Peru Trip Itinerary
September 26 — October 8, 2010
Preparation Group
Tuesday evenings. August 24, 31, and September 14
6:00-8:00pm, Boulder (may be attended remotely for those outside the Boulder/Denver area)
Trip Itinerary
This itinerary has been designed to allow for a relaxed pace, with plenty of time for flexibility and individual needs. We will spend several days in Pisac, allowing our bodies to gradually adjust to the high altitude before beginning the trek in the highlands. Keep in mind that we are entering a different culture, where things happen at a more relaxed and spontaneous pace. Things may change!
DAY ONE- Sunday, September 26
Leave home on Sunday. Arrive in Lima, take pre-arranged transport to a small guesthouse in a quiet neighborhood of Lima.
DAY TWO
Fly to Cusco. We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant, and spend an hour or two exploring the twisted streets and alleys of this ancient Incan city before the hour’s drive to Pisac, located in the Sacred Valley beside the Urubamba river. We will stay at the Paz y Luz Bed and Breakfast, a quiet, peaceful spot just outside of the village. Massages and traditional healing treatments are available at Paz y Luz. We’ll celebrate our arrival with dinner on the town. www.pazyluzperu.com
DAY THREE
Fully immerse yourself in Peruvian culture with a visit to the traditional Tuesday morning market of Pisac. For centuries, locals from the surrounding Andean villages have made the trek to Pisac to barter and display their produce, livestock, weavings, jewelry, and clothing in a feast for the senses. In the afternoon we’ll return to the round, open-air meeting space at Paz y Luz to do some reflection and visioning. A home-cooked Peruvian dinner at Paz y Luz will complete the day.
DAY FOUR
In the morning we’ll make the steep 90 minute climb to the ruins above Pisac, for our introduction to the ancient Incan empire. A dramatic Temple of the Sun, intricate stonework, and sweeping views of the Sacred Valley make this one of the best ruins in the region. In the afternoon we will return to Paz y Luz and join a local Quechuan shaman for a despacho, a traditional ceremony of intention and letting go.
DAY FIVE
We will pack our trekking gear and begin our journey into the highlands with a visit to the village of Lares, at 10,800’, where we will camp at the local hot springs alongside local families and villagers. Our first dinner in the dining tent will allow us to get to know our trekking guides and porters.
DAY SIX
Our first day of trekking. We will follow a wide valley for approximately 4 hours of gradual uphill grade to the backcountry village of Huacahuasi, which is known for its traditional weavings. We will visit some local weavers, and camp just outside of the village, at 11,800’.
DAY SEVEN
The most challenging trekking day. We will climb up and over a 15,000’ pass, dropping down to camp beside a beautiful lake at 13,500’, below the glacier of Mount Montanay. This hike will take five to six hours, and will traverse spectacular, high alpine scenery.
DAY EIGHT
Today we hike downhill, through forests of the native ‘weeping’ Quenal tree. We have lunch outside the village of Yanahuara, and then take a bus to Ollantaytamba, where we catch the afternoon VistaDome train, which will follow the spectacular Rio Urubamba river through the Sacred Valley, below snow capped mountains rising more than two miles above us. We will spend the night at a hotel in the town of Agua Calientes, last stop before the ruins of Macchu Picchu. Dinner out on the town to celebrate the completion of our trek.
DAY NINE
We will rise early in the morning for a quiet, sunrise introduction to Macchu Picchu, recently named one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’. Our guide will explain the amazing culture behind the intricate stonework, and then we will have time to wander through the magical ruins. In the afternoon we will return to Agua Calientes for a soak in the hot springs and dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY TEN
We return to Pisac via train, and have an afternoon for relaxing at Paz y Luz or last minute shopping at the outdoor Pisac market. In the evening we return to Paz y Luz.
DAY ELEVEN
A day of integration before returning home. We will spend time reflecting on the personal meaning of our experiences in Peru, and identifying ways to continue unfolding back at home. We’ll also leave time for you to wind down your trip in your own way- with massage, shopping, journaling, or walking.
DAY TWELVE
After a final breakfast in Pisac we’ll say goodbye to the Sacred Valley and fly to Lima, and catch an evening flight home.
DAY THIRTEEN
Arrive home on Friday, October 8.
On-Your-Own Option
To explore the fascinating city of Cusco, plan on spending a day or two on your own at the end of the trip. Cusco is the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America, and the only city in the world intentionally laid out in the shape of a puma. It is the heart of the Incan empire, and is a unique blend of Incan culture and the rich architecture of the conquering Spaniards. If you want to book your return flight later just let us know and we can book a good place to stay for you.
Integration Group
Three evenings in October/ November. Dates to be arranged.
