Your stay — El Sol de Oro
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Urubamba.
The Property — El Sol de Oro
El Sol de Oro is a modest but well-kept 3-star hotel on Urubamba's main plaza, offering a functional base for Sacred Valley explorers. The lobby feels like a quiet mountain lodge – local textiles, tiled floors, and a log fire in winter. It suits practical travellers who want a clean room and central location, not boutique charm. The USP is the rooftop terrace with views across the valley to the Vilcabamba range.
Chronicles of Urubamba
Urubamba was a key Inca agricultural centre, its terraces fed by the Urubamba River. The Spanish re-founded it in the 1570s as a colonial supply town, building a plaza with a single-nave adobe church. It became the ‘Pearl of the Vilcanota’ for its fertile fields and pleasant climate. Today it serves as the commercial and transport hub for the Sacred Valley, with a relaxed, functional feel rather than tourist-laden prettiness.
Best Time to Visit
Full Urubamba guide →Best months
May, June, August – dry skies and crisp days, with July the busiest. These months offer the clearest views of the glaciated peaks and stable weather for trekking.
Peak / festival surge
July is the absolute peak, driven by school holidays in Peru and the Inti Raymi festival in Cusco (June 24 but festivities spill into July). Hotel prices in Urubamba can double; book El Sol de Oro at least three months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
September and October are the sweet spot: fewer crowds, mild days, and hotel rates drop 20–30%. The valley is still green from the wet season, and cloud cover adds drama without ruining plans.
Weather & packing
Urubamba's quirk: despite being in the tropics, the dry season (May–Sep) brings sub-zero nights. Pack a thermal base layer and a windproof jacket for mornings; you'll shed them by noon.
Live City Briefing — Urubamba
- The Ollantaytambo–Machu Picchu train line resumed full service in June 2025 after January rains caused track damage; check for last-minute cancellations.
- Urubamba's main market relocated temporarily to a site two blocks east of the plaza while the old building is renovated – look for the blue tarps.
- The new Solar de los Andes bypass road opened late 2025, reducing traffic through the town centre by about 15% during peak hours.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to El Sol de Oro, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third floor facing the courtyard. Upper floors avoid street-level noise from the narrow Urubamba roads, and the courtyard side is quieter than the front with its passing mototaxis and colectivos.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the reception or breakfast area—they pick up lobby chatter and kitchen clatter. Also avoid rooms at the front of the hotel facing the main street; early morning traffic and street vendors start before 7am.
Best views
Look for a room at the back or on a side overlooking the courtyard—you'll see the garden and maybe a sliver of the Andes. The front view is just the dusty street and low rooftops.
Quietest floors
Third floor is your quietest bet. The hotel has three floors with no lift, so fewer people pass by above that level, and you're far from the ground-floor public areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Urubamba's main street has constant mototaxi and colectivo traffic from early morning (6am) until late evening (10pm). The hotel's own breakfast room on the ground floor starts clattering around 7am. Weekend fiestas in the plaza can be audible if you're at the front.
Insider tips
1. Park on the side street if you're driving – the hotel's mini courtyard fills up fast. 2. Ask for a room on the courtyard side when you book; they don't always default to that, and it's worth the request for quieter sleep.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — El Sol de Oro
Free basic WiFi (up to 5 Mbps) in rooms and lobby, no login required. Paid premium upgrade (20 Mbps) available at reception for S/.10 per day.
No lift. The hotel is a two-storey building with stairs only; ground-floor rooms exist upon request.
No daily newspapers or digital newsstand. The lobby has a small library of local magazines.
Check-in from 14:00, early bag drop allowed from 09:00. Late check-out until 18:00 costs S/.50 (subject to availability).
Complimentary left luggage in the lobby cloakroom, available on day of departure.
No step-free access. The main entrance has two steps, and there is no ramp. Wheelchair users may struggle; ground-floor rooms have a step at the door.
On-site unsecured parking for 6 cars: free. Nearest public car park is Estacionamiento Urubamba (Calle Bolívar 123) at S/.15 overnight. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required by credit card at booking; a S/.100 incidental hold on arrival for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Templo del Sol (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
- Place of worship: Diez Hornacinas (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
- Place of worship: Templo del Agua (1.7 km · ~22 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia de Santiago Apostol (1.8 km · ~22 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Inca Wasi Casa Museo — 2.0 km · ~25 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
BCP — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Farmiluz — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Ollantaytambo — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use ATMs in central Urubamba or the main square; avoid moneychangers at Cusco airport or tourist offices—they give poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted at mid-range hotels and supermarkets in town; small shops, street stalls and collectivos are cash-only. Contactless is rare.
10% in restaurants if service not included; taxi drivers don't expect tips; hotel porters get 2–5 soles per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A basic coffee from a market stall or baker's counter costs about 4–5 soles.
Set lunch menu (menú ejecutivo) at a local comedor runs 8–12 soles and includes soup, main and drink.
A main course at a simple pollería or cebichería is around 12–18 soles.
Along the main street and near the market you find anticuchos (grilled skewers), tamales and fresh juice stalls for 3–7 soles.
Plaza Vea and Metro are the main supermarket chains in Urubamba.
The Saturday market (Mercado de Urubamba) sells inexpensive local textiles and clothing; for basics, try the shops around the main square.
The cheapest way around is by colectivo (shared minibus) costing 1–2 soles per ride within town. From Cusco airport to Urubamba, take a direct colectivo from the corner of Av. Grau (about 10 sol) rather than a taxi.
Buy fresh fruit and snacks from the market rather than tourist shops. Eat set lunch menus (menú) instead of à la carte. Negotiate directly with local tour agencies for Sacred Valley tours to avoid inflated hotel prices.
Good to know — Urubamba
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.4 · PEN
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Urubamba, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at El Sol de Oro
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · BCP — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk — pharmacy · Farmiluz — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Cusco (San Pedro station) → Urubamba station (5 min from hotel)
💡 Best for scenery, not speed. Book in advance through PeruRail or IncaRail. Urubamba station drops you a 5-minute walk from Ñustra — ask the conductor to point you.
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) → Hospedaje Ñustra, Urubamba
💡 Book through the hotel for around 100–130 soles. Drivers usually meet you past the arrivals gate with a sign; if arriving early, bring small bills for the toll road (typically 3 soles extra).
Urubamba main terminal (Jr. Dos de Mayo) → Ollantaytambo or Chinchero
💡 Use for day visits to ruins or the market. Combis leave from the terminal by the market — flag one down. Carry small change; you'll be squeezed in with locals and their goods.
Av. Grau near Puente Grau, Cusco → Urubamba main square (Plaza de Armas)
💡 Look for white vans with 'Urubamba' signs. They fill up fast — grab one with a spare seat. From the plaza it's a 15-minute walk to Ñustra; a mototaxi will cost 5 soles.
About Urubamba
Wikipedia ↗
Urubamba (possibly from in the Quechua spelling Urupampa, flat land of spiders) is a small town in Peru, located near the Urubamba River under the snow-capped mountain Chicón. It is the capital of the district of the same name. Located one hour from Cusco, Urubamba is the largest town in the Sacred ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at El Sol de Oro?
Request a room on the third floor facing the courtyard. Upper floors avoid street-level noise from the narrow Urubamba roads, and the courtyard side is quieter than the front with its passing mototaxis and colectivos.
Which rooms should I avoid at El Sol de Oro?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the reception or breakfast area—they pick up lobby chatter and kitchen clatter. Also avoid rooms at the front of the hotel facing the main street; early morning traffic and street vendors start before 7am.
Is El Sol de Oro noisy?
Urubamba's main street has constant mototaxi and colectivo traffic from early morning (6am) until late evening (10pm). The hotel's own breakfast room on the ground floor starts clattering around 7am. Weekend fiestas in the plaza can be audible if you're at the front.
Which rooms have the best views at El Sol de Oro?
Look for a room at the back or on a side overlooking the courtyard—you'll see the garden and maybe a sliver of the Andes. The front view is just the dusty street and low rooftops.
What are insider tips for staying at El Sol de Oro?
1. Park on the side street if you're driving – the hotel's mini courtyard fills up fast. 2. Ask for a room on the courtyard side when you book; they don't always default to that, and it's worth the request for quieter sleep.
What time is check-in at El Sol de Oro?
Check-in at El Sol de Oro is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does El Sol de Oro have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi (up to 5 Mbps) in rooms and lobby, no login required. Paid premium upgrade (20 Mbps) available at reception for S/.10 per day.
Is there a city or tourist tax at El Sol de Oro?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near El Sol de Oro?
Set lunch menu (menú ejecutivo) at a local comedor runs 8–12 soles and includes soup, main and drink.
What is the cheapest way to get around from El Sol de Oro?
The cheapest way around is by colectivo (shared minibus) costing 1–2 soles per ride within town. From Cusco airport to Urubamba, take a direct colectivo from the corner of Av. Grau (about 10 sol) rather than a taxi.
When is the best time to visit Urubamba?
May, June, August – dry skies and crisp days, with July the busiest. These months offer the clearest views of the glaciated peaks and stable weather for trekking.
Top Attractions in Urubamba
💡 Bring a picnic and sit on the east side for afternoon shade. Free Wi-Fi available near the municipality building.
💡 Go early (before 9am) for the best produce and to avoid crowds. Try a fresh jugo de papaya for 3 soles.
💡 Best light is at sunset (around 5:30-6pm). Bring water and a light jacket—wind picks up suddenly.
💡 Donations welcome (5-10 soles suggested). Ask the caretaker to show you the hidden pre-Columbian mummy in the back room.
💡 Take a colectivo (1 sol) from the market area to the turn-off. The path is unmarked—look for a small gate 200m past the main road. No facilities.