Las Qolqas Eco Resort - Glamping in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Las Qolqas Eco Resort is surrounded by a large botanical garden with flourishing flora and fauna close to the Patacancha River. It's located halfway between Cusco and Machu Picchu and a few minutes from the archaeological zone of Ollantaytambo.

Ollantaytambo is one of the most famous and authentic towns in the Sacred Valley. Anyone who wants to visit Machu Picchu has to go through Ollantaytambo (unless you do the Inca Trail or the hydroelectric route). The hotel has a free shuttle bus that takes you within ten minutes to the terminal, where trains depart for the most famous Inca site.

The Las Qolqas Eco Resort is the result of the vision of Herman van den Wall Bake, a Dutch-Peruvian businessman, and Carlos Gonzales, a Peruvian specialist in tourism and sustainable development.

Herman owned a piece of land in the Patacancha River ravine, just two kilometers from Ollantaytambo. His dream was to develop a low-impact, original, high-level, super-service hotel proposal that would enhance the value of the region with significant cultural heritage and environmental importance.

One of the most important aspects was to minimize the impact on the local environment. As a result, all of Las Qolqas's buildings are mobile, so when the time comes, they can be fully removed within two weeks, and the land where the eco-resort now stands can be cultivated again.

You have to cross the Patacancha River via a bridge to reach the Las Qolqas' reception. Once you cross the bridge, the river's soothing sound will accompany you throughout your stay at the hotel.

In many ways, Las Qolqas Eco-Resort is like a wellness retreat due to its focus on delicious (and locally sourced!) food, regional culture and history, and connection with the natural world.

The resort has an outdoor yoga and meditation dome, a relaxation spa, and orchid gardens. It also offers historical and sightseeing tours, as well as culinary and cultural courses.

At Las Qolqas's on-site restaurant, there is no traditional menu. The chef, Linder Padilla, carefully selects locally produced (zero mile policy), seasonal, and organically grown ingredients to create two daily specials for lunch and dinner.

The resort's bar serves only Peruvian liquor.

The friendly and welcoming staff at Las Qolqas is composed entirely of local individuals.

The hotel's main building and rooms are luxury safari-style tents inspired by luxury African resorts. But inside, they are like hotel rooms with high levels of comfort and security.

The eco-resort consists of 16 tents built on a 10,000 square-meter Andean botanical garden surrounded by mountains in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

You can choose between Twin (two-person), Family (four-person), or Group (eight-person) tents.

While comfortably sitting on your room's terrace, you can enjoy a drink, read a book, and watch hummingbirds and other types of birds arrive in mixed flocks to enjoy the surrounding flowers and vegetation.

The hotel has implemented a zero-single-use plastic policy, so all bottles are returned to producers. This approach ensures that glass bottles are reused, resulting in a lower impact on waste.

Las Qolqas is actively involved in reforesting the native forest along the Patacancha River ravine and preserving cultural heritage by protecting the platforms and surrounding cultural sites.

The Andean Spa has a sauna, an outdoor shower, and an Onsen (a type of jacuzzi).

If you want to end your day with a treat, you can book a hot stone massage.

The geodesic dome with a panoramic view is where the yoga and meditation classes are held.

Apart from the usual activities in the Sacred Valley, like visiting Machu Picchu, other archaeological sites, and the well-known towns in the valley, various hiking options start from the hotel. You can also explore non-touristy local communities.