“When luxury and philanthropy meet, amazing things can happen”

Luxury travel and lifestyle journalist Raye Mocioiu recently covered Sol y Luna for Global Heroes, a Canadian magazine which focuses on uplifting stories, inspiring individuals and positive news. 

Global Heroes seeks to give insights into how communities around the world tackle urgent issues and create actions that lead to sustainable change.

Last year, Mocioiu visited Sol y Luna founders Petit and her beloved late husband Franz Miribel to learn more about their trailblazing approach to the hotel business; after all, not every hotel is built specifically to fund a children’s charity next door.

Community First

“When Petit and her husband Franz moved to Peru’s sacred valley in 1998″ writes Mocioiu in her piece, explaining the origins of both Hotel Sol y Luna, and the Sol y Luna Foundation that it funds, “they had a vision of combining exceptional hospitality with transformative education and social programs”.

“Driven by a passion for beauty and a need to uplift those around them, they launched the Sol y Luna Foundation. Two years later, they opened Hotel Sol y Luna with 14 meticulously crafted casitas to raise funds for their foundation.”

The Sol y Luna Foundation – the raison d’etre of the hotel itself – provides education and pastoral care to almost 200 underprivileged children from the surrounding area.

The Foundation consists of four key pillars, providing children with a range of support covering these vital years: the Sol y Luna Intecultural School which caters for students from kindergarten up to secondary school; the Sol y Luna Home, an orphanage that provides a loving and safe home for children who have been victims of abuse or abandonment; Paqari, a specialist centre for disabled children; and the Roots & Wings program which supports students in furthering their educational careers at university or apprenticeships.

“Intimate sanctuaries” in the Andes

From its humble beginnings, the hotel has since expanded to 43 villas, including Deluxe and Premium casitas that Mocioiu found “each more enticing than the last.”

Dotted around 25 acres of butterfly and hummingbird-filled gardens, all connected by winding stone pathways, Mocioiu writes effusively about these “intimate sanctuaries offering extraordinary Andes Mountains vistas”.

“Each casita is crafted from local stone, terracotta, and adobe brick” she goes on, “and is surrounded by lush gardens teeming with native flora“.

The casitas have been designed with a strong sense of place; materials used are locally sourced, and both the buildings themselves and their interiors are heavily influenced by Andean culture.

“Superior Casitas have private terraces for enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding nature” Mocioiu expands. “Inside, vibrant Peruvian folk art decorates the walls.”

“Deluxe Casitas” she goes on, “include wood-burning fireplaces, spacious living areas, and hand-painted murals”, whilst the Premium Casitas with their private garden terraces, jacuzzis and decor featuring hand-loomed Cusco textiles also caught her attention.

The Sacred Valley from dawn till dusk

“Guests at Sol y Luna can choose to fill their days with adventures that capture the spirit of the Sacred Valley” Mocioiu goes on, as she outlines a selection of the excursions that guests at Sol y Luna can enjoy.

From horse riding through the remote valleys of the region or even paragliding in the skies overhead, there is much on offer for the more adventurous, beyond exploring the incredible Inca sites that make the region so popular, from the iconic Machu Picchu citadel to the vast terraces of Moray and the ruins at Chinchero.

“For those seeking relaxation”, she adds, “the Yacu Wasi Spa provides holistic treatments in a tranquil setting, complemented by an outdoor swimming pool, sauna, and gym.”

25 years of positive change

“For over 25 years, Petit and Franz have dedicated their lives to alleviating poverty in the Sacred Valley” Mocioiu writes, noting how their dedication “created a ripple effect of positive change, providing education, love, and hope to countless children and families.”

She describes how the Foundation grew in this last quarter of a century, and how the hotel grew to continue to help fund it. Its growth is marked by personal milestones; Petit and Franz’s own children, Thomas and Melanie, went to the school, benefiting from the same quality education that it offers to so many deserving children in the local community.

“You might look at the rural houses in the Sacred Valley and think life there must be simple, even idyllic,” explains Petit. “However, the harsh reality is that all too often, extreme poverty breeds violence, alcoholism, and abuse. With no sense of hope, the light goes out in children’s eyes”

“At Sol y Luna” Petit goes on, “we create positive change by giving two things that all children deserve: love and education.”

See for yourself

“More than a luxurious retreat, Sol y Luna is a testament to the power of compassion and the transformative impact of education” finishes Mocioiu.

“By staying at Sol y Luna, guests not only experience the beauty of the Sacred Valley, but also become part of a mission to create a brighter future for its children.”

If you would like to experience Sol y Luna for yourself, and visit the Foundation to see first hand the incredible work it does, please feel free to contact the team and we would be happy to organise your stay.