Sacred Valley of the Incas, the cultural center of Peru. We’ll learn about Andean textiles, local culture, partake in a Peruvian cooking class, hike and explore a wide array of Incan Ruins, and, of course, enjoy daily yoga (no prior experience necessary) in this amazing locale.
We’ll all meet and begin our trip in Lima then fly on to Cusco (round-trip airfare Lima-Cusco included). While in the Cusco area (the Sacred Valley) we will visit an Andean Textile Center, explore a fortress, take a train to Aguas Calientes ( Macchu Picchu) where you can hike the last part of the Incan Trail into the Sun Gate at Macchu Picchu or explore the hot springs and local market. We’ll take in the sunrise at Macchu Picchu and spend the day there. From Macchu Picchu we transit via train to a lovely resort-spa. While here, we’ll have time to explore the local area or pamper oneself with a healing treatment (additional cost), take a short 10 minute walk along the Urumbamba River which leads to the Pisac Market where Indians travel to sell their wares. We’ll take local excursions to the unusual salt pans and terraces in nearby towns.
For the add-on excursion to the Amazon (round-trip airfare Lima-Amazon included) on September 10th. We arrive in Iquitos, here we’ll explore the Amazon River Walk. Then, we travel by boats up the Amazon and the tributary YanaYacu River. We’ll stay at the Amazon Refuge Wildlife Conservation Center, a unique accommodation elevated above the flood plain, where we’ll stay in fully outfitted bungalows. There will be opportunities for rainforest excursions, birding, wildlife viewing and photography, Here our yoga practice will be “off the mat as we explore the sacredness of the rainforest.”
The ARWCC’s mission, in cooperation with the San Juan de Yanayacu Indians, includes providing employment for the local people so they may live productive and sustainable lives, in harmony with nature and to strengthen the rainforest ecosystem of the Yanayacu area by facilitating sound conservation principles and supporting protection of the community reserve.
