machine. There are also a couple of gift shops along the short hallway to this area.

Although we did not bring work out equipment with us, we did check out the gym. Anyone suffering from altitude sickness or exhausted from climbing ruins would probably avoid this room, anyway. However, I was surprised to find that it had a decent variety of machines cobbled together in a fairly tight space. It would have been more than adequate for my needs, if I had come prepared to work out during my vacation. The spa was located across from the gym and featured relatively inexpensive massages. The room also had a tube-style television with satellite that offered more channels than any other hotel we visited during our trip. That worked out nice since we had an early night one evening and were able to relax to the Clint Eastwood Classic Any Which Way But Loose.

In the morning, my wife and I returned to the main lobby for breakfast. Several merchants had set up along the walkway and were selling a variety of textiles and other gifts. The breakfast buffet at Casa Andina Private Collection was impressive. The spread included a variety of yogurt, breads, juices and sweet rolls. Eggs were cooked to order and the hot meals included dishes that I would associate with dinner. One morning we had breaded chicken tenders and saltada loma (beef and vegetables in gravy). Another morning featured curried chicken and pork in gravy. The hearty breakfasts were an excellent way to begin a day of rigorous hiking.

The nights we spent at Casa Andina Private Collection were almost like a Disney movie. After an excellent rest in a comfortable bed, we awoke to the sound of birds chirping. The utter serenity of walking onto a balcony to panoramic mountain views and chirping birds seemed surreal. The impeccable landscaping and amazing location gave us a sense of peace. The only drawback with the location is that it is somewhat isolated from other businesses. That was not an issue for us. The friendliness of the hotel staff, cleanliness of the rooms and grounds, services provided and our overall satisfaction made this hotel worth the going rate of $140 per night, breakfast included. You can find plenty of accommodations well below that price point, but they will not come anywhere close to this property in terms of quality.

The photos in this post are all my own. They may be used with prior permission.