Once upon a time, our great friend Susy Dyson was spotted for American Vogue by the Countess Aileen de Romanones in Marbella. Countless magazine covers followed, together with catwalk appearances for, among others, Yves Saint Laurent.
Then having spent a decade absorbing the glamorous world of fashion, Susy decided to import her own brand of glamour back to her home country of Peru – with a vision of turning the bountiful raw materials found here into luxurious and beautiful products. Over the past twenty years, Susy has realized that vision in a line of clothes and accessories for export, by developing property and as an author – you’d be hard pushed to find anybody as well-connected inside and outside Peru, who can also provide a fascinating insight into local culture and traditional craftsmanship.
Today, we are proud to be the recipients of Susy’s latest venture, Ticllabamba – a beautiful, sixteenth century two bedroom house in the picturesque village of Yucay, 35km from Pisac deep in the Sacred Valley, the playground of the Incas. At 1000m lower and warmer than nearby Cuzco, the Valley is the ideal place to acclimatize and relax before exploring at higher altitudes. With comfort in mind, Susy has created a luxurious, but understated private retreat, with the emphasis on giving a uniquely personalized service for Aracari clients.
Like its owner, the house has a fascinating story steeped in Inca history. Part of the ‘royal estate’ of Yucay, Ticllabamba is believed to been the property of Beatriz Coya, daughter of the Inca Huayna-Capac and was the favourite bathing place of “La Nusta”, an Inca princess and daughter of the last Inca, Sayri-Tupac. Indeed, when rebuilding they found an Inca-stone lined bath below one of the three small cascades that flows into the northern terrace of the property, which could have been the spot where “La Nusta” enjoyed her famous ‘full-bodied’ baths.
Attention to detail and quality are the bywords of the rebuild, with traditional adobe, wood and stone found or made, and the furniture designed and created locally to Susy’s design and specification using natural materials. Cookery demonstrations and courses can be held in the new kitchen, while guests can relax in the submerged pool and Jacuzzi, or slumber in the orchard garden. “We want our guests to be happy,” says Susy, “and so we will be there to attend to their every whim day or night.” In short, pure bliss hosted by a true Peruvian insider.
For more on Susy’s secret, please contact your Aracari representative.