Sacred Waters and Hidden Gems is a cultural tour and yoga retreat off the beaten path 

in and around the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru.  From highland lakes, to tropical waterfalls and glacial hot springs, we will explore the roads less traveled, guided by enthusiasts of traditional Andean culture and cosmology. This journey invites us to marvel at Incan and pre-Incan stonework and waterways dedicated to astronomical observation and agrarian practices, and enjoy the myriad of culinary delights Peru has to offer. It is a unique and colorful experience that aims to bring us closer to the water that sustains life, and to connect more deeply with our essence that knows the Earth to be sacred.

We'll admire sacred archaeological sites, colorful markets, breathtaking  scenery, and delve into the rich culture of the Quechua Indians, the  Inca descendants, in a very personal relationship with the land, the  people, and their customs. One event that makes the trip truly  unique is a visit to the traditional highland community of Amaru, where  we will participate in their communal workday, share a meal, enjoy  weaving demonstrations, music and dancing – a cultural exchange that  deepens the appreciation of Quechua history and social life.

Our hosts, Roman and Fielding Vizcarra, owners of the Pisac Inn and Peru Cultural Journeys, dedicate their lives to the celebration and promotion of traditional Andean culture. Meals are provided by the Pisac Inn’s restaurant Cuchara de Palo, celebrating the wealth of Peruvian Cuisine, and dedicated to organic, locally sourced and fresh ingredients. Peru’s ancient agrarian tradition resulted in an abundant diversity of products, full of flavors, colors and aromas that have won special recognition for Peruvian Culinary Art as one of the most exquisite and sophisticated on the planet.

Throughout our travels the yoga sessions will allow time for  reflection and integration of our incredible experiences, but if you or  your travel companion do not practice yoga, you can still join the tour and use the yoga time to spend at your leisure. The daily yoga practice ranges from an invigorating vinyasa sequence, to a restful, restorative session, depending on the other activities of the day and the needs of the group.

This Andean cultural journey combined with a yoga retreat sets  the stage for a profound cultural and personal experience. The woven itinerary, accommodations,  and meals celebrate the Andean perspective.  Our participation in this tour directly  supports sustainability of ancient, time-honored practices in the modern world.

Take a morning flight to Cusco, the navel of the world, land in the heart of the Andes and be greeted at the Cusco airport to begin your journey. Enjoy a spectacular 45-minute scenic drive to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Outside of Cusco explore the pre-Columbian sacred spring of Tambomachay. You will be captivated by the introduction to Andean astronomy and sacred geometry, the foundation of Andean culture that will be expanded on each day of your journey. Revel in the striking beauty of the snow-topped peaks, mountainsides delineated by Inca terraces, and fields that cover the valley floor. Arrive to Pisac with lower altitude and small-town charm. Settle into your room at Pisac Inn and enjoy a cup of coca tea to help you acclimate. Savor your first in a series of delicious meals spun into a select set menu to explore the diversity and richness of Peruvian Cuisine. Take the afternoon to wander the cobblestone streets of Pisac on your own. Late afternoon yoga followed by evening reception and fireside dinner.

Hotel: Pisac Inn Meals: L, D

 After breakfast drive to the spectacular archaeological site above Pisac and admire the staggering agricultural terrace work among the most extensive in the area following the shape of the mountainsides in entrancing concave and convex forms as you walk to the central astronomical and ceremonial area which is widely acclaimed to be some of the finest stonework, comparable to that of Machu Picchu. This expansive site provides an ideal setting for a picnic lunch with magnificent vistas up and down the valley. Drive down to Pisac, or those who want to hike down can on their own. Spend an afternoon of exploring the open-air traditional Pisac market full of local crafts and experience the colorful traditional food section where locals buy and trade their produce. Enjoy a restorative yoga session and some down time before dinner.

Hotel: Pisac Inn  Meals: B, Picnic, D

 Breakfast is followed by a walk to visit Kusi Kawsay Andean School and the school’s organic farm, Kusi Ñan. Learn about this exceptional educational project and unique vision that honors Andean tradition combined with Waldorf Pedagogy, recently recognized with the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development Award. Return to Pisac Inn before continuing with a short drive though the Sacred Valley to the mysterious archeological site Unu Urco, a perfect place for outdoor yoga where water is celebrated. Have a relaxing picnic lunch at site. Upon return to Pisac enjoy some down time before dinner.

Hotel: Pisac Inn Meals: B, L, D

Delight in a 45-minute drive into the majestic high Andes  to the sacred lake Quinscocha. Walk through the patchwork fields replete with potatoes, fava beans and corn to the traditional highland community of Amaru, where a genuinely authentic way of life is still practiced to this day. You will be welcomed with an endearing sweetness rarely felt in this day and age by this community that is consciously preserving and practicing their ancestral heritage. Through participation in a communal agrarian workday a beautiful cultural exchange unravels as you experience this incredible opportunity to step back in time and appreciate a quality of life with an admirable simplicity that is strikingly moving and profound. Enjoy a traditional lunch prepared with their prized agrarian products as the women begin to spin their naturally dyed wool. Others meditatively set up their back strap looms to share their ancestral weaving skills with us. This wonderful opportunity to purchase textiles directly from the weavers is not to be missed. Return to Pisac for a restorative yoga session and some down time before dinner.
Dinner followed by an optional evening Coca Leaf Offering.  This unique opportunity to personally engage in an authentic Andean ceremony is an optional special event and is not included.

Hotel: Pisac Inn Meals: B, L, D

Enjoy an hour drive to Tipon, an amazing archeological site full of water channels that come from a natural underground spring. The Inca were brilliant engineers who integrated their architecture with the natural surroundings. Tipon, a 500- acre site built around a spring near Cusco, has been called their masterpiece of water management. Hike the site and find a perfect spot for open-air yoga and a picnic lunch. Tipon has beautiful stone terraces with fountains and irrigation channels that still function, which provides an endless, soothing soundtrack of running water. Return to Pisac for some downtime before dinner followed by festive music and dance with a local group of musicians, artists and visionaries who have dedicated their lives to preserving their Andean culture. This presentation honors the ritual Inca Agrarian calendar.

Hotel: Pisac Inn Meals: B, Picnic, D

Dynamic yoga session before breakfast and a free day to book massages, sauna, and herbal baths at the Unucha Spa, and have some down time to reflect on your own, do some last-minute shopping, or take a hike to a nearby waterfall. Restorative yoga session before dinner.

Hotel: Pisac Inn Meals: B, L, D

Get an early start with dynamic yoga and breakfast before embarking on a spectacular five-hour drive through the Sacred Valley, up into the high altiplano, over a mountain pass, and down into the rainforest. Picnic lunch at the spectacular Mandor Waterfall before continuing to the town of Santa Teresa where we will stay the night. 

Hotel: Ecolodge Meals: B, L (dinner not included)

Enjoy early morning yoga and a soak at the natural Colcalmayo hot springs of pristine thermal glacial water. After lunch enjoy a spectacular train ride, those going to Machu Picchu will get off in Aguas Calientes stay the night in preparation for an early morning. Those not visiting Machu Picchu continue to Ollantaytambo and return to Pisac Inn to depart to Cusco the next day.

Hotel: Aguas Calientes  Meals: B (lunch and dinner not included)

OR

Hotel: Pisac Inn Meals: B, D (lunch not included)  

Depart for the Cusco airport after breakfast. 

Meals: B