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UK: 01473 890499Rating: Mid-range
The beautiful owner-run hotel of Sol y Luna is located just half a mile from the town of Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It provides a perfect base to explore the valley, and because it is a few hundred metres lower than Cusco allows a more gradual acclimatisation to the altitude. It is set in 25 acres of gardens teeming with indigenous and exotic plants and birds.
Built from local materials, Sol y Luna's 43 free-standing casitas are made up of 28 superior, 10 deluxe and 5 premium bungalows. These are spacious, light and airy and provide comfortable accommodation. They vary in size and amenities but all have en-suite bathrooms, heating, Wi-Fi and private verandas with views of the gardens. Premium bungalows also have outdoor jacuzzis.
The Killa Wasi Restaurant features Novo Andino cuisine, a distinctive blend of Andean, coastal and international flavours, using ingredients grown by local farmers in the valley. Dinners are complimented by fine wines and a crackling open fire adds to the ambience. There's also a terrace for al fresco dining. The chef and his team trained with Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of the country's foremost culinary figures and champion of contemporary Peruvian cuisine, and his influence is apparent in the menu and dishes here. The Chicha Wasi bar is a sociable place where you can mix with other guests.
Additional hotel facilities include a heated outdoor swimming pool, sundeck and jacuzzi. Behind this area there's a large terrace, dining area and lounge. Other recreational facilities include the Yacu Wasi spa, a modern fitness centre and sauna. There are daily yoga session at 7am, a wonderful way to energise your body for the day ahead, with classes available at other times of day. There's an on site equestrian and activity centre, offering a range of tours and activities in the Sacred Valley.
Most visitors spend 2 or 3 nights at Sol y Luna and visit Ollantaytambo Inca town and ruins, and Pisac market. However, for those wanting to spend longer at the hotel, a range of activities are offered including horse riding, trekking, kayking and mountain biking.
Open: All year.
Location: On the outskirts of the town of Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Rooms: Guests are accommodated in superior, deluxe and premium bungalows, all with en-suite bathrooms and toiletries, some 43 in total. They all have heating, an outdoor terrace, Wi-Fi internet access, telephone and safe. Rooms are light and feature murals, sculptures and woven fabrics. Dressing gowns and slippers are provided. The 28 superior casitas comprise 11 double, 12 tiwn and 5 family rooms, the last with 2 single beds on the mezzanine floor as well a king size bed on the ground floor. The 10 deluxe bungalows, 5 twins and 5 doubles, also have a TV, music system and minibar, while the 5 premium bungalows also have a separate living room and terrace with a jacuzzi. There is room service.
Activities: A wide range including hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, kayaking and tandem paragliding, You can visit villages and view colonial architecture and historic sites. Excursions to see traditional skills such as weaving and pottery can be arranged, and the hotel stages regular theatrical performances based on Andean myths and legends. Cooking classes are available and you can accompany the chef on a tour to a neighbouring farm and village market.
Facilities: The hotel is set in 25 acres of gardens where you walk and do some bird spotting. The outdoor pool is heated, and there's an adjacent jacuzzi and deck with loungers. Nearby the terrace has seating and can be used for al fresco dining and relaxing. The spa has an impressive menu of massages and beauty treatments, many using local plants and herbs, and includes a steam room and herbal sauna. Private yoga classes are available for a minimum of 2 people. Rather more vigorous exercise is offered in the gym. The shop sells a selection of locally-made artworks and handicrafts. The hotel has a laundry service.
Dining: Killa Wasi is the main restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner in cosy surroundings. Wayra, located on the ranch, is open to hotel guests and the public and is a more casual diner. It is open throughout the day and evening, and on some days there are acrobatic displays by circus performers before dinner. Both serve Andean cuisiine based on locally grown ingredients. There's a bar in the main hotel buidling.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome.
Health: This is a non-malarial area
Communication: There is complimentary internet access and mobile phone service.
The best of Peru, from Lima to Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
A pleasing combination of history, scenery, culture and cuisine, this 12-day holiday gives a real insight into life, past and present, of Peru.
This hotel is one of the good guys in their area. Sol & Luna Lodge Spa has helped the local community by building sporting facilities as well as renovating local roads and bridges. They have also improved the facilities of local schools and helped maintain the community water channels. The lodge makes best use of local resources, buying vegetables from local farmers and using locally grown plants in their gardens. It also sells local handicrafts in the gift shop. As you might imagine reading this, Sol & Luna is an ethical and local employer.
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0"An excellent hotel with good comfortable accommodation in individual cottages. Front office staff were pleasant and helpful. Food and service in the restaurants were excellent although dinners were very expensive. The gardens were beautiful and breakfast on the patio was bliss."