New Year Journey to Peru
with Spiritual Essence and Synergy Yoga
Sat. Dec. 28th - Sat. Jan. 4th I 2024-25
Retreat Leaders: Dana Smith and the Synergy Yoga team
RETREAT OVERVIEW
Experience the magic of Peru’s Sacred Valley with Dana A. Smith of Spiritual Essence Yoga & Wellness and the Synergy Yoga team. The theme of the retreat is Renewal, focusing on rest, reflection, chakra balancing, communal connection, and exploring the splendor of Peru’s Sacred Valley.
Our journey begins in the Andean city of Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire. From Cusco, we will travel to Willka T’ika Wellness Retreat & Boutique Hotel in the town of Urubamba, surrounded by the splendor of the Andes. During our stay at Willka T’ika, guests will experience outdoor herbal baths, therapeutic massage, nutritious farm-to-table vegetarian meals, and the renowned chakra gardens, which hold a variety of healing herbs.
From our Willka T’ika base camp, we will explore the Sacred Valley through daily trips and workshops.
The leadership team has 17 years of experience curating retreats in the region. The itinerary balances the exploration of cultural and historic sites with self-reflection, relaxation, and wellness treatments at our boutique hotel. All the while we’ll absorb the high energetic frequencies of the Sacred Valley!
OFFERINGS
- Machu Picchu
- Maras - Incan Salt Flats
- A presentation on traditional Inca/Quechua weaving techniques by the Chincheros Women's Workshop
- The Urubamba Farmers Market and an exploration of Inca agriculture and medicine
- Semanario Ceramics Workshop
- Peruvian cuisine
- Yoga Workshops
- Interactive Thai Bodywork Workshop
- Partner Stretching Workshop
- Sound Healing
What's Included
- Airport transfers
- All entry fees to the Inca sites
- All meals (except for one lunch)
- All yoga & movement workshops
- All logistics & travel expenses (within Cusco and the Sacred Valley)
What's not Included
- International Flights
- Massages (may be booked upon request at Willka T’ikka Hotel)
- Cocoa leaf readings
- Herbal baths
- Other Excursions
Suggested Reading:
- The Cradle of Gold by Christopher Heaney
- Journey to Machu Picchu by Carol Cumes & Romulo Lizarraga Valencia
RETREAT SCHEDULE
- Guests will be picked up from Cusco Airport by our staff coordinated by our Transportation Manager, Wilbert Palomino. From the airport we head to Willka T’ika Hotel & Wellness Retreat – rated as one of the top 9 wellness retreat centers in the world by CNN!
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/best-wellness-retreats-luxury-resorts-vacation-intl/index.html
- Dinner at Willka T’ika
Optional Bookings at WT Spa:
- Herbal bath
- Massage
- Coca leaf reading
- Morning Yoga
- Breakfast at Willka T’ika
- Tour of Willka T’ika’s famous chakra gardens that contain a wide variety of healing herbs, fruit, and vibrant flowers.
- Lunch at Willka T’ika
- Dinner at Willka T’ika
- Opening Ceremony at Bonfire
- Morning Yoga
- Breakfast at Willka T’ika
- Bus to Urubamba Farmer’s Market
- Tour of Urubamba Farmer’s Market
- Walk to Seminario Ceramics Center
- Tour of Seminario Ceramics Center
- Walk to Mashua – Urubamba Restaurant w/ Chef Andrea
- Lunch at – Urubamba Restaurant
- Bus to Willka T’ika
- Afternoon Workshop with Dana A. Smith: Rest and Reflection
- Dinner at Willka T’ika
- Evening Sound Bath
- Following breakfast, we’ll drive 10 minutes to Urubamba Farmer’s Market which contains an array of delicacies including superfoods like maca; unique indigenous fruits and vegetables; local chocolate and coffee and more. Our time at the market is an essential part of understanding Inca/Quechua culture. Agriculture is a bedrock of Andean culture as expressed through its reverence for the divine feminine energy of Pachamama.
- After our visit to the market, we’ll walk fifteen minutes to the Seminario Ceramics Center. Co-Founder and internationally renowned artist, Pablo Seminario has a permanent exhibit at the Chicago Art Museum. Additionally, his work is on exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.. Pablo and his wife, Marilu, are an integral part of the preservation and revitalization of Inca ceramic art and technology.
- Morning Yoga
- Breakfast: Willka T’ika
- Morning Workshop with Dana A. Smith: Release and Letting Go
- Lunch: Willka T’ika
- Afternoon Workshop
- Dinner: Willka T’ika
- Guests may book massages, herbal baths when workshops are not in session
- Bus from Willka Tika Hotel to Ollantaytambo train station
- Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Tour Machu Picchu
- Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Bus from Ollantaytambo to Willka T’ika
- Dinner at Willka T’ika
- They say “the journey’s the destination” and our journey to Machu Picchu through the lush jungle terrain, on the “Vistadome” train will prove this adage true! The picturesque train ride, with panoramic views includes live Andean music and a traditional folkloric dance performance. Our guided tour of the sacred site will offer deep insights into Machu Picchu’s function in Inca society and the methods of construction.
- Morning Yoga
- Breakfast: Willka T’ika
- Morning Workshop with Dana A. Smith: Rejuvenation and Healing
- Lunch: Willka T’ika
- Afternoon Workshop
- Dinner: Willka T’ika
- Guests may book massages, herbal baths when workshops are not in session
- Morning Yoga
- Breakfast: Willka T’ika
- Travel to Maras Salt Mines
- Tour Maras Salt Mines
- Travel to Don Angel Restaurant
- Lunch: Don Angel Restaurant
- Bus to Chinchero
- Workshop and shopping at Chinchero
- Bus from Chinchero to Willka T’ika
- Dinner: Willka T’ika
- Closing Ceremony
- Day 7, we visit the Maras salt flats and the Chinchero weavers workshop. The salt mines of Maras date back to pre-Inca civilisations and continue to be actively utilized today! The ancient technology utilizes natural salt water springs that are channeled into terraced ponds, or “cochas” in Quechua, that are stabilized by retaining walls. Guests will learn the history, science, and communal organization and exemplary communal business model of the flats. You’ll also be able to purchase some of the most healing and delicious salt in the world directly from the custodians of Maras!
- Following lunch we’ll visit a workshop of Inca/Quechua weavers in the town of Chinchero. The weavers will give us a presentation sharing their traditional dyeing techniques and the ancient stories that are embedded within their designs. These images pay homage to the natural elements and the universal balance of feminine and masculine energies. Chinchero is also notable for having maintained Inca culture in spite of attempts by the Spanish to “civilize” and reform the culture.The residents of Chincero have handed down the ancient textile science of the Inca including traditional looms; the use of various herbs, plants and vegetation for their dyes; and Incan designs which hold numerous cultural values of the Inca.
- Morning Yoga
- Breakfast at Willka T’ika
- We will depart to the Cusco Airport after breakfast. If some of our guests have an earlier flight we will arrange for a private ride.
PLANNING FOR THE RETREAT
We suggest buying your flight from your home city to Cusco. There will be a layover at the Lima Airport. Hopefully your layover is not too long; but if it’s overnight, Lima has a nice airport hotel. Here is the link:
https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham/lima-peru/wyndham-costa-del-sol-lima-airport/overview
Once you connect to your domestic flight from Lima to Cusco, we will be at the Cusco Airport to pick you up.
If you’d like to arrive a couple of days early and spend time in Lima, the coastal capital of Perú, please let us know and Francisco will arrange transportation for you and can connect you with our favorite spots in the city.
Travel insurance can be purchased by guests who feel more comfortable having coverage in case of any unforeseen travel challenges.
Temperatures in Cusco typically fluctuate daily. Evening time is chilly and daytime is usually sunny and warm. Layering is the key. Here’s what we recommend you bring:
- A light down vest or jacket
- Long undershirts
- Long underwear
- At least one heavy sweater but remember, Peru has some of the best and coziest sweaters in the world made from alpaca wool!
- A daypack for all of the day trips
- A rain shell just in case
- A water bottle
- An empty duffle bag to carry all of your beautiful garments and artwork back home!
Gratuities are not included in the price of your retreat. Gratuities for the staff that will be taking care of you all week is recommended $10 per day per person & will be collected on the last evening of the retreat. Gratuities for shuttle drivers & guides that will be taking you to and from all of your amazing destinations is recommended at $2-5 per transfer. Please give gratuities directly to the drivers and guides following their service.
There is an ATM conveniently located 10 minutes from our host hotel. We advise you that you travel with $200 – $300 USD, which can be exchanged in Urubamba where we’ll be staying. Advise your bank and/or credit card company that you’ll be traveling prior to leaving your home country to avoid restrictions. Some shopping can be done with a credit card and some will require cash (Peruvian Soles), including tips. We will visit an ATM and/or cash exchange store at least twice during the retreat.
The deposit is non-refundable and cannot be applied to future events. If cancellation occurs before November 1, 2024, 50% of funds paid outside of the deposit will be refunded. If cancellation occurs after November 1, 50% of funds paid outside of the deposit can be applied to a future retreat to be used within three years of the originally scheduled event. Due to the nature of the retreat, no exceptions will be made to this cancellation policy.
PERU PHOTOS
