Peru Spiritual Tour

Explore Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and Visit Andean Condors

Future Dates To Be Announced

NOTE: Permits for activities in Machu Picchu are reserved months in advance. Place your reservation for this tour by November 15th, 2023.

This spiritual tour uniquely blends exploration of Peru’s beautiful Sacred Valley with meditation, qigong, and heart-opening conversations about self-acceptance, compassion, and joy.

We’ll slow down our busy minds, open our hearts, and embrace joy and peace. We’ll explore and practice tools to take home and use long after the retreat is over.

On this heart-opening and awe-inspiring Peru spiritual tour you will:

• Explore cultural aspects of the Sacred Valley, from visiting ancient sites to a modern weaver’s cooperative, recognizing that through time and geography all humans experience common joys and sorrows.
• Practice meditation and qigong daily, often at ancient sites, deepening your awareness of your internal energy and how it harmonizes and flows with the energy of your surroundings.
• Be joined one day by an Andean Shaman who will help us connect deeply with the pulse of Mother earth as you open your awareness of acceptance, compassion, and joy.

• Steep yourself in heart-opening conversations on how to incorporate self-acceptance and compassion into your life.
• Visit the Andean Condors in Colca Canyon and stand in awe as birds with 10-foot wingspans soar in front of you. 
• Be infused with stunningly beautiful and serene scenes that you can pull up in your mind’s eye long after you’ve departed Peru.
• Challenge your body and spirit on gorgeous, physically active hikes into remote areas.

Your Action-Packed Heart-Opening Peru Spiritual Tour Itinerary:

Day 1 & 2 ~ April 13/14: Fly to Cuzco, Peru, on an overnight flight.

Day 2 ~ April 14 (D): You’ll be met upon arrival and taken to our hotel in Cuzco, Rumi Punku or similar. In the late morning or early afternoon, depending on arrivals, we’ll meet Manuel Velazco, our Peruvian guide, and head to SACSAYHUAMAN, an ancient citadel above the city of Cusco, to receive an overview of Inca culture, and we’ll find a quiet place to do a bit of meditation and qigong. We’ll return to the hotel, and you may have free time to explore Cusco, then we’ll have dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 3 ~ April 15 (B/L/D): Rise early for meditation. After breakfast, we’ll head to TIPON, known for its water features that still flow from Incan times.

If they’re available, we’ll be joined by two brothers who are Andean shamans. We will spend half a day together learning about their perspective on life, energy, and health.  We’ll also witness a blessing ceremony honoring Pachamama, the Andean name for Mother Earth. We’ll enjoy lunch on our way back to Cusco. In the afternoon, we’ll share our observations of the ceremony and discuss how it integrates with compassion, acceptance, and joy. We’ll then head out to dinner.

Day 4 ~ April 16 (B/L/D): Rise early for pre-breakfast meditation. Enjoy breakfast, then we’ll drive to Chinchero and visit a WEAVER’S COOPERATIVE. Next, we’ll explore the CHINCHERO ruins which were built as a country resort for the son of Pachacutec. Many of the ancient terraces are still in use today. We’ll take a side-hike down to a sacred boulder with many unusual carvings, and in the presence of this sacred space, we’ll take time to practice qigong, meditate, and enjoy our box lunch in this lovely rural setting. We’ll drive into Urubamba and check into the Hotel San Agustin Recoleta or similar. We’ll come back to this hotel again after our visit to Machu Picchu. We’ll gather again as a group for dinner.

Day 5 ~ April 17 (B/L/D): Rise early for a hearty breakfast and departure. We’ll drive to Ollantaytambo, where we then board a train. After about 90 minutes on the train, we’ll disembark at a trailhead and access a section of the Inca Trail. Today’s hike will be between 5-6.5 hours, depending on the pace. Along the way, we’ll visit the rarely visited ancient sites of CHACHABAMBA, and WINAY WAYNA, taking time to meditate and practice qigong. Eventually, we arrive at the SUN GATE above MACHU PICCHU. A box lunch will be provided for you, which you can carry in your pack. We’ll walk down to the main citadel and either explore the ruins or head via bus directly into the town of Machu Picchu. After checking into our hotel, we’ll have time to freshen up, relax, then regroup for dinner. 

Day 6 ~ April 18 (B/D): We’ll rise early, eat breakfast, then catch a bus to the ruins of MACHU PICCHU. If tickets are available, we’ll hike up WAYNA PICCHU and down to the MOON TEMPLE, then explore the central buildings of the citadel on the way out. The Macchu Picchu citadel offers an excellent example of Inca masonry, where stones were carved so carefully that no mortar was required when constructing the walls. We’ll take the bus back to town, where you’ll have some free time to explore. Lunch is on your own today (pack snacks to eat while we’re out), and in the evening, we’ll share dinner together.

Day 7 ~ April 19 (B/L/D): We’ll rise early, eat breakfast, then board the train back to Ollantaytambo. We’ll then head to the hills to visit PUMAMARCA, a rarely-visited Inca fortress with stunning views of the Sacred Valley. At these ruins, we’ll take time for qigong and meditation. We’ll have a picnic lunch high above the valley, then return to town via a beautiful rural path, about 2 hours of walking.

We then take a short drive to Urubamba, where we’ll spend the next 4 nights at the Hotel San Agustin Recolta or similar, where we stayed before visiting Machu Picchu. You’ll have some free time to unpack and get settled in before reconvening for dinner.

Day 8 ~ April 20 (B/L/D): We’ll meet early for meditation and then have breakfast. Then we head out for a day of local exploration. We’ll visit the CIRCLES OF MORAY, an unusual site consisting of several terraced circular depressions and the SALT PANS of MARAS, a salt mining method created by the Incas that continues to be used today. Lunch today will be a picnic in a beautiful natural setting. After exploring these sites, we’ll head back to the hotel and spend time meditating, practicing qigong, and having conversations about compassion, acceptance, and joy. After a bit of free time, we’ll head to a local restaurant for dinner.

Day 9 ~ April 21 (B/L/D): Rise early for breakfast; then, we’ll head out for a physically active all-day hike to HUCHUY QOSQO, a rarely visited Inca site that was once a royal estate. Today’s hike will be roughly 8.5 hours, depending on the pace.

Our trail takes us up a beautiful remote valley, past small lakes, and into the heart of the Andes. We’ll hike over a high pass, drop into a beautiful narrow canyon, and continue down into the ruins. You’ll be carrying a box lunch and can stop to snack throughout the hike. After exploring the ruins, we’ll drop down into the Sacred Valley, then head back to the hotel. We’ll enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

Day 10 ~ April 22 (B/L/D): Rise early for pre-breakfast meditation. After breakfast, we’ll spend a day sharing and learning with locals.

We’ll travel by MOTO TAXI, stop at a local market and have a local COOKING LESSON and lunch with a family. We’ll also visit an artisanal CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP and a LOCAL BREWER. We may stop by other local artisan factories later in the day.

In the afternoon, we’ll have time for qigong and conversation, then enjoy dinner together.

Day 11 ~ April 23 (B/L/D): Rise early for breakfast, and we’ll check out of our hotel. Today is a long but beautiful travel day through the spectacular Andean landscape on our way to Yanque. We’ll have plenty of time to stop and enjoy the views and have lunch in a small village. We’ll also find a scenic spot to do some qigong. After a full day on the bus, in the late afternoon, we’ll arrive at our lodge, and after we get settled, we’ll have dinner in that lodge that evening.

Day 12 ~ April 24 (B/L/D): Today is more relaxed after spending yesterday traveling. We’ll have time to do a half-day hike to stretch our legs, explore the local village, and visit some local hot springs. We’ll have dinner together at the lodge. 

Day 13 ~ April 25 (B/L/D): We’ll rise early to explore the gorgeous COLCA CANYON that plunges to a depth equivalent to the height of the Rocky Mountains. The valley floor descends away from us, and we’ll arrive at a lookout point where we hope to view ANDEAN CONDORS, the world’s largest flying bird. With its distinguished silver collar and ten-foot wing span, one of the condor’s most memorable features is the ease with which it flies—once it achieves flight, it rarely flaps its wings, floating instead on air currents for hours at a time. We’ll take a walk along the canyon rim to visit a variety of viewpoints and perhaps see condors at various locations. We’ll stop for a late lunch on the way back to the lodge. In the afternoon, we’ll share our observations of the trip so far and take some time to meditate and practice qigong together.  After meditation, you may opt to visit a local hot spring or go on another short hike. Dinner will be together at the lodge.

Day 14 ~ April 26 (B/L/D): We’ll rise early for meditation, followed by breakfast. Today we transfer overland to Arequipa. We’ll ascend to an elevation of 16,000′ before dropping back down to 7,600′ in Arequipa. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the fifteenth-century SANTA CATALINA MONASTERY, then go on a brief walking tour of AREQUIPA’S HISTORIC CENTER, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 15/16 ~ April 27/28 (B): Today, we say goodbye to Peru and our travel mates as we board flights back to the US. Most flights will land in the US the following day.

All Of This Is Included in your Peru Spiritual Tour:

• Daily instruction and facilitation of meditation, qigong, and conversations about self-acceptance, compassion, and joy; engaging with this content is an integral part of this spiritual tour and retreat; if you are not interested in meditation, heart-opening conversation, and qigong, different tours are available to you via other companies
• All ground transportation for the duration of the spiritual tour
• Lodging for 13 nights
• 34 meals (lunch is on your own for the first day in Cusco and one day in Machu Picchu, all other meals are included)
• A local Peruvian guide, Manuel Velazco
• Entrance fees for all the archaeological sites, including Sacsayhuaman, Tipon, Machu Picchu, Pumamarca, Circles of Moray, Salt Pans of Maras, Huchuy Qosqo, Chinchero, Colca Canyon, Santa Catalina Monastery
• Cooking class, a visit to an artisan chocolatier, and a weaving demonstration
• Gratuities to porters, bus drivers, local guides, dining staff

The Little Bits Not Included:

• International airfare
• Beverages with meals and/or alcoholic beverages
• Two lunches
• Entrance fees to the hot springs
• Tour guide gratuity (recommended $17-20 per person per day)

Things to Note:

• Some days will be long, and even though long, we will have meditation, qigong, and discussion daily.
• Shopping opportunities throughout the trip will be limited. If you are looking for something specific, please let Manuel or me know at the start of the trip.
• The order of events and perhaps even days of events may be subject to change based on the weather and needs of the group.
• We will be traveling and hiking at altitude. It is your responsibility to follow the guidelines provided upon registration about how to prepare for the altitude and physical aspects of the trip.

Peru Spiritual Tour Facilitator Amy Pattee Colvin:

In the fall of 2015, I attended a meditation retreat to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu led by my long-time teachers. A local shaman joined us one of our days in Machu Picchu. During the blessing ceremony, he handed me a seed to plant after the ceremony finished. He said to look for the plant when I brought my own group on a retreat to Peru.

For many months that seed of an idea quietly germinated and eventually sprouted into the development of spiritual tours and meditation & qigong retreats worldwide. 

You’ll practice meditation and qigong daily, steep yourself in beautiful landscapes, step out of your daily routine, and immerse yourself in positive ways of thinking and living. I’m excited to share these concepts with you while we actively explore stunning landscapes and cultures.

These spiritual tours create an opportunity for you to deeply focus on inner work, connecting with your higher self, and harmonizing with the energy of the natural world.

I’ll share with you all I’ve learned in 25+ years of Taoist and Buddhist meditation, as well as the wisdom garnered from becoming a certified facilitator of Stanford University’s Compassion Cultivation Training.

Local Peruvian Guide Manuel Velazco:

Manuel Velazco, born in Cusco, Peru, entered the tourism industry at the age of 15. He has served as a professional Tour Guide for 20 years, guiding around Peru and South America. He is one of Peru’s most experienced and respected leaders.

I met Manuel in the fall of 2015 when my mother and I traveled on an Overseas Adventure Travel trip to Southern Peru and Bolivia. When I originally put this Peru spiritual tour itinerary together I contacted him to see if he was interested in working with me. Through the years he has provided excellent knowledge, leadership, humor, and love of Peruvian people and culture.

I look forward to spending time with you! If you have any questions please contact me to set up a time to chat.

Investment & Registration:

Investment: $3895 USD per person based on double occupancy.

• Space is limited to 12 guests. Ensure your spot by placing your deposit now.
• A deposit of $1895 is required to reserve your space, with the balance due by January 15, 2024. Payment plans are available, please contact me for details.
• If you register as an individual, you will be paired with another individual of the same gender.
• Single rooms may be available with a supplemental cost of $1000; contact me for further information.

Cancellation Policy:

• Please note that your deposit is refundable until November 15th, 2023.
• I recommended that you purchase travel insurance which covers emergency medical treatment, evacuation, and trip cancellation.

Register and place your deposit below, or email me (amy@amypatteecolvin.com) if you’d prefer to pay with a check: