A Week in Peru-Paid for by Points!

Imagine spending a week nestled in the Sacred Valley and exploring Cusco’s ancient streets—all without paying for your luxury stays. That was my reality, and I’m here to tell you how I did it using nothing but credit card points.

Where We Stayed

We kicked off our adventure at Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in the Sacred Valley, staying three nights surrounded by towering Andean peaks and tranquil riverside views. This resort offers direct train access to Machu Picchu, making it the perfect launchpad for our first-day trek to the famed ruins.

Note that the train station isn't open all the time. We had tickets to see Macchu Picchu at 7:30 am! We needed to get to Aguas Calientes by 7am which meant we needed to leave around 4:30am. We booked a taxi to take us from Tambo del Inka at 4am to the train station in Ollantaytambo. There are so many logistics when getting to Macchu Picchu, don't let the large tourism numbers fool you. We booked every taxi before had through taxidatum.com. They were every bit of amazing! On time and so easy to use, this truly made the trip less stressful knowing I had a taxi that was already going to take us where we needed to go.

After exploring Machu Picchu and the nearby towns, we headed into Cusco and checked into Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, for two more nights. From the stunning colonial architecture to the unbeatable location near Plaza de Armas, this hotel was equally breathtaking in its own way. This hotel had a free tour every day at 5pm, if you have time I highly recommend! It was such a nice way to be welcomed to the hotel and learn about where you are staying. The hotel is filled with so much history that goes unnoticed.

Each property was magnificent—distinct in energy, rich in cultural detail, and absolutely indulgent.

Both hotels had the cutest Alpacas!

Palacio del Inka Tour

How We Did It (For Free)

We stayed at both hotels completely free by signing up for the Marriott Bonvoy cobranded credit card. At the time, the card offered five free night certificates as a welcome bonus. That’s right—five nights in Peru at two luxury resorts, just for opening a credit card and meeting the minimum spend.

This strategy saved us well over $2,000, and the experience was worth every point.

Travel Highlights

• Machu Picchu on Day One – Being based at Tambo del Inka meant we were much closer than Cusco, so we took the scenic train early in the morning and beat the crowds.

• Exploring Sacred Valley towns like Ollantaytambo and Urubamba, with their colorful markets and Incan history.

• Dining at Palacio del Inka—think alpaca steak, pisco sours, and views that made every meal feel ceremonial.

• Wandering through Cusco’s vibrant streets, visiting museums, and breathing in centuries of history.

  
  

Why You Should Try Travel Hacking

If you’ve ever thought travel hacking sounded confusing or risky—I get it. But with the right card, timing, and spending strategy, your dream trips are possible. This was just one example of how credit card rewards can unlock experiences you'd never imagine paying for outright.

I’ll be sharing the exact sign-up flow, minimum spend tips, and booking strategy in an upcoming post. Until then, let this Peru adventure be proof: points are powerful.