Day 2: YOGA - Sacred Chakra Gardens - Neighborhood Walk - Fire Ceremony

Your day unfolds as a guided journey into the heart of the Sacred Valley. We begin with a grounding morning yoga practice with Anne Howard, followed by a nourishing breakfast to ease you into the rhythm of the day.

From there, you’ll be gently led through Wilka T’ika’s Seven Chakra Gardens—an immersive, sensory experience designed to invite reflection, presence, and a deeper connection with the land.

We continue with a guided neighborhood walk, offering stories, cultural context, and a meaningful introduction to the local community and its living Andean traditions.

You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the onsite Wilka T’ika Children’s Fund Boutique Store and meet Q’eros artisans whose handcrafted work supports local families.

In the afternoon, you’ll take part in a coca leaf blessing, a heartfelt Andean ritual that opens the heart and honors Pachamama.

As the sun softens, we gather again for an evening yoga practice with Anne, to integrate the day’s experiences, followed by a delicious Andean dinner at 6:30 pm.

After dinner, you’re invited to a Despacho Andean Fire Ceremony led by an authentic Q’ero healer—an offering of gratitude to Pachamama and a powerful way to set your intentions for the week ahead.

You’ll feel the land welcome you—gently, powerfully, unmistakably.

Overnight: Wilka T'ika; (B,L,D)

Day 3 -YOGA - Sacred Ruins - Ollantaytampu - Maras

Your morning begins with a steady, grounding yoga practice with Anne to prepare the body for a day of exploration. After a hearty breakfast, we set out for the ceremonial site of Ollantaytambo, where you’ll wander ancient terraces, climb toward the famed Sun Temple, and feel the living history of this Incan stronghold. You’ll also have time to explore the charming town below—its cobblestone lanes, flowing canals, and colorful market—before enjoying lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, we travel to the nearby Maras Salt Flats, a breathtaking patchwork of thousands of salt pools still harvested by local families today. From here, enjoy a gentle downhill guided hike back toward Wilka T’ika, with sweeping valley views unfolding around every turn.

You’ll return with time to settle in before an afternoon gentle yoga session with Anne—an invitation to unwind, integrate, and soften after a full and inspiring day. Dinner is served at 6:30 pm.

Overnight: Wilka T'ika; (B,D)

Day 4 - YOGA - School Visit - Picnic Lunch - P'isaq

Ayni is an Andean (Quechua/Aymara) principle of sacred reciprocity, translated as "today for you, tomorrow for me". It represents a foundational, ongoing exchange of labor, goods, or energy—within communities and with nature (Pachamama)—to maintain balance, harmony, and connection.

Our day starts with a heart opening morning yoga practice with Anne, cultivating generosity, reciprocity and presence, then breakfast, before we drive through the Sacred Valley to a Quechua mountain school supported by the non-profit Wilka T'ika Children's Fund. Since 1995, Wilka T'Ika has supported isolated mountain communities where few tourist visit. Our group will offer an interactive activity for the Quechua children. The heart-warming joy of the children and their openness to receiving guests into their lives are moments not easily forgotten.

After our school visit, we'll enjoy a picnic lunch in the mountains then continue with our guide to the spectacular ruins of P'isaq. Overlooking impressive Incan terraces, we'll enjoy a hike through the ruins, with time for meditation and silent reflection.

We'll return to the main square of P'isaq by foot or by bus, and visit the colorful Pisaq market filled with woven goods, jewelry, wall hangings and hand-painted beadwork. Enjoy a cafe in the market square where you can observe colorfully dressed campesinos. P'isaq is a photographer's dream.

Return to Wilka T'ika in time for a late afternoon garden yoga session, a nurturing practice honoring the exchange of the day, followed by a delicious Andean dinner at 7 PM. and a brief from our guide with details for our upcoming journey to Machu Picchu.

Overnight: Wilka T'ika; (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Explore Machu Picchu

After an early breakfast, we depart Wilka T’ika and board the Vistadome train for a stunning journey through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes—the gateway to the majestic terraces and cloud‑kissed citadel of Machu Picchu.

Upon arrival, we make our way to the entrance of this world wonder and begin a guided exploration of the ancient city. Our guide will bring the history, engineering, and spiritual significance of Machu Picchu to life as we wander its terraces, temples, and breathtaking viewpoints. There will be time to pause, take photos, and simply absorb the magnitude of this sacred place.

After the tour, enjoy lunch on your own in town before checking into our local hotel for a bit of rest.

In the evening, we gather again for a group dinner at one of Aguas Calientes’ local restaurants—a warm, celebratory close to a day filled with awe.

Overnight: in Aguas Calientes (B,D)

Day 6 - Climb Huana Picchu or 2nd Visit to Machu Picchu

After breakfast, we return to Machu Picchu for a rare and spacious second day, tailored to your interests and energy level — something most retreat travelers don't experience.

• Those who feel called may climb Huayna Picchu, a steady 2–3 hour ascent offering breathtaking views over the entire archaeological complex.

• If you prefer a gentler morning, you may re‑enter Machu Picchu for a second guided visit, exploring corners you didn’t reach the first day or simply soaking in the majesty of this sacred site at your own pace.

Afterward, we’ll make our way back down to Aguas Calientes, enjoy lunch (on your own) at a local café, then board the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo. From there, we transfer back to Willka T’ika, arriving in time for a nourishing dinner and a restful evening.

Overnight: Wilka T'ika; (B, D)

Day 7 - YOGA - Explore Urubumba or Optional Spa Treatment-Live Traditional Andean Music & Dancing

We begin this day with a gentle integration yoga flow with Anne, inviting your body to soften and your breath to settle after our days of exploration. A nourishing breakfast follows. From here, you may choose the experience that best supports your interests and energy:

Explore Urubamba

Enjoy a guided walking tour through the local farming neighborhood and the lively Peruvian market of Urubamba, where daily life unfolds in vibrant color. You’ll visit an alpaca textile workshop and the renowned Seminario Ceramic Studio, known for its artistry and preservation of ancient Andean design traditions.

Spa, Sweat Lodge & Healing Rituals (Optional Add‑Ons)

This is an ideal day to immerse yourself in one of Willka T’ika’s signature healing experiences — a traditional Andean Bodywork Treatment, or a complete detoxifying Umpina Wasi or Sweat Lodge. After this profound physical perspiration and inner cleansing, cool off in the medicinal plunge pool, or Hampi Yaku, a refreshing ritual in itself. Your restorative bath may be infused with the sacred plant essence of your choice. Willka T’ika’s homemade hydrosols — Lavender, Eucalyptus, Muña, Ruda, or Molle — are harvested and distilled directly from the gardens, offering a sensory connection to the land’s healing gifts.

In the evening, we gather for a beautiful farewell dinner at Wilka T’ika, followed by live traditional Andean music and dancing — a joyful celebration of our time together and the spirit of the Andes.

Overnight: Wilka T'ika; (B, L, D)

Day 8 - Morning YOGA- Explore Cusco

The day begins with a grounding morning yoga practice with Anne, weaving breathwork and gentle movement to prepare the body for travel and exploration.

After breakfast, we check out of Willka T’ika and make our way to Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alive with color, culture, and centuries of living history, Cusco is a vibrant heart of the Andes where ancient stonework and colonial architecture stand side by side.

Our first stop is Sacsayhuamán, the monumental Incan fortress whose massive, precisely carved stones seem to defy logic and gravity. Here, overlooking the red‑tiled city below, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch and receive a traditional K’intu blessing, a moment of gratitude and connection held in one of the most powerful energetic sites in the Andes.

From there, we continue with a guided walking tour through the eclectic, arts‑filled district of San Blas, followed by a visit to Korikancha, once the most sacred temple in the Inca Empire. Its golden history and exquisite stone foundations blend seamlessly with the Spanish cloisters built above it — a breathtaking testament to resilience, beauty, and transformation.

We arrive at our hotel in Cusco in the late afternoon, with time to settle in before gathering for a group dinner at a local restaurant — a warm, celebratory close to a rich day of exploration.

Overnight: in Cusco (B,L,D)

Day 9 - 5AM Departure for Rainbow Mountain or Explore Cusco on Your Own

On this, our last day, you have the option for free time to explore Cusco on your own or embark on a full day private tour to Rainbow Mountain.

If you’re staying in Cusco for the day, the city is a joy to explore at your own pace. You might wander through local markets, browse artisan shops, settle into a sunny café with a view of the plaza, visit one of the many museums, or step into centuries‑old churches built atop Inca foundations. Simply strolling the cobblestone streets, listening to music drifting from doorways, and soaking up the city’s vibrant energy can make for a beautiful day. (B)

For those joining the Rainbow Mountain excursion (optional add-on), this will be a full and memorable day in the high Andes (10+ hour private tour). Scheduled at the end of our retreat, this excursion comes after many days of gentle acclimatization in the Sacred Valley and Cusco, allowing your body to adjust gradually to the high Andes.

After an early pickup, we'll stop for breakfast along the way then travel south through quiet mountain valleys and traditional Quechua communities before arriving at Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountain. The impressively unique variation in color of the mountain's sedimentary layers is a result of millions of years of mineralogy and weathering, making it one of Peru's most stunning natural wonders.

You can choose to go by foot or travel most of the way on horseback with accompanying horseman alongside (~$36-$40 USD payable in cash). If you travel by horse you'll dismount just before the Rainbow Mountain Pass, traveling the final 15-20 min portion to the summit by foot. The ascent usually takes 2-3 hours.

Whether you choose to hike or ride most of the way on horseback, the journey is spacious and supported, with time to pause, breathe, and take in the sweeping views of glaciers, colorful ridgelines, and the sacred Ausangate peak.

After celebrating your arrival at the viewpoint, we’ll descend at an easy pace, enjoy lunch on the way back, and return to the hotel by late afternoon for a relaxed evening and your final overnight in Cusco. (B,L)

Overnight: in Cusco; (B; L with Rainbow Mountain Tour)

Breakfast at your Cusco hotel, followed by check out. You'll arrange with the hotel for transportation to the airport based on your flight times. Allow 2.5-3 hours before your Cusco departing flight.

Arrive home or to your next destination feeling blessed with the pure energy of this transformational Andean journey-of-a-lifetime. (B)