Sol y Luna

Sol y Luna is a celebration of Peruvian arts and crafts

Sol y Luna is a unique property nestled in the Sacred Valley of Peru’s Andean highlands. A Relais & Chateaux hotel with 43 adobe-stone casitas (little houses) dotted around 25 acres of gardens filled with native flowers and meandering stone pathways.

The design and décor at Sol y Luna reflect the traditional Andean craftwork employed by artisans in the surrounding area, its aim to showcase the art and cultural heritage of the Sacred Valley.

‘Decorated in Andean style the casitas are private and very comfortable, set in beautiful grounds,’ wrote a recent guest on TripAdvisor. ‘The restaurant and bar are decorated with effigies of musicians and their instruments.’

After many years of guests asking to take home pieces found around the hotel – mainly ceramics and mythical statues by local contemporary artist Federico Bauer – owner Petit decided to open a boutique on property.

Sol y Luna’s onsite boutique, Kunata Wasi (‘kunata’ means store or shop in Quechua and ‘wasi’ means home), stages what owners Franz and Petit consider the highest level of craftsmanship.

‘I met Federico several years ago and felt immediately enchanted by his brightly painted, fantastical sculptures of Andean flowers and animals’ says owner, Petit. ‘I watch his artwork transform guests’ faces into lasting smiles and I love how it makes people feel whenever they come across his work around Sol y Luna.’

Kunata Wasi Boutique / Photo Credit: Lizzy Parkin

Each item in the Sol y Luna Boutique is hand-picked, and the collection continues growing. The pieces are sourced from local artisans and commissioned from artists known by Petit and her family.

Some items can be found around the hotel – for example alpaca throws, handmade ceramics and embroidered cushions, as well as the dinner set seen at our restaurant, Wayra. If pieces are too big to fit in guest’s luggage, the team can arrange shipment for large pieces of art overseas.

If you need an extra reason to buy something from the Sol y Luna Boutique then the fact that the hotel was founded to support the Sol y Luna Foundation, also created by Petit and Franz, that consists of a foster home and school for 200 local children.

Proceeds from hotel bookings, and from any sales at the boutique, go towards the Sol y Luna Foundation. Over 90% of the families and children supported by the foundation come from backgrounds of extreme poverty, so every donation has a large impact. Guests can also visit the foundation and donate directly.

Another way in which Sol y Luna explores the talents of the Sacred Valley’s community is through cultural excursions. For example, pottery workshops with local artisans where guests create pieces to take home, and traditional Andean weaving demonstrations.

Other experiences include a Peruvian Paso horse show, emblematic of the region’s Spanish Criollo traditions and an energetic theatrical performance bringing to life the myths and legends of the Quechua culture.

‘This very special hotel creates an unforgettable experience for their guests, their generosity towards hosting really knows no bounds,’ says blogger Lizzy Parkin from Flossy’s Wonderland.

Sol y Luna is a Relais & Chateaux property where high-end travel is seamlessly paired with Andean culture, all the while providing education for the local community at the Sol y Luna School. A celebration of Peruvian heritage, guests at Sol y Luna enjoy high levels of comfort, including a swimming pool, spa, elevated gastronomy and curated excursions.