Reconnect with nature at the beautiful Mountain View Experience Hotel in Maras. The Andean snow-capped mountains surround the hotel providing you with epic views. It is also home to many llamas to accompany you during your stay.
If you love nature and are looking for harmony in an eco-friendly hotel, this unique stay is perfect.
On arrival, I was blown away by the beautiful scenery and the rustic look of the bar area. However, true excitement kicked in when the llamas walked around the corner and surrounded me. I didn’t realise how much I loved these cute fluffy creatures until that moment.
The Room
There are two room types at Mountain View Experience. You can book a Tipi with or without an outdoor hot tub.
I opted to stay in the Tipi hut with an outdoor hot tub because how can you not?
The room came complete with
- Two beds
- Wood stove
- Bathroom
- Outdoor hot tub
- Outdoor seating
- Fire pit
The hot tub tipis are perfect if you plan to dip in the hot tub with amazing views. The doors to the tipis are glass, so you can wake up and look straight into nature from the comfort of your bed.
The tipis are cosy and rustic, with colourful down bedding to keep you warm during the cold night.
The bathroom was a good size and came with all the usual hotel amenities, such as robes, towels, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and slippers, which was a nice touch.
Each room also comes complete with a fire pit. You can get it going at night while enjoying a beverage and stargazing.
Food & Drink
Lunch and dinner are served by the menu in the restaurant with a mixture of Peruvian and non-Peruvian dishes. They also have a picnic option for lunch with llamas if you want to do something special. There are two options available for the picnic. Option 1 is a traditional picnic with a spread of fruits, bread, cheeses, and wine. Alternatively, Mountain View Experience offers a 3-course picnic lunch if you prefer a meal.
Later for dinner, I enjoyed creamy cheese and mushroom pasta, which was delicious. If you want to relax in the evening and have a few drinks, look out for barman Juan.
Juan was excellent at creating cocktails and had great energy to be around. If cocktails are not your thing, you can enjoy classic drinks, wine, or beer.
Alternatively, you can unwind with a cup of local tea or natural hot chocolate.
Breakfast is included within the stay and comes as a set menu of coffee, juice, fresh fruits, yogurt, toast, cheese, eggs, and bacon.
Hotel Activities
Mountain View Experience offers many activities to make your stay unique and fun.
- Horseback Ride
- ATV Tour
- Picnic & Painting
- Bike Tours
Mountain View can also organise private tours can also be booked if you wish to visit the salt mines, rainbow mountain, or Machu Picchu during your stay at Mountain View.
Horseback Ride
Enjoy exploring the Andean fields of Maras surrounding the hotel on horseback. The scenery was breath-taking an my ride peaceful. The horses were tame and healthy which is great for inexperienced riders like myself.
ATV Tour
Head out on an ATV adventure to explore the surrounding landscapes, or head out further to explore the salt mines and pampas de maras. I didn’t have time to do this activity during my stay, but I saw other guests doing it while I was horseriding, and it looked super fun! It gives me a reason to return to Mountain View again, hey?
Picnic & Painting
Fancy connecting in nature with a picturesque picnic surrounded by llamas and beautiful Andean landscapes. You will want to take advantage of the picnic and painting activity.
There are two options available, but as my cousin and I were rather hungry, we opted for the 3-course lunch picnic rather than the classic picnic with wine, cheese bread, and wine.
We enjoyed a 3-course lunch of Peruvian favorites along with juice and fruits. After lunch, they bring out some watercolors and a canvas where you can relax and paint the beautiful landscapes ahead.
Bike Tours
The hotel offers FREE use of bikes if you wish to explore the area. Alternatively, you can book a 2-3hr guided bike tour to the salt mines, Maras village, or the Colonial church of Tiobamba.
Soak & Unwind with Llamas
If you have booked a room with an outdoor hot tub, you can relax and enjoy an afternoon or morning soak. The llamas may even come along and visit you. Mountain View even offers breakfast in the hot tubs for an additional fee if you want to make the most of your experience.
Relaxing in the hot tubs surrounded by llamas was a surreal experience I will never forget and should be added to your bucket list.
Location
Getting There
The hotel offers a private pickup service to take you to and from the hotel. Mountain View Maras was my first stop when I arrived in Cusco, so I got picked up from the airport, and it cost 105 sol (around £23) for a 1.5hr drive.
Overall Experience
My stay at Mountain View Experience Maras was truly magical. I would recommend Mountain View to anyone wanting a unique stay in nature. The snow-capped mountains and nature settings were something out of a movie. Being surrounded by llamas enhanced my experience even more, and I loved interacting with them throughout the day.
The food and drinks were a 10/10, with so much detail on the presentation and mouth-watering taste. All the staff members were accommodating and attentive, and I really enjoyed my stay. I will be back in the future to stay longer.