If you’re planning a trip to Machu Picchu, Las Casitas del Arco Iris is an outstanding stop-off point in Urubamba, the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Surrounded by spectacular views of the Andes, the hotel is an oasis of calm and tranquility. We stayed in one of the fabulous bungalows, which had a rusticly quaint bathroom and its own terrace and fireplace. Accessed through the grounds of a school, the hotel has its own pretty gardens, a homely restaurant and even a ‘yoga dome’. The staff are wonderful and the meals are delicious and beautifully presented. The profits from the hotel support a children’s foundation which provides education and health services to families in the Sacred Valley. All in all, this is a very special place.