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When to Visit Zambia: A Luxury Safari Season-by-Season Guide
When to go on safari in Zambia, season by season: game viewing, walking, river trips, photography and crowds from May through the rains.
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These are notes from our trip through Peru: Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco. Below is where we stayed and how we got around, in the order we went.
We chose Tambo del Inka to acclimatize in the Sacred Valley, which sits lower than Cusco, and for Marriott points. Location is why you stay here: quick access to the valley's sites. Ollantaytambo was our favorite. The hotel handled our airport pickup, drop-off for the Hiram Bingham train and a full-day tour with its partner Vista without issue, and booked us a couples massage on short notice the day we arrived.
The hotel feels very Marriott, which isn't a good or bad thing, it just is. It's large, with a lot of Americans and tour groups, and service was very hard to reach unless you're there in person. Our standard room was black marble and dark wood but well lit, with an immense bathroom and a bed nicer than the usual Marriott one. We had a great time but weren't blown away, maybe because we also stayed at a couple of outstanding Belmond properties.
The Hiram Bingham is a must. Unless you plan to visit Machu Picchu twice, staying at Sanctuary Lodge or a hotel in Aguas Calientes, we suggest taking it there and back in one day. A very comprehensive tour of the site is included, and it's one of the most luxurious things you'll ever do.
A standout
A standout for its location. If there are hikes you want to do, confirm they're open before you go. Otherwise, don't expect the same standout rooms and finishes as the other Belmond hotels in Peru.
Wild Atlas favorite
An absolutely amazing hotel. There are windows down to the Inca ruins underneath the building, and a beautiful working chapel inside. It's small, so it never feels crowded, and the pool is incredible. The food is great, the rooms are gorgeous and very comfortable, and the service is the best we've experienced, maybe anywhere.
Ask for a room with views over Cusco. It's a much better choice than Monasterio next door, which is bigger and also a Belmond.
A great, standard Marriott in Lima, and centrally located.
For the full route, see our Peru by Belmond itinerary, or tell us what you have in mind.
Every itinerary begins with a conversation. Tell us what you have in mind, and we’ll plan a trip around you.
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