I checked in to the Hotel Samanapaq hotel in Ollantaytambo on the 2nd to the last day of our trip. I’d been touring the Sacred Valley with my wife and kids for the last week, and we were exhausted. We needed a place to rest and recover from all the hiking we’d done over the last few days–a quiet place that allowed us to step out of the whirlwind and relax for a while.
Hotel Samanapaq was absolutely perfect.
Compare to many of the places you find in the Sacred Valley, Samanapaq is a little expensive. I’ve seen rates ranging from $80 to $150 depending on the season. However, no matter what you pay, this place is worth it. We checked in early in the morning and did not set foot outside the hotel until checkout time the next day. Food, entertainment, relaxation were all accounted for within the hotel’s area.
The hotel grounds are quite extensive and there is a wonderful garden out back. My kids delighted in just running around the green area. There was a small hill, and at this point in the trip, my kids were content to just roll themselves down the hill until exhausted. During a week of travel, you kind of forget how incarcerated you become traveling in buses and airplanes, kids need a day where they’re able to just run in circles and roll down hills if they chose to.
The beds were comfortable, the bathroom was huge and there was plenty of hot water. There was a small TV in the room and this was one of the few occasions during our trip that we just laid around in bed watching movies.
There were also a line of hammocks out back which were extremely relaxing.
Again, the advantage of this place was that it was late in our trip and we were all very tired. I think people have a tendency to plan too much on their vacations and they come home more exhausted than if they’d never left. It’s important to give yourself one day (at least) where you just pamper yourself and relax.
All that being said, we wouldn’t have been able to stay within the hotel for 24 hrs if the food hadn’t been good. Fortunately, Hotel Samanapaq boasts a restaurant which is among the best (if not the best) of Ollantaytambo.
Breakfast is included with the room and the spread there was also fantastic. You start to learn to look forward to breakfast in Sacred Valley hotels, you almost always get eggs, fruit, yogurt, and the best coffee you’ve ever tasted.
Hotel Samanapaq also has a couple communal sitting rooms that are well stocked with board games. This was great for keeping my little ones entertained for a few hours.
Our stay at Hotel Samanapaq was one of the highlights of the trip. It’s great to build memories and go on adventures as a family, but equally as important are the quiet moments you spend together relaxing and reflecting on the things you’ve seen. I really enjoy Ollantaytambo, and Samanapaq is a nice escape destination both for Sacred Valley explorers and for people who live in Lima. If you can get away during the week and spend a few days there, do so. It’s a great place to relax, enjoy delicious food, and just swing in a hammock as you watch the world go by.
Hotel Samanapaq gets my highest possible recommendation. Don’t just go there and crash for a night, plan a day to really stay and enjoy the hotel.
Here are the essential details
Web Page: Samanapaq
Address: Calle Pallpanccaro s/n – Esquina con Alameda Cien Ventanas, Ollantaytambo, Cusco, Peru
Phone: +51 84204042
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