Your stay — Villas de Maras
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The Property — Villas de Maras
Villas de Maras is a quiet, colonial-style compound off the main Urubamba square, with whitewashed walls, a small courtyard garden, and an open fireplace in the lobby. The vibe is relaxed and functional—think a well-kept guesthouse rather than a boutique hotel. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, central base for exploring the Sacred Valley without frills or resort pricing.
Chronicles of Urubamba
Urubamba was a key administrative and agricultural hub in the Inca Empire, sitting in the heart of the Sacred Valley. After the Spanish conquest, the town was rebuilt around a large plaza with a colonial church, blending Inca stone foundations with Spanish Baroque facades. The 20th century saw it become a railway stop for Cusco-bound tourists, and today it's a laid-back market town with a strong weaving tradition and a growing café-and-hostel scene.
Best Time to Visit
Full Urubamba guide →Best months
May to September: the dry season with clear skies, sunny days, and cool nights. June is especially good for the Inti Raymi festival in nearby Cusco without the rain.
Peak / festival surge
July: the height of the dry season and school holidays in Peru and the US. Hotel prices in Urubamba can double, and the Inti Raymi celebrations (24 June) pull crowds through early July. Book well ahead.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: the transition months with sporadic rain but far fewer tourists. Hotels often drop rates by 20–30%, and the valley is lush from the wet season.
Weather & packing
Urubamba has a dry-winter, wet-summer pattern—July is bone-dry but cold at night (single digits °C). Pack layers: a warm fleece or jacket for evenings, plus sun protection (hat, sunglasses, SPF 50) for the intense midday sun at 2,800m.
Live City Briefing — Urubamba
- The Urubamba–Cusco road (Route 3S) is undergoing periodic repairs due to landslide damage from the 2025 rainy season; expect 30-minute delays or occasional single-lane sections. Allow extra travel time.
- A new artisan market has opened on the south side of the Plaza de Armas, selling weavings and pottery directly from local cooperatives—worth a browse before the souvenir shops near Machu Picchu.
- July is the peak of the Andean dry season, so trails around the Maras salt mines and Moray terraces are in excellent condition, but bring a headtorch if you're hiking early or late—daylight hours are short (sunset ~5:30pm).
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Villas de Maras, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the central courtyard or the rear mountain side. These are quieter and offer better views of the Sacred Valley hills.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or the street side — the entrance area can get busy with check-in traffic and street noise from Urubamba's main road.
Best views
Rooms at the back of the property look out towards the mountains and farmland. The front rooms face the urban street and a nearby road, so less scenic.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are generally quieter, away from ground-level bustle and with fewer passers-by.
🔊 Noise notes
Urubamba's main road runs past the hotel — expect some traffic hum during the day, and occasional motorbikes or trucks early morning. The breakfast area on ground level can be busy from 7am.
Insider tips
Parking is limited — arrive early to secure a spot at the front, as there's no dedicated lot. Ask at check-in for a room away from the breakfast hall if you're a light sleeper.
- 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 — Villas de Maras
Free for all guests in rooms and lobby; peak evening speed ~10 Mbps down; login via room number and surname
Single lift serves all 3 floors; no stairs-only sections
No physical newspapers; complimentary PressReader access via hotel tablet in lobby
14:00 - 20:00 (weekdays), 14:00 - 21:00 (weekends); early bag drop free before 13:00; late checkout until 14:00 for S/ 50, after 14:00 full night extra
Free at reception during stay; after checkout S/ 5 per bag per day
Main entrance step (10 cm); no ramp or lift from street; ground-floor rooms accessible via alternative gravel path (staff assistance needed)
Free on-site open parking for 12 cars (first-come-first-served); no EV charging; nearest public car park at Plaza de Armas Urubamba (S/ 15 per night)
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: S/ 10 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance payment at booking; S/ 100 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
- Church: Templo de Tiobamba (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Plaza de Armas de Maras — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Valezka — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Marianito — 928 m · ~12 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Exchange at banks or casas de cambio in Urubamba town; avoid airport or tourist bureau rates, which are poor.
Visa/Mastercard accepted in most hotels and larger shops, but many small eateries and markets only take cash; contactless is rare.
Not mandatory; 5-10% in restaurants if service is good, small change for porters/hotel staff, taxis not expected.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A coffee from a market stall or bakery costs around S/3-5.
Menu del día (soup, main, drink) in a local restaurant runs S/12-18.
A simple main dish at a casual eatery is S/15-25.
El mercado central in Urubamba has food stalls and produce; also look for anticuchos stalls near the plaza in evenings.
Plaza Vea and Metro are the common discount supermarkets here.
Buy at Mercado Artesanal or Mercado de Abastos for local cotton goods; for basics, there is a small branch of Gamarra-style shops near the market.
Colectivo (shared taxi/bus) costs S/1-3 per ride within town; from airport, take a bus to Urubamba from Cusco (S/8-10) rather than a taxi.
Eat menu del día rather than a la carte. Use colectivos instead of taxis. Buy water and snacks from markets, not tourist shops.
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 Villas de Maras
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · Valezka — 1.0 km · ~13 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 Villas de Maras?
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the central courtyard or the rear mountain side. These are quieter and offer better views of the Sacred Valley hills.
Which rooms should I avoid at Villas de Maras?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or the street side — the entrance area can get busy with check-in traffic and street noise from Urubamba's main road.
Is Villas de Maras noisy?
Urubamba's main road runs past the hotel — expect some traffic hum during the day, and occasional motorbikes or trucks early morning. The breakfast area on ground level can be busy from 7am.
Which rooms have the best views at Villas de Maras?
Rooms at the back of the property look out towards the mountains and farmland. The front rooms face the urban street and a nearby road, so less scenic.
What are insider tips for staying at Villas de Maras?
Parking is limited — arrive early to secure a spot at the front, as there's no dedicated lot. Ask at check-in for a room away from the breakfast hall if you're a light sleeper.
What time is check-in at Villas de Maras?
Check-in at Villas de Maras is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Villas de Maras have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests in rooms and lobby; peak evening speed ~10 Mbps down; login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Villas de Maras?
S/ 10 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Villas de Maras?
Menu del día (soup, main, drink) in a local restaurant runs S/12-18.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Villas de Maras?
Colectivo (shared taxi/bus) costs S/1-3 per ride within town; from airport, take a bus to Urubamba from Cusco (S/8-10) rather than a taxi.
When is the best time to visit Urubamba?
May to September: the dry season with clear skies, sunny days, and cool nights. June is especially good for the Inti Raymi festival in nearby Cusco without the rain.
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.