Sometimes, travel feels like coming home. Peru reminds us of things we’ve forgotten. It beckons us to explore, to listen, to play. The magic and mystery of the place awakens our inner child, inspiring awe and wonder, surprise and delight.
Nestled alongside the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley of Peru, Pisac offers one of the best artisan markets in Latin America and fabulous mountaintop Incan ruins.
Known as the stone city, Ollantaytambo is one of the most beautiful towns in the Sacred Valley.
During an optional two-day indigenous plant medicine ceremony, we will activate our intention to connect with ourselves and others more deeply.
During our two days in Cusco, we will visit the Incan archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, take a city bus tour and visit the San Pedro market.
One of the pinnacle spiritual destinations in the world, the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu is an awe-inspiring testimony to the vast astrological and metaphysical knowledge of the Inca.
Against the austere backdrop of Ausangate, the hot springs of Pacchanta provide unexpected respite from the crisp alpine air.
The Q’eros people consider Ausangate to be one of the most sacred mountains in the Andes. We will hike to the base of this majestic mountain, which towers over 20,000 feet.
Nestled alongside the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley of Peru, Pisac offers one of the best artisan markets in Latin America and fabulous mountaintop Incan ruins.
Known as the stone city, Ollantaytambo is one of the most beautiful towns in the Sacred Valley.
During an optional two-day indigenous plant medicine ceremony, we will activate our intention to connect with ourselves and others more deeply.
During our two days in Cusco, we will visit the Incan archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, take a city bus tour and visit the San Pedro market.
One of the pinnacle spiritual destinations in the world, the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu is an awe-inspiring testimony to the vast astrological and metaphysical knowledge of the Inca.
Against the austere backdrop of Ausangate, the hot springs of Pacchanta provide unexpected respite from the crisp alpine air.
The Q’eros people consider Ausangate to be one of the most sacred mountains in the Andes. We will hike to the base of this majestic mountain, which towers over 20,000 feet.
Starting with a psychedelic plant medicine ceremony and ending with a trek to the top of the highest mountain on earth, this expedition is an immersive, physically rigorous, spiritual and cultural experience, designed to challenge, inspire and transform.
Highest mountain on earth?
Everest is the tallest mountain when measured from sea level. Since the earth is wider at the equator, Chimborazo is the world’s highest mountain, as measured from the earth’s core. A person standing at the top of Chimborazo, is closer to the sun, stars, and cosmos than any other person on the planet!
What Makes This Expedition Different Than a Tour?
Many people come to Peru to visit Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain. Shepherded from one Instagram-worthy spot to another, they have limited opportunity to explore Peru’s wild, natural beauty and its abundance of mystical archeological treasures. More importantly, many retreat participants leave without encountering the people and the beautiful culture that gave rise to the spiritual traditions of the Andes.
We not only visit the places that were sacred to the Incas, we get there by walking the same paths they walked. We surround ourselves with the people and immerse ourselves in the culture that gave birth to Incan cosmology. We understand that contemplation doesn’t require stillness. Hiking, climbing, and adventuring are forms of moving meditation. On this expeditionary retreat, internal and external discovery are inextricably linked.
Incan teachings remind us of our connection with the earth. We will have the unique opportunity to meet Andean paqos, indigenous Q’eros teachers, whose ancestors have practiced animistic ceremonies for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. After spending several days acclimatizing during world-class treks in the Peruvian Andes, we will travel to Ecuador to summit Chimborazo, the highest mountain on earth.
Day 1: After arriving in Cusco, the capital of the Incan empire, we will descend 1,000 feet to Pisac, a quintessential Peruvian town in the Sacred Valley. Our quaint, family-run bed and breakfast offers sweeping views of farm fields, terraces and mountain paths leading to Incan ruins.
Day 2: The morning will be free to explore the town of Pisac and peruse its extensive artisan markets. In the afternoon, we will drive up the mountain overlooking Pisac to savor dramatic, sweeping views from Pisac’s famous Incan archeological site, followed by a hike back down the mountain, which offers jaw-dropping vistas of the Sacred Valley and Urubamba River.
Day 3: This day will be dedicated to an optional sacred San Pedro plant medicine ceremony (included in package price), which will be overseen by a practitioner with over two decades of experience in indigenous medicines. We will set our intentions and learn about the indigenous wisdom of the Incas as we prepare to receive nature-based renewal and healing. Those who choose not to participate in the ceremony are free to explore the area or visit Maras salt flats.
Day 4: Ceremony participants will spend the morning sharing insights from their sacred plant medicine journey. With the help of our practitioner, we will learn to integrate newly expanded perspectives and explore real-world applications. After lunch in Pisac, we will depart for the stone city of Ollantaytambo at the end of the Sacred Valley.
Day 5: Waking early in the morning, we will drive to Cordillera Vilcabamba to begin the 5 day / 4 night Salkantay Trek, which is listed by National Geographic Explorer as one of the top 25 treks in the world. We will spend our first night at Sky Camp with nighttime views of the stars through the camp’s sky domes.
Day 6: This will be the most challenging day of our trek as we ascend Salkantay Pass, reaching a high point of 15,190 feet. We’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of snowcapped mountains and verdant valleys as we descend to the edge of the Amazonian jungle. The second night of the trek will be spent sleeping in Andean huts.
Day 7: The third day of our Salkantay Trek will take us through lush tropical landscapes that include exotic flowers, rivers, waterfalls, and wildlife, en route to our camp at the Jungle Domes. We will spend the afternoon learning about coffee bean farming at a nearby coffee plantation.
Day 8: Hiking along part of the famous Inca Trail, we will have the opportunity to visit the Incan ruins of Llactapata and catch our first sight of Machu Picchu. The final night of the trek will be spent in a hostel in Aguas Calientes.
Day 9: Waking early in the morning, we will ascend the mountain on a bus from Aguas Calientes to the famed Incan citadel of Machu Pichhu. Heralded as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, Machu Picchu inspires awe in all who have the privilege to experience it. At day’s end, we will travel by train back to Cusco.
Day 10: In the morning we will depart for Cusco, the former capital of the Incan Empire. In Cusco, we will visit the sprawling Incan Citadel of Sacsayhuaman, which features impossibly large boulders, meticulously placed with perfect precision. The afternoon will include a bus tour of Cusco with time to peruse the San Pedro Market. In the evening, we will enjoy the outrageously chaotic celebration of Halloween in Cusco’s Plaza de Armas!
Day 11: At this point in your journey, you will feel as if you’ve covered months, not just days, since your arrival in Cusco. Each day helped you acclimatize for this day’s hike from Pacchanta to the base of Ausangate. Beside a sacred mountain lake, a Q’eros healer will perform a sacred Despacho ceremony of gratitude to honor the Pachamama / the Earth Mother. We will soak in Pacchanta’s hot springs before heading back to Cusco.
Day 12: In the morning, we will explore the San Pedro market, which is one of the most famous markets in Peru before catching afternoon flights to Quito, Ecuador.
Day 13: We spend the morning collecting supplies and exploring Quito. In the afternoon, we will drive 3 hours south to the Ecuadorian town of Riobamba.
Day 14: At 10 am, we will embark on a scenic journey towards Chimborazo Basecamp Lodge (12,500 ft) where we will have lunch and a team briefing with the guides.
After lunch, we will drive to the Chimborazo National Park refuge and ascend to high camp at 17,388 feet.
As we hike, the majestic beauty of the Andean landscape unfolds around us, with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks and rolling valleys. Arriving at the high camp, we unload all gear and equipment, preparing for the challenging climb ahead. Dinner is served at 5 pm, offering a chance to refuel and rest before our midnight bid for the summit.
Day 15: We plan to reach the summit of Chimborazo by 6-8 am (20,548 feet). The final stretch of the ascent is both exhilarating and demanding, requiring determination and perseverance. Upon reaching the summit, climbers are rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Andean landscape, and a moment to savor the highest point on Earth.
After enjoying the summit and capturing unforgettable memories, we will descend back to high camp for a well-deserved rest and breakfast. replenishing our energy after the challenging climb.
Following breakfast, we prepare to leave the high camp and begin our journey back to Riobamba, then continue on to Quito.
Day 16: Depart for the U.S…. or continue on your South American journey.
Will I be able to handle the physical rigors of this trek?
The Salkantay and Ausangate treks are rated “difficult”, due to altitude and distance. That having been said, most people who can hike eight hours in a day would be physically capable of doing these treks. Though Chimborazo adds to the challenge with colder temperatures, high winds and higher altitude, it is considered a non-technical high altitude glacier climb. As with any aerobic activity, consult your doctor before embarking on this journey.
What is a sacred plant medicine ceremony?
In a sacred ritual known as a San Pedro ceremony, huachuma plant medicine will be offered. San Pedro is a heart-opening, consciousness expanding medicine designed to clarify intentions and deepen our understanding of nature. The ceremony is optional, but is included in cost of the trip.
What is your cancellation policy?
The ground portion of the trip will be 50% refundable through 9/1/26. After that, the trip is non-refundable. Participants will book their own airfare and refunds are subject to airline policies. Participants are encouraged to secure trip insurance to cover any other circumstances that may lead to trip cancelation or delay.
Limited to 10 people max
Lodging
Transportation
Activities
Meals
International and domestic flights
Optional $30 trek to the top of Huana Pichhu at Machu Picchu
Sleeping bag and trekking pole rentals
