Yellow River Lodge

Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

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A cozy place in Quellomayo, 30 minutes from Santa Teresa on the alternative route to Machu Picchu, this welcoming family homestay is an organic farm harvesting coffee, chocolate and tropical fruit. Simple rooms have comfortable beds and colorful walls, but you'll spend most of your time exploring the lush surroundings. Home-cooked meals are available.

If you want to learn more about coffee, there are roasting workshops on site.

To get there, take a bus from Cuzco to Santa María (S30, four hours) and grab a taxi (S50) from there or trek via an old Inca trail; the website has details, including regional transportation options.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Parque Arqueológico Choquequirao

    Parque Arqueológico Choquequirao

    27.57 MILES

    Translating as 'Cradle of Gold,' this remote Incan site (3050m) in the Vilcabamba mountain range over the Apurimac canyon bears a strong resemblance to…

  • Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary

    Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary

    8.14 MILES

    For many travelers to Peru, a visit to the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu is the whole purpose of their trip. With its awe-inspiring location, it is the…

  • Wiñay Wayna

    Wiñay Wayna

    10.04 MILES

    An exquisite little Inca site along the Inca Trail; it's name is variously translated as ‘Forever Young,’ ‘To Plant the Earth Young’ and ‘Growing Young’ …

  • Intipunku

    Intipunku

    8.89 MILES

    The Inca Trail ends after its final descent from the notch in the horizon called Intipunku (Sun Gate). Looking at the hill behind you as you enter the…

  • Llama Terraces

    Llama Terraces

    27.8 MILES

    Discovered only in 2002 by archaeologist Percy Paz, these steep terraces on the backside of the ruins feature unique stonework resembling that found in…

  • Intihuatana

    Intihuatana

    8.01 MILES

    This Quechua word loosely translates as the ‘Hitching Post of the Sun’ and refers to the carved rock pillar, often mistakenly called a sundial, at the top…

  • Sacristy

    Sacristy

    8.04 MILES

    Behind and connected to the Principal Temple lies this famous small building. It has many well-carved niches, perhaps used for the storage of ceremonial…

  • Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock

    Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock

    8.27 MILES

    An excellent viewpoint to take in the whole site. It’s one of a few buildings that has been restored with a thatched roof, making it a good shelter in the…

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Nearby Cuzco & the Sacred Valley attractions

1. Intihuatana

8.01 MILES

This Quechua word loosely translates as the ‘Hitching Post of the Sun’ and refers to the carved rock pillar, often mistakenly called a sundial, at the top…

2. Central Plaza

8.03 MILES

The plaza separates the ceremonial sector from the residential and industrial areas.

3. Sacristy

8.04 MILES

Behind and connected to the Principal Temple lies this famous small building. It has many well-carved niches, perhaps used for the storage of ceremonial…

4. Principal Temple

8.04 MILES

The ‘temple’ derives its name from the massive solidity and perfection of its construction. The damage to the rear right corner is the result of the…

5. Temple of the Three Windows

8.05 MILES

Important buildings flank the remaining three sides of the Sacred Plaza. The Temple of the Three Windows features huge trapezoidal windows that give the…

7. Sacred Plaza

8.07 MILES

Climbing the stairs above the ceremonial baths, there is a flat area of jumbled rocks, once used as a quarry. Turn right at the top of the stairs and walk…

8. Prison Group

8.09 MILES

At the lower end of this area is the Prison Group, a labyrinthine complex of cells, niches and passageways, positioned both under and above the ground.