Imagine staying in one of the most unique hotels near Cusco that has a hot tub and free roaming alpacas.

Mountain View Experience was the perfect ending to our Peru itinerary.

We were exhausted from back to back hikes in Huaraz and thought a nice little getaway and luxurious treat before going to Machu Picchu would be perfect.

And it did not dissappoint. Their A-frame stays and wide open valley views of the mountain range made us speechless.

Situated just 1.5 hour away from Cusco lies Mountain View Experience in Maras. The town is in Sacred Valley is known for its salt coloured pools that come in bright pink, red and yellow.

These are day trips that you can do from Mountain View Experience or simply be like us: take in the view and forget the world exists!

Also read: Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley 2-Day Tour Itinerary: My Experience

How To Get To Mountain View Experience

a view of the drive leading up to maras and the hotel: mountain view experience

You can totally get a private car through InDriver (e-hailing app) but because it is a bit far and often not reliable for long distances, we booked via Mountain View Experience directly and paid 51 USD one way.

It was comfortable and the driver arrived on time but what made it exceptionally breathtaking was the drive there.

Smooth roads and sometimes bumpy — the Andean mountain range was stunning. It felt like the much-needed peace and relaxation after days spending in Cusco.

Arriving At Mountain View Experience

Once we arrived, we were awed by the dining room area. There was activity everywhere and almost all lunch tables reserved. For some people who didn’t get to stay here, a lunch time experience seems to be the highlight at Mountain View Experience.

We arrived at the right time at 12.30pm which was feeding time for the alpacas.

coffee at mountain view experience with incredible scenery

We were surrounded by alpacas, nosy ones who came inside the premises and were not shy in demanding food. I was a bit afraid of getting spit at but they somehow knew their way of getting what they wanted.

We spent the afternoon taking in the views, photo spots and had some amazing iced coffee at the lodge. It was windy but blissfully peaceful. You could also rent these cute tee-pee picnic tents and have your lunch outdoors while gazing at the mountains.

The Experiences at Mountain View

So while we had a very relaxing experience, they have a gazillion experiences at Mountain View such as:

Andean Picnic Experience: wine, cheese and painting offered while looking at the mountains
Horseback Riding: Go on a mystical route in the Sacred Valley
Cycling through Maras: This looked ethereal but you could go cycling in the fields here
Yoga: Morning sunrise yoga facing the mountains!
Cacao ceremony: A cacao ceremony for yourself while staying in these amazing cabins.
Hot Tub service (which is what we did): Getting the hot tub ready at the right time so Llamas can come and visit you!

Checking In

driving to the hotel - amazing landscapes

At about 1.45pm after having coffee and a light lunch, we decided it was time to check in. There was a jeep/buggy that drove us to our cabins — it was such a cool experience!

It felt like we were in a safari in the Andes mountains with llamas in the background and mountains everywhere.

We finally arrived at our A-frame wooden cabin and were stoked to be able to spend the night in a dream place.

The Rooms, Interior & Experience

I had done a bit of research to find out that these were not just ordinary cabins but they were designed in harmony with nature. The entire experience and stay was conceived by local sibling founders who wanted to pay a tribute to local Andean heritage.

With a great passion for the outdoors, the owners wanted to make sure Mountain View Experience was tastefully designed with regional materials like adobe, stone, and hand-carved timber directly into the surrounding mountain landscape.

You could see it in every single detail of the hotel room, from the comfortable beds, showers with a view of the Maras salt flats.

We spent the afternoon reading and enjoying every corner of the room. We booked the hot tub and Alpaca experience for 3pm but by 2.45pm they were already making their way to us.

The Hot Tub Experience

this was the ultimate hot tub experience

I will let pictures do the talking but it was such a cool experience. The hot tub takes a while to get heated and by that time, the alpacas slowly come inching towards you.

It was chaotic as you need to get the greens to feed them ready while ensuring they don’t spit at you. But otherwise, we got all the photos and videos we needed for that 30 minute experience.

The mountains, the hot tub, the alpacas — it is the perfect Andean experience. This was in June where the weather was perfect!

Evening Experience: Starry Skies, Dinner & Alpacas

night time views at hotel mountain view experience

After the alpacas left, we spent the entire afternoon taking a leisurely long shower, chilling on our bed, reading a book and pinching ourselves over how surreal the views look.

We had an early dinner at 5.30pm and made our way to the dining area. The salmon, vegetables and mash potatoes were cooked to perfection. We also ordered dessert like a tiramisu.

At night, the place truly gets transformed, there is a warm fireplace with the sun casting long shadows and sharp contrasts on the dunes.

It was mystical and we also found a alpaca who was orphaned and sits by the fireplace every evening!

It was also time to head back and spend the night stargazing and enjoying the cosy fireplace in our own rooms. I can’t tell you how dreamy everything was!

Check Out & Breakfast

We woke up early the next day to have breakfast and also soak in our time at the premises.

The mountains and the morning time spent with the alpacas add to the experience — you can take a bucketful of pictures and it is somehow not enough because the Llamas and alpacas have such unique facial expressions!

Is Mountain View Experience Worth It?

is hotel mountain view experience worth it?

If you have an extra day in Cusco or you are coming down after Machu Picchu and want to relax, it is the best hotel to stay in.

Since it is also right next to the Salt Mines, you can pair it with your Sacred Valley experience.

Considering it is just 75 minutes away from Cusco, there is truly no other unique Peruvian hotel like this. It is famous for a reason because of how it offers a magical escape right in Sacred Valley.

The best Peruvian food, and top notch service and hospitality with night time views that are unmatched to any hotel that we have stayed in Peru.

Read my other Peru posts:

South America

Mountain View Experience, Peru (Review): The Most Unique Hotel Stay Near Cusco