Spirit Of The River Lodge

It’s hard to choose what I loved most about Spirit of the River Lodge, everything was truly wonderful. The location is magical and peaceful, with the sound of the river always in the background and barely any traffic passing by. We stayed twice, in two different rooms, and both were beautifully designed, cozy, and offered gorgeous views of the river. You can really feel how thoughtfully everything was created to respect and highlight the natural surroundings. The lodge has a sauna overlooking the river, direct access to the water, and a small yoga shala where I enjoyed my morning practice and reading. Claudia and Rudi were incredibly welcoming and hospitable. They made us feel like family. We had dinner one night and breakfast each morning, and even as vegans, we felt so well cared for. The food was amazing. They also have lovely animals, a llama named Tupac and two sweet dogs, Max and Juanita, who added so much joy to our stay. The area is relaxing but also well located, with easy access to nearby towns and cities. We came back twice because we truly fell in love with the place. I can’t recommend it enough!

There’s honestly nothing I can say I didn’t like. Everything about our stay was wonderful.

This Lodge is situated right next to the river in a very tranquil and peaceful environment. Claudia and Rudi are great hosts and very helpful. It's definitely worth a shot when travelling through the Sacred Valley.

HotColdhotCold Showers

Bed was comfortable Room was super clean We loved the hot tub which was the main reason for booking, however, we loved waking up to the mountains, the sound of the river and observing the birds.

We loved the property: However, for future renters: Local shops: the first one is less than 5 minutes walk away. You can buy basic stuff like tissue, water, snacks, etc. Local restaurants: Paco Frito is less than 20 minutes walk away. They serve great Peruvian food at a reasonable price, especially if you have booked this place at the end of your trip. Native Peruvian: About 38 minutes walk: Serves great food but it is on the pricier end and cathers to tourists, so a true Peruvian dish might be limited (less spice, seasonings, etc). When someone says, “add to invoice,” think carefully and ask for pricing up front.

This place is a hidden treasure. Stunning construction that, according to my understanding, has been orchestrated, mostly accomplished and also managed and constantly improved on by the owners, a wonderful couple of locals with amazing taste and ability! During my stay in Peru I visited several locally owned hotels and apartments and this one was the best. Decorative elements were indicative of someone who is well travelled and understands aesthetic preferences of international crowds but incorporating local art. Same with dinner, worthy of high class hotel and at decent price, even with offering of local wine that while not cheap was worthy of its cost if you like good wine. The beds were amazingly comfortable and warm. The bathroom was more spacious, beautiful and functional than any other on our stays.  The owner has just completed construction on a sauna with an amazing view.  The owner was a mountain guide and he knows trails and tours very well - for peace of mind and perhaps with more money at my disposal if I were to do my trip again I would have just stayed there and asked him to organize various tours and itineraries starting from there.

I did have minor issues like internet going out once but was quickly fixed when brought to owners attention. Also we seemed to run out of hot water one night, not sure what happened. You should know it is VERY difficult to get to the place, bumpy and narrow. In general, do not imagine you can rent a car and be OK in South America unless you have grown up driving there. We did find some ubers and you can use InDrive or Cabify if you want spontaneous plans. However it may be easier to get to and from hotel to ask the owners to coordinate for you in advance. And that said once there you can actually walk to very good restaurants.

Spirit of the River truly embodies the essence of the Sacred Valley. From freshly cooked meals to transportation and tourist services, they accommodate all your wants and needs. The room was spacious and had a beautiful view overlooking the river. The bed and bedding alone are something to rave about, I have never slept in a more comfortable bed (including my own!) The husband, wife, and daughter are the sweetest, most caring hostesses. I appreciated the constant communication and learning about the story behind the property. I would absolutely return here for a longer stay! Thank you for taking such great care of me.

The WiFi was having issues, but nothing to be too concerned about, as it helped me continue on a digital detox. However, the hot water would not stay warm, so unfortunately, I had what felt more like cold plunge showers. I also had an issue with a tour guide, but the hostesses handled it with the utmost care and respect. I appreciate all they did for me. Highly recommend

I loved everything! The place is truly beautiful and peaceful. I found it very relaxing, especially with the yoga room located right above the river. The sauna was the perfect way to end the day. The accommodation is also conveniently close to the hiking trail to the Salt Mines (Salineras) — I absolutely loved it!

Nope

Beautiful location, views

The entrance, it is a dirt road

The property was exactly what I desired. The hospitality and kindness was spectacular. They made us feel right at home with the delicious food, the sauna and conversation about the origins of the pre-Inca civilizations. The owner, Rudi built this sanctuary and he and his family do their best to make guests feel special and supported. I highly recommend this property for those who feel TRUTH of SPIRIT.

Rudy and Claudia are doing a wonderful job making travelers feel like at home ❤️ My boyfriend and I have absolutely loved this place, and if we ever come back to Peru, we would definitely stay here again. The location is perfect, we have made this place a base camp for three nights, and visited all the sites nearby - salt mines in Maras, Ollantaytambo and many others. The place is spotless, spacious, they offer great breakfast and dinner, Claudia is an amazing chef 👩‍🍳. You can also enjoy sauna and yoga, but we didnt manage this time. It is super quite at night, and who knows, maybe you also run into their super wellbehaved pets - Max and Tupac 🐶 🦙 thank you so so so much!!! Wendy & Ondrej

Rudy and Claudia are doing a wonderful job making travelers feel like at home ❤️ My boyfriend and I have absolutely loved this place, and if we ever come back to Peru, we would definitely stay here again. The location is perfect, we have made this place a base camp for three nights, and visited all the sites nearby - salt mines in Maras, Ollantaytambo and many others. The place is spotless, spacious, they offer great breakfast and dinner, Claudia is an amazing chef 👩‍🍳. You can also enjoy sauna and yoga, but we didnt manage this time. It is super quite at night, and who knows, maybe you also run into their super wellbehaved pets - Max and Tupac 🐶 🦙 thank you so so so much!!! Wendy & Ondrej