Peru Luxury Yoga & Spiritual Escape Tour

As you arrive into Lima airport and exit customs and baggage, you will be warmly welcomed, assisted with your luggage before escorted to your hotel, the Airport Ramada. The hotel is the best option based on your flights.

The Airport Ramada

After breakfast, with boarding passes in hand, you will be driven to the airport for your quick-check-in and brief one hour flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. In Cuzco, you will be warmly welcomed by the VIP lounge staff of the airport and escorted to the oxygenated lounge where you may try some of the local coca tea whilst your luggage is collected for you. You will be met by our leading tour guides of Cuzco, one of whom will be Jaime Vasquez who with over 25 years of experience and will accompany you for the private transfer to your hotel in the Sacred valley. Free day at leisure. Rio Sagrado Hotel

The Sacred Valley  |  Meals: B

After breakfast, your guides will be waiting for you and transfer you in your private mini-bus to the Inca site of Moray. This is a fascinating, unique ruin; a fabulous amphitheater of terracing that was used as an agricultural experimental site by the Incas by taking advantage of the microclimates produced by the varying altitude to breed new varieties of their crops. From here we start our trek downhill to the village of Maras and the salt pans of Maras. The salt pans are an unforgettable site where the people from Maras have diverted a salt-laden spring coming out of the hillside, evaporating the water to collect salt, as their ancestors have done for centuries. We will walk among the salt pans, witnessing a scene largely unchanged from Inca times. From the salt pans we continue our trek to the bottom of the valley before rejoining our car for the private transfer to the splendid Huayoccari Hacienda, overlooking the Sacred Valley and which dates back to the seventeenth century. The hacienda is owned by one of the most prominent landowners in the Sacred Valley and is home to beautiful gardens producing native ingredients that are used in the restaurant's kitchen. These include corn, quinoa, fruit and aromatic herbs. Enjoy a set meal in this marvellous country residence before returning to your hotel.

Meals: B& L

After breakfast, a visit to Pisaq with your guides and a Master Shaman. The village of Pisac was founded during Colonial times. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays the Indians barter their products, and artisans from all over the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions and jewellery. On Sundays, it is also the meeting place for the local Mayors of the region, who come dressed in their traditional costumes, to attend morning mass. After the market, a visit to the ruins above Pisaq where our Shaman will perform a plant ceremony for all participants. Medicine, personalised attention during the ceremony, cleansing and explanation of the site will be offered. Lunch box provided. Return to your hotel.

Meals: B& L-b

After breakfast, short drive to the Willka T'ika, a luxury garden retreat located in the heart of the Sacred Valley.
Created by Carol Cumes in 1994, it is fully respectful of Mother Earth, Pachamama, and consciously built in harmony with its natural environment by the owner & local native talent, who to this day continue as staff to nurture and care for its continued flourishing. All gourmet vegetarian meals are included. Almost everything served in the kitchen is grown organically onsite. Fresh herbs are picked throughout the day and left in the tearoom for guests to mix their own healing combinations at will. Willka T'ika is able to accommodate all dietary specifications. Willka T'ika's magnificent healing gardens provide guests with the opportunity to relax, restore and receive the powerful energy from the Andes. The one-of-a-kind seven-chakra gardens cover the grounds. Each garden is designed to correspond to one of the seven chakras, or energy centers, of the human body. Willka T'ika's sustainable luxury guestrooms are made from natural earth materials and adorned with local artwork and materials. The bathrooms are modern and feature pure organic products. Willka T'ika has two beautiful hard wood studios for yoga and meditation. The studios are filled with natural sunlight and can accommodate 55 people. Outdoor areas throughout the gardens offer a variety of spaces for group and individual yoga and meditation sessions. Today, one private Yoga class will be provided in the afternoon.

Meals: B & D

Free day at the Retreat. Today, one Yoga class will be provided in the afternoon.

Meals: B & D

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the retreat before your short drive to Ollantaytambo station in time for the boarding of the Luxury Hiram Bingham train to Aguas Calientes. Your luggage will be taken to Cuzco for you due to the minimal luggage policy onboard the train.
The train will depart at 10.30am for the 1 ½ hour journey and you will enjoy the company of fellow travellers and guides onboard this luxury train complete with 1920s styled Pullman carriages. Each carriage has been furnished in polished wood and brass with large comfortable armchairs.
The bar car is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail accompanied by live Peruvian music. On the way to Machu Picchu, the bartender will show you how to make a traditional Pisco Sour. The observation car is furnished with large cushioned seats, making it the perfect place to sit, relax and watch the Peruvian landscape unfold as you gently ride towards Machu Picchu. A hearty brunch will be served on-board before you arrive to Aguas Calientes train station, gateway to the lost city of the Incas.
As you disembark, you will be assisted with your luggage and welcomed to take the short walk to the bus terminal where a private bus will be waiting for all Hiram Bingham passengers. The short ride up to Machu Picchu will meander through breathtaking mountain scenery up to the ancient Inca citadel. At the very entrance to Machu Picchu, your hotel, the Sanctuary Lodge hotel is located. Welcome and check in to your room.
Shortly after, your guides will again lead you on a private guided tour of Machu Picchu, the most spectacular ancient city in the world. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants or a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. Dinner and accommodation at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.

Meals: B, L & D

Today you will meet with your Master Shaman who will conduct a very different tour of the site and will explain the mystical aspects of Machu Picchu. The Shaman will make an offering to the Mother Earth with coca leaves and other local products.
After, free time to take any of the several paths with your guides and wander around various parts of the site, perhaps walk down to the Inca's bridge. Let Machu Picchu unfold all its mysteries for you, take in the breathtaking cloud forests and jagged mountains, or marvel at the extraordinary Masonic precision of the ancient Incas. Return to your hotel for lunch. Afternoon tea will be served before taking the private Hiram Bingham bus down to Aguas Calientes in time for the return Luxury Hiram Bingham train to Cuzco. You will enjoy dinner and cocktails onboard before arriving back to Cuzco. Welcome and private drive back to your hotel, the 5 star Palacio Nazarenas at the top of Cuzco centre or Monasterio.
Your room which will be oxygenated to help you relax and sleep more comfortably in the high altitude setting of Cuzco (11,600ft above sea level).

Meals: B, L & D

After breakfast, embark on a private guided yoga hike through the major archaeological sites on the outskirts of the city. We will take the Capac Nan, Ancient Inca Road to the jungle, up towards our first stop the Temple of the Monkeys. This is a natural rock formation modified by the Inca with carvings of monkeys and snakes and a blocked entrance to ancient underground tunnels. Sometimes one can still find coca or flower offerings left there, indicating its use as a ceremonial site. Here we will have a yoga asana class next to this temple. Afterwards we will go to our next stop, The Temple of the Moon, for pranayama and meditation. The Temple of the Moon is a rock hill with many cave entrances and carvings. One of the main entrances depicts a puma, condor and a snake, symbolizing the Inca trilogy. Inside this cave there is an altar (that is still used today) and above the altar there is an opening from which certain nights the moon shines through. Next we will go to little Qenqo. This is a carved hill supported by some of the highest quality Inca walls in the city. Next to it there is a beautiful flat grassy area surrounded by a eucalyptus grove where we will have either an acro-flying yoga class, slacklining or mantra chanting session. The whole experience lasts between 3 and 4 hours and we encourage you to bring your own yoga mat. Return to your hotel. In the afternoon, a tour of the city of Cuzco with your guides including the Qoricancha temple or temple of the Sun, the Cathedral and the Main Square. Your private driver will be with you at all times as you visit each part of this fascinating and ancient city. Return to the hotel.

Meals: B

After breakfast, private drive to the town of Chinchero where we shall visit the authentic market before visiting the weaving workshop run by the Centro de Textiles under the leading influence of Nilda Callanaupa, a Quechua weaver and scholar. Nilda was born in Chinchero and as many of the ancient weaving techniques Nilda learned from her elders were in danger of disappearing, Nilda founded the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco (CTTC). The CTTC has supported weavers from several highland villages, who have revived these skills and traditions.
Nilda's mission to explore and preserve traditional weaving techniques is a calling of great importance. In Peru, weaving is much more than an art form or a practical necessity. Andean textiles honour Pacha Mama, Mother Earth.
You will have ample opportunity of watching the weavers and participating yourself. Shortly after, a visit to a ceramist family and his workshop with an opportunity to experiment and learn about the ancient Inca ceramic techniques still thriving today. Return to your hotel in Cuzco in the early evening.

Meals: B

After early breakfast, we bid farewell to Cuzco and take a short drive in a private car to the airport in time for your return flight to Lima and transfer to your hotel.

Meals: B

End of our services.