Beyond the Andes

Known for its diversity, natural beauty and sacred sites, Peru has defined the blend of modern tradition and Incan culture for hundreds of years. Enjoy a yoga adventure that takes you through the highlights of this unique South American region and connect on a tour to discover Andean culture, tradition and the rich tapestry of life found in Puno and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, for a journey of wellness and self-discovery.

Begin the tour in Lima and adventure to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu to explore the ancient sites that have astounded explorers with their natural elegance and astronomically correct engineering and design. The journey continues to Puno to a charming location for yoga classes and healthy meals with the splendour of a vast blue lake full of tradition and wonder. Set your sites on the horizons of the Andes with daily yoga classes and local tours that will thrill and delight you on an experience of Peru Beyond the Andes.

Itinerary

Day 1 -Lima

Arrive in Lima at any time to explore colourful architecture in this famous city on the coast of Peru. Transfer from Lima airport and we begin the tour with a welcome evening dinner and group briefing.

Day 2 – Cusco

Wake up early for a morning flight to the Incan capital of Cusco and step into Peru’s rich historical past where the modern world meets ancient civilization. Enjoy an afternoon walking tour with a local guide and experience the cobble stone steps of this small city. The tour takes you through an artists quarter and a stroll through the Sun Temple located a short distance from the town centre and other highlights found in this unique city.

Optional activities and wellness therapies are available after the city tour or just spend your day relaxing and taking in the sights and sounds of the sparkling city. The afternoon will offer a light yoga class to acclimatize to the astounding height of 3200 metres with a focus on breath and relaxation as you take your first steps in the Andes.

Day 3 – 5 Sacred Valley

After a morning yoga class, begin a journey into the Sacred Valley and visit some local sights along the way to inspire and connect with the colourful serenity of the Andean landscape. Visit Moray and Maras, two culturally significant sites offering insight into pre-Inca culture, as well as providing the backdrop to some amazing photos!

Our last stop en-route to our location for three nights in the Sacred Valley will be participation in a traditional Quechua offering ceremony to Mother Earth to pay homage to the ancient Andean tradition of gratitude and blessings.

Arrive at our location in Urubamba for days filled with morning and evening yoga classes to centre ourselves in the serenity of the Sacred Valley landscape and natural peace.

Enjoy daily guided tours, optional activities and choose from a variety of wellness therapies available in your free time and relax in this Andean oasis. The yoga classes will focus on breathing and relaxation to adjust to the high mountain altitude to stretch and strengthen with stunning mountain views and calm sweeping horizons of Andean bliss in the town of Urubumba.

The tour travels through the Sacred Valley to the community of Amaru to learn about Andean life and visits a community based initiative of traditional weaving techniques and for a shared lunch with the owners of the project. Explore the Pisac ruins which are some of the finest and largest in the entire valley and shop in the Pisac market for some local handicrafts and souvenirs of the region.

Evening yoga classes are on the menu after the full day tours to wind down and connect with our breath and surrender the senses to the serenity of the Sacred Valley and the beauty of the day’s activities. Enjoy healthy meals included on this part of the journey highlighting delicious local food of the region and relax with your feet up under the Andean stars and the night skies.

Day 6 – Ollantaytambo | Aguas Calientes

Wake up and salute the sun in the Sacred Valley with an early morning yoga class before a local visit and guided tour of the ruins in the town of Ollantaytambo, the only still-functioning city laid out to its original Inca design. Visit the archaeological site and enjoy a local lunch with time to wander the narrow streets lined with water channels that have been flowing since the time of the Inca.

The town has been built on top of original Inca foundations and is the best surviving example of Inca town planning. The town is divided in canchas (blocks) which are almost entirely intact. Each cancha has only one entrance (usually a huge stone doorway) which leads into a central courtyard. Spend the afternoon walking around this historically rich town with great views and a significant part of Incan culture.

In the afternoon, take a train to the town of Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu, the heartland of the Sacred Valley for our early morning visit. We’ll spend the night at this small mountain town before the visit to the famous Incan ruins.

Day 7 – 8 Machu Picchu | Cusco

Rise with the sun and journey up the hill to Machu Picchu for a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel. Enjoy some free time to walk around, to climb to the Sungate, experience spectacular views of the many valleys or visit the impressive Inca Bridge. Return to Aguas Calientes and take an afternoon train to the city of Cusco arriving in the evening.

Enjoy a free day in Cusco and wake up to the comfort of this charming colonial city with a yoga class to start the day’s activities to connect and centre yourself in Peru’s most magical city. Choose from optional activities such as a city tour, souvenir shopping, optional massages or participate in local workshops such as a cooking or chocolate-making class to dabble into some cultural delights. Meet with the group in the evening to enjoy an evening meal in one of the cities selection of cultural restaurants and discover the rest of the tour highlights and travel to Puno the following day..

Day 9 – 10 Puno | Lake Titicaca

Travel overland from Cusco to Puno on a days journey visiting local sites along the way such as local churches, the impressive Inca site of Raqchi andthe village of Pukara, famous for its pre-Inca culture and ceramic bulls that adorn the roofs of many homes in the highlands.

Spend the next two nights on the shores of Lake Titicaca in a charming guest house with sublime views of the water and peaceful surrounding horizons for relaxing evenings. Our first evening yoga class will welcome you to the heights of this spectacular region with a focus on breath and gentle stretching, preparing you for the daily tours ahead.

At 13,500 feet, Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest commercially navigable body of water. The Incas believed it was the cradle of civilisation – the place where all life began. It’s a very special place dotted with islands that have unique living cultures and traditions, two of which we’ll visit today, the famous manmade floating Uros Reed Islands, and Taquile Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for their intricate weaving and knitting techniques.

Visiting this island is like stepping back in time as only recently running water was brought to the island and few have electricity and solar powered generators. Explore this ancient culture and landscape and learn about the age-old traditions of the islanders who have lived by this sacred lake for centuries. Enjoy a fresh trout lunch with a local family and hike the island taking in the amazing panoramic views on all sides.

Evening yoga classes will wind down the day tours and practice gentle asanas and relaxation on the shores of one of the largest, highest and deepest lakes in the world.

Day 11 – Lima

Today you will be picked up and transferred to airport in Juliaca a little over an hour away for your flight back to Lima where the tour ends. Depending on time of arrival and the timing of your international flight schedule, we can help you to arrange additional activities in Lima or assist in your journey home or on to your continued destination.

Beyond the Andes Highlights

Optional activities include:

• massage therapies
• cultural ceremonies
• hiking trails
• optional tours
• cooking classes
• horseback riding

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