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Day 1-Arrival
Travel to Lima Peru, from points of origin. Pickup from International Airport in Lima. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel. Meet fellow travelers and hosts.
Unwind and rest, preparing for the unforgettable adventures that follow! Background discussion on Andean geography and culture history.
Day 2-Juliaca and Puno
Soar over the exhilarating desert coast and Andean peaks, as we fly from Lima to Juliaca on the southern Altiplano. From Juliaca, we take a private bus to Puno,
the port city on Lake Titicaca. The legendary cradle of Inca civilization, Puno is a rich center of contemporary folk life. At 12,500 ft above sea level,
Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake. The air here is unusually light and clear, accentuating the deep blue color of the water. Feel the weight of
the world lift from your shoulders as you sip Mate de Coca, a traditional beverage that will help you acclimatize to the altitude. Evening discussions
on the spiritual connections of the sacred landscape system of the Incas will help raise your inner consciousness.
Day 3-Lake Titicaca
Be prepared for a full day on the water, as we head to the myriad of islands dotting the surface of Lake Titicaca. We will visit the Islas de Los Uros, artificial
floating islands of reed, named after the Amerindians who inhabit them. We will then visit peaceful Amanti Island and experience the sacred Temple of the Sun.
After taking in the significance of the temple, we will stop at Isla Taquile, an island that is home to skilled weavers and artisans who embroider colorful garments.
Through our interactions, we will learn how to interpret the patterns of their textiles, which encode cultural messages about marriage and social status. Learn more
about the culture as a local family in Isla Taquile serves as our gracious overnight hosts.
Day 4-The Ultimate Cuzco
We begin the day with a scenic drive to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and cultural center of the southern Highlands. On our journey, we will follow a
prehistoric pilgrimage route through the Sacred Valley along the Villcanota River, stopping at the breathtaking Tambo Machay. A complex of massive constructions,
the ancient aqueducts still flow with fresh spring water to this day. The ancient Incas considered a vital life element, and so this site is the location of a set
of holy shrines, including a sacred spring where we will partake in Shamanic ceremony. You may bathe in the waters as we begin ritual spiritual purification that
will culminate in Cuzco, in the natural thermal rooms of the Tipon ruins. As you witness the existence of such places, the connection we all have with each other
and with our world will become more evident. Wind down and reflect on our place within it on as we discuss remarkable Inca cosmology and astronomy.
Day 5-The Glory of the Inca
Today we bask in the glory of the Inca. Walk along an ancient alleyway to the Coricancha, the principal temple and center of the Inca universe. It its glory, the
temple was covered in sheets of pure gold and adorned with precious stones in tribute to the gods it honored. We will tour its remains and discuss the sacred system of
shrines and connecting lines that radiate from it. We then proceed to the Cathedral and the Ushnu, the place from which the Inca observed the miraculous sunset at the
opening of the planting season. We follow a prehistoric processionway, experiencing the shape and power of Cuzco’s patron animal, the puma, and finish with a cleansing
ceremony at the cat’s head, Sacsayhuaman-an enormous citadel-like temple perched on a hilltop with a spectacular view overlooking the city. After a tour of the site,
we will linger in the twilight and feast on an explanation of Andean cosmology and astronomy while we gaze upon the Inca sky. As we make our way from site to site, our
indigenous guide will share with us descriptions of these wonders left by the early chroniclers of Peru.
Day 6-Market at Pisac
Continue touring around the Sacred Valley of the Incas and support the local economy by visiting the market at Pisac. You will stop to linger over lunch in Urubamba, and
the visit the remarkable fortress of Ollantaytambo, where you will stay. The town of Ollantaytambo is located on the opposite end of the Pisac Valley. Ollantaytambo was
one of the last areas in which construction was performed by the Incas before the arrival of the Spaniards, and was the last staged rebellion held by Manco Inca (last
Inca Emperor), as he retreated from the invaders, seeking refuge in the Vilcabamba jungle. Many of the buildings that were in process of construction in pre-Hispanic
times were left unfinished.
Day 7-Pilgrimage begins
From Ollantaytambo, we begin our pilgrimage to Machu Picchu by following in the footsteps of Manco Inca. From the highlands of Ollantaytambo, we will descend to the jungles
of the Urubamba Valley and stay in Vilcabamba as we retrace Manco Inca’s flight.
Day 8 - Overnight at Aguas
We will leave Vilcabamba and head to Santa Teresa, where we will walk along mystical spiritual paths with knowledgeable indigenous guides. The four-hour journey leads to the
small town of Aguas Calientes, near Machu Picchu. We will overnight at Aguas Calientes and prepare ourselves for our visit the next day to the greatest Inca ruin of all:
Machu Picchu. The evening discussions on Machu Picchu will help you understand the divine connections involved and help raise your awareness.
Day 9-Machu Picchu
This morning we will ascend the zig-zag road to the Machu Picchu and tour its mountain splendor. Machu Picchu retains well-preserved remains of nearly every facet of
Inca architecture, from sacred shrines and temples to everyday houses and agricultural terraces. We will bask in the stupendous view from the ruin, which towers about the
surrounding canyon of the Urubamba River. We will contemplate the vision and lives of its inhabitants, who forged this monument to human ingenuity and fortitude atop a
treacherous rocky spire. We will also read the words of Hiram Bingham, the explorer-archaeologist, who first uncovered the site in 1911. We will then return to Cuzco via the
train along the Urubamba, reveling in the breath-taking scenery of the Sacred Valley. Evening discussions on the Nazca Lines and the events of the day to help digest the experience.
Day 10-Reflections
We will fly from Cuzco across the soaring ranges to the coastal desert to the west. We will not only soar over the Nazca Lines, but also visit them on the ground. We will apply
the knowledge we have gained of Andean cosmology, ritual, and sacred geography to this vast blackboard in the sand. No longer so mysterious-but still wondrous-it will make perfect sense
when viewed through the lens of Andean culture that we have been exploring. The use of space at Nazca is perfectly consistent with the systems of shrines, lines, and procession
ways that we will have seen in the Highlands. We confront a basic anthropological, and even divine, truism-seemingly exotic customs are best understood from the perspective and
spiritual standpoint of the people who originated them. We finish by returning to Lima and celebrating our renewal of consciousness with a farewell dinner.
Day 11-Departure
Travel from Lima, to points of origin, enlightened, renewed, and always a little different than when we arrived.
Each can be tailored to your specific needs and interests, and can be anywhere from extremely involved to a relaxing sample. Contact us to learn how you can experience and connect beyond your current existence.
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