Sol y Luna

Sol y Luna was born in 1996, when Franz and Petit - its founders - arrived in the Sacred Valley to settle there and share, with visitors and neighbors, what this land has to offer: beauty, culture, and history, together with work and the joy of progress. Sol & Luna boasts over 100 collaborators who share a common philosophy of respecting the natural environment and living in harmony with the local culture.

The Urubamba Valley was blessed by nature, with mountains, glaciers, rivers, and the natural cycle that lives within them. Historically it has been venerated as a sacred place, and today remains an inspiring environment, respected at Sol & Luna. Materials from the area were used for the buildings designed to harmonize with their surroundings, understanding the privilege of enjoying the scenery surrounding us at all four cardinal points. With their Apus and Auquis guardian spirits, the omnipresent mountains have given us a welcome proven by the gardens' constant green and fragrant flowers.

The guests enjoy these gifts and the 35 species of birds that have made Sol & Luna their habitat and share every day with us in this enchanting space of peace and harmony within the Sacred Valley. Each bungalow at Sol & Luna is a front-row seat onto this Eden. The hotel is located in the province and district of Urubamba, in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, at an altitude of 8850 feet, one hour's drive from Cusco city or airport. Minutes away from the hotel, you can find important archaeological sites like Moray, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and Machu Picchu.

At the Sol & Luna lodge-spa in the Sacred Valley of the Incas - within Cusco's department, in Peru - one can breathe the Earth's bounties and live in a balanced and harmonious natural and cultural environment. They collect the Sacred Valley's tastes and spirit's simple, rustic cuisine and give them a contemporary interpretation in the kitchen. At 2800 m (9186 ft) above sea level, the Sacred Valley is a land of dramatic contrasts whose strong sun inspires fresh, summery food and drink; at night, however, the chilly mountain air suggests other options.

This unique climate has compelled us to develop a light menu of tasty, easily digestible food. Updated seasonally, the menu is based on local produce grown organically in the own orchard and gardens. Additionally, the hotel draws on the products of nearby regions, both those whose similar tastes complement and enrich the owners and those like the jungle, which, despite its proximity, is home to a cuisine far from Cuzqueña. Sol & Luna has assumed a real responsibility, both social and environmental, within the Sacred Valley. Therefore, they are dedicated to promoting organic farming in the area, improving its quality to grow beyond local markets.

Location

In remote highland villages, inhabitants trace their ancestry to Tahuantinsuyu, or the Land of the Four Quarters, as the great Inca Empire was known in the 13th to 16th centuries. Throughout this rich history, this naturally fertile valley has remained the region's breadbasket and continues to inspire the global phenomenon that is contemporary Peruvian cuisine. An outdoor enthusiast's pristine playground, the Sacred Valley also ranks among the finest places in South America for tandem paragliding, mountain biking and trekking. More leisurely fresh air pursuits include kayaking, horseback riding and tours by quad-bike.

Living culture in the Sacred Valley revolves around the Andean concept of Ayni, meaning 'reciprocity' in Quechua, which conveys the idea that progress is a collective goal. Working together allowed the Incas to develop an advanced civilization and highly evolved belief system. This combination of the practical and the spiritual is still very much in evidence throughout the Valle Sagrado.

Accommodations

At Sol y Luna, guests are hosted in cozy houses made of local stone, decorated individually. Each of these forty-three casitas is surrounded by gardens filled with flora native to the Sacred Valley and all face the Andes Mountains where the Incas believed their gods dwelled. Within each private sanctuary, an outdoor terrace leads into the high ceilinged living space with terra cotta tile floors, Peruvian textiles and some of the favorite Sacred Valley artifacts, Spanish colonial style furniture, a plump king size bed or two double beds made with goose feather duvets and top quality Peruvian pima cotton sheets, and a spacious marble bathroom with deep soak bathtub, just as you might have at home.

And then there is the art. I met Federico several years ago and felt immediately enchanted by his brightly painted, fantastical sculptures of Andean flowers and animals. For each casita, Federico created an original wall mural inspired by the Sacred Valley of the Incas and many feature his unique three-dimensional pieces too. I watch his artwork transform guests' faces into lasting smiles and I love how these makes people feel whenever they come upon his work around Sol y Luna.

Gastronomy

Mindful that lasting memories are made through the taste buds, approached gourmet dining is a priority at Sol y Luna from the beginning. The culinary team trained with Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of the leading innovators of contemporary Peruvian cuisine, looking to the time honored, rich traditions of Andean cooking which integrate the bountiful harvests of ancient Incan agrarian techniques. The decision was taken not to have their own hotel gardens and fields but to train local farmers, so far having four, to grow the quinoa, potatoes, herbs, spices and other produce needed. This extends the Sol y Luna community outreach while ensuring exceptional, fresh and natural ingredients in every dish served at Killa Wasi and Wayra, where the focus is especially locavore, to connect with guests offering the exceptional flavors of the Sacred Valley.

Sol Y Luna Experience

Stunning landscape and a benevolent climate persuaded the Incas to settle in the Sacred Valley, which they considered a mirror of the Milky Way. You are invited to come fly with the wind, cycle along Andean terraces, kayak under snow capped peaks and trek the ancient mountain pathways of the Incas. Discover remote villages, colonial churches and mysterious heritage sites on horseback or by quad bike. Home to Andean civilization for more than 500 years, the Sacred Valley is also a veritable treasure trove of historic sites including Machu Picchu and vibrant, thriving cultural traditions. For those who prefer their cultural immersion in the kitchen, an array of the Sacred Valley's most palatable pleasures are offered.

Wellness

Quechua for 'house of water,' the intimate spa wrapped in artful stained glass and local stone offers holistic relaxation between invigorating adventures around the Sacred Valley and excursions to Machu Picchu. Native healing meets modern pampering as internationally trained therapists deliver rejuvenating massage, facial and hydrotherapy treatments incorporating organic, locally grown Andean plants and herbs.

After 14 years of work respecting nature, the hotel feels the Earth has honored them with the gardens' gift. The guests enjoy this gift and the more than 35 registered species of birds that have made Sol & Luna their habitat and share with us every day spent in this enchanting haven of peace and harmony within the Sacred Valley.

The Founder

My name is Marie Hélene Miribel, but everybody calls me simply Petit. Following my heart, I left a successful corporate life for the Sacred Valley of the Incas, to live my dream of improving the future for some of the world's poorest children. In my husband Franz, I met the perfect match. I have tons of ideas for how to educate these children, and Franz possesses the gifts to build and realize these audacious dreams.

In 1999, we started an education project for the local children, many of whom walked for hours each day to get to a school in poor condition or did not go at all. Working within the existing social fabric proved invaluable to understanding the realities of schools and families around the Sacred Valley. To support the education initiatives in the most economically sustainable way given Sacred Valley's potential for tourism, in 2000 we decided to build a hotel.

Franz and I gradually understood that we could be most effective by starting our own school. In 2009, we opened the Sol y Luna Intercultural School, which our children Thomas and Melanie attend today, along with 185 children of the Sacred Valley.