Sol y Luna is the Sacred Valley's most personal luxury hotel: 43 stone casitas scattered through flowering gardens just outside Urubamba, each decorated individually, with mountains filling every view. It is a member of Relais & Châteaux and has a reputation for warm, family-style hospitality. The hotel's profits and guest donations fund the Sol y Luna Association, which supports education for children in the valley and sustainable jobs for local families.
For honeymooners, it offers a gentle start to Peru. At about 9,400 feet, Urubamba is far easier on the body than Cusco. Sol y Luna gives you a private casita, an outdoor pool reserved for guests, a spa with sauna and steam room and two restaurants with a strong local focus. Days can be as busy or as idle as you like, from horseback rides to remote villages to long lunches in the garden.
Expect rates from roughly $450 a night for two in a Superior casita, with Premium villas costing more. It suits couples who want character, colorful design and local roots rather than a polished international resort.
Highlights at a glance
- 43 individually decorated stone casitas
- Relais & Châteaux member
- Killa Wasi and Wayra restaurants, with a chef's table
- Yaku Wasi spa with sauna, steam room and guest pool
- Profits support the Sol y Luna Association
Why Couples Love Sol y Luna
Atmosphere is the main draw. The casitas are built from local stone and finished with bright, folk-inspired decoration, so no two feel the same. Gardens full of flowers and fruit trees connect them, with paths that open onto views of the surrounding peaks.
Service feels personal rather than corporate. Couples often mention how quickly staff learn their names and how easy it is to arrange excursions or a quiet dinner.
The social purpose matters to many guests too. The Sol y Luna Association, funded by the hotel, works on education for Sacred Valley children and on sustainable jobs for local families. Knowing that your stay supports the community you are visiting adds meaning to a honeymoon. If you want to contribute further, the hotel accepts donations to the association.
Casitas to Book
There are three categories, all in freestanding or semi-detached stone casitas with gardens and Andean views.
- Superior casitas are the entry point, comfortable and individually decorated.
- Deluxe casitas offer more space and are the sensible upgrade for a stay of three or more nights.
- Premium casitas are described by the hotel as luxurious villas, with the most room and the most privacy. This is the honeymoon pick if the budget allows.
Ask for a casita toward the edge of the gardens for the best mountain views and the most quiet. Evenings in the valley are cool even in the dry season, so check whether your casita has a fireplace or extra heating. Do not hesitate to ask for more blankets.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Sol y Luna has two restaurants. Killa Wasi offers refined dining that blends traditional Peruvian flavors with natural, local ingredients. It is the place for a celebratory dinner. Wayra is warmer and more relaxed, serving nutritious local dishes in a setting designed to feel like a meal in a Peruvian home. It also has a wine cellar and a chef's table, which make a memorable private evening for two.
The Yaku Wasi spa has a sauna and steam room, treatment rooms with a menu of massages and spa packages, a gym and yoga. An outdoor pool is reserved for guests and makes an easy afternoon after a morning at the ruins.
If you arrive tired from long flights, book a massage on your first afternoon, eat early and let the lower altitude do its work.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Urubamba sits in the middle of the Sacred Valley, so the main sites are easy day trips. Pisac's terraced ruins and market lie to the east. Ollantaytambo's temple fortress and Inca streets are to the west, along with the train station for Machu Picchu. The circular terraces of Moray and the thousands of salt pools at Maras are on the plateau above.
The hotel offers its own adventure, cultural and food experiences, including horseback riding to remote villages. Ask the team what is running during your stay.
Couples with different tastes do well here. One partner can ride or hike in the hills while the other visits the weaving cooperatives in Chinchero or spends the morning at the spa. Meet back for lunch at Wayra. Two to four nights is a good length, either side of a Machu Picchu visit.
Getting There
Fly into Cusco (CUZ), usually via Lima. From the airport, the drive to Urubamba takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, climbing over the plateau before dropping into the valley. The hotel can arrange a private transfer.
From Sol y Luna, Ollantaytambo station is roughly half an hour away by car, which makes the Sacred Valley the easiest base for an early train to Machu Picchu. Many couples spend two nights here, take the train to Machu Picchu for one or two nights, then finish in Cusco.
Because the hotel sits outside town, a driver or a rental with a local guide is more practical than relying on taxis. The hotel can help arrange either.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, for couples who value warmth and character. Sol y Luna is less expensive than the valley's big international names, yet offers individually designed casitas, two good restaurants, a spa and a pool. The Relais & Châteaux standard shows in the food and service.
It is not the most luxurious hotel in the valley. The design is colorful and handmade rather than minimalist. Some couples prefer the sleek, all-inclusive model of Explora Valle Sagrado or the farm setting of Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba.
If you want riverside casitas, Belmond Rio Sacred Valley sits on the Urubamba River. For a stay with real personality, good food and a community story you can feel good about, Sol y Luna is one of the best choices in the Sacred Valley.
Good to Know
The dry season from May to September brings sunny days and cold nights, sometimes near freezing. The wet season from November to March turns the valley green but brings afternoon rain. Pack warm layers for both of you in any season.
Altitude around Urubamba is about 9,400 feet. Most visitors adjust more easily here than in Cusco, but take your first day slowly and drink plenty of water. If you have health conditions, speak with your doctor before the trip.
The US State Department rates Peru at Level 2, exercise increased caution. The Sacred Valley is generally calm. Use transport arranged by the hotel, especially after dark on rural roads.
Insider tips
- Book a Premium casita for space and privacy, or a Deluxe for a longer stay.
- Reserve the chef's table at Wayra for one special evening.
- Spend your first Peru nights here to acclimatize before Cusco.
- Ask about horseback rides to remote villages; book them early in your stay.
