Peru · 1 - 21 September 2023
A spiritual journey with life changing activities for solo travelers. Find yourself and the beautiful being you are & follow your purpose.
Experience transformational experiences that open the deepest knowledge about yourself and your inner spiritual connection. The next 30 days, you will rejuvenate in the high Andean mountains and the city of Cusco, the cradle of the Inca empire. Find yourself on your personal pilgrimage for body, mind, spirit. and soul. Outdoor Yoga, shamanic healing rituals, guided ceremonies and meditations, spiritual trekking, Spanish classes and wonderful excursions to the Sacred Valley of Peru and its hidden treasures let you revive in the Andes. Besides discovering the highlights of Peru, you participate in different volunteering activities, such as the visit of a dog shelter and plant nursery. Through those activities, you learn more about yourself on a deep level. Peru is one of the most sacred and spiritual travel destinations worldwide - this is why our shaman will teach you more about its belief systems and healing ceremonies. After this life changing journey, you will be able to heal yourself, others and through this, the whole world. Tipp: This program is also available as a group experience for your community or close group. The next group departure will take place on September 9! Feel free to join with other likeminded individuals to walk on your spiritual paths together- we'll be happy to define your journey.
Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary (3 star hotel, retreat center & campsite during trek
Activities, excursions, transportation, entrance tickets and meals as mentioned in the itinerary
Machu Picchu entrance ticket, Boleto Turistico, Qoricancha & Cathedral entrance fees
Camping & trekking equipment (tent, foam mattress, cooking equipment, water, etc.)
Volunteering activities as mentioned in the program
Spanish classes (2 hours each) with professional teacher
5 days spiritual Salkantay trek
5 days aya plant medicine retreat
Professional guides & translators during your stay
Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo/Poroy
Andean teaching classes with shamanic healer
Sleeping bag for Salkantay Trek (available for rent)
Meals and beverages not mentioned in the program
Tip for guides, drivers & rest of the staff
Other activities or excursions that are indicated as optional or not mentioned in the itinerary
Breakfast on days of the ayahuasca & San Pedro ceremony (part of the retreat)
International or national flights
During your aya retreat you will be staying at the retreat center of San Salvador, right in the middle of nature and far from the noisy city. The place consists of beautiful rustic houses, each of them with double occupancy and surrounded by nature, plants and colorful flowers. It is a very peaceful place, making your ayahuasca experience an unforgettable memory. It’s a beautiful temple surrounded by the high Andean mountains and native forest.
This lodge is located in the same reservation of Lake Sandoval and the construction is made of rustic and natural material such as sheet Crizneja, and Lianas Trunk from the jungle. The Sandoval Lake Lodge is owned by a non-profit company and some local families. The meals served are a tasty mix of Peruvian dishes with an occasional international twist. Sandoval Lake Lodge’s location in the Tambopata National Reserve provides access to one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet.
Tika Wasi literally means in Quechua “the House of Flowers” and used to be a Jesuit center as well as a tannery. The grandfather of the family, who was the owner of this building, was a merchant. This is why the hotel has a wonderful atmosphere and beautiful antiquities and paintings. The “Lady of the Roses” took care of the garden with a lot of love, maintaining the grandfather´s traditions. Today, the family puts a lot of work into the hotel, thinking about every little detail for their guests.
This hotel is located at the foot of Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”. It is a high standard hotel with an amazing service, wonderful location and atmosphere. Besides, they have the mission to be part of a more sustainable tourism, by supporting the local people and finding innovative solutions to make the daily routine at a hotel greener.
The Inkarri Hotel is a beautiful place with a colonial courtyard and quiet garden, perfect for a relaxing stay in Peru. It has its name from a very famous legend of the ancient Inca period. When the last Inca ruler had been tortured by the Spanish conqueror, he promised that one day he would come back to restore the balance between Mother Earth and her children. Since then, there exist many different versions of the Inkarri myth, some people are still waiting for him to come back.
The hotel is surrounded by fascinating and imposing high mountains and is a wonderful place where you can rest peacefully. It is only 3 minutes away from the train station and 25 minutes by bus from the Inca city of Machu Picchu. You will find the stunning views and spacious rooms at the Inka Tower Machupicchu Hotel to be a charming place to stay. Besides, you can enjoy authentic local cuisine at the hotel’s onsite restaurant.
You will stay at a guesthouse with a local family on Amantani Island, far away from the noisy city of Puno and surrounded by nature. Your hosts speak Spanish and Aymaran, and sometimes even a little bit English. You will have a clean, simple bedroom and a charming family that cooks local dishes for you. It is an amazing experience to stay overnight on the island, where you have a magnificent view of Lake Titicaca.
Casona Plaza Hotel Puno is located just a few steps from the Plaza de Armas in the city of Puno. You can try the most delicious international dishes together with their well-known typical Peruvian dishes in an environment prepared for you. Discover the city of Puno in southern Peru on Lake Titicaca, one of South America's largest lakes and the world's highest navigable body of water.
Located right in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest, the Posada Amazonas lodge connects you to the natural and cultural wonders of the fascinating Tambopata jungle. The lodge is just two hours away from Puerto Maldonado and offers plenty of adventurous activities. Besides, they support the native communities of the Amazon, for example by installing 30 mini-farms to help the most vulnerable families of the native community and enhance their quality of life.
For the ayahuasca retreat you must give us a medical report from your doctor to make sure that your general health condition is good. You can either take a copied scan or the original letter from your doctor with you, or send us the document per mail. This medical report is mandatory to be able to participate in this retreat. If you cannot bring the letter, you will have to make a check up with a doctor in Cusco, which will be charged an extra cost of $55 US. If you have any physical or psychological medical conditions or are under any medication treatment, please let us know before you book your retreat. Participants older than 50 years require an additional stress test. This can be done in your country of origin or in Cusco for a charge of $55 US.
Anyone who wishes to enter Peru must fill out the Peru Affidavit at least 72 hours before their flight. All nationalities can apply. To obtain this travel form, you'll need to provide information about your flight, health status, and intended stay in Peru. You must adhere to the country's safety protocols.
Please contact us to know the updates of requirements, since the situation can change a lot in this pandemic.
To prepare your mind and spirit for this spiritual retreat, we recommend you to do any discipline familiar to you from your own faith, such as meditation, prayer, and yoga. If you do not have a specific practice, you can send your intentions and wishes instead to all creatures in the morning and at night. Getting in the right mindset can help you to embrace your spiritual connection during this sacred trek. You can have the best shamans in the universe (Christ, Buddha, Krishna,) conducting ceremonies for you, but if your heart does not want to change nothing will happen. Only you have the power to change your destiny. Your own heart is in fact the best shaman for yourself in this universe. The best attitude is one of positivity; the right attitude includes honesty, love, patience, humility, respect, courage and a strong mental and spiritual determination. Approaching with these values will result in a fruitful experience. When you pray do not ask for miracles to mysteriously occur. Instead, ask for opportunities to create miracles with your own hands.
Cusco is 3500m above sea level and people sometimes get sick due to the high altitude and new conditions. There are several forms of medication that can be taken to alleviate the effects of altitude sickness but the interaction of some of this medication can have negative effects with ayahuasca. For this reason we recommend you to reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness by drinking MUÑA tea which is commonly available in the hotels. We suggest you to drink MUÑA tea at the airport or on your flight to Cusco as this will help to mitigate the effects of altitude sickness. You can also buy shots of oxygen at the airport. If the symptoms become worse, please let us know. Our professional guides are trained in case you get sick. There are many ways to make you feel better and treat altitude sickness. Our guides always carry oxygen bottles with them that you can use in emergencies.
Flying to Cusco can be tricky because delays often occur and due to the special conditions at the airport of Cusco, it is not uncommon for flights to be cancelled. Please be sure to arrive in the city of Cusco at least two days before your trip starts. The most reliable airline is LATAM because they offer you many re-booking options in case of a flight cancellation. On your last day you will come back to Cusco around 9pm, which means that you should always book your flight the next day when leaving Cusco. National or international flights are not included in this travel program. Please contact us if you wish to make customized changes.
The weather is very unpredictable and changes quickly in the Andes Mountains. Even though it is almost impossible to predict the weather during your trekking adventure, we can say that the first nights will be quite cold due to the altitude and weather conditions in the high mountains. It can get down to 5 degrees Celsius, which feels even colder on windy nights. Towards the end of your Salkantay Trek, you will be in the Peruvian jungle, which means that the climate will be more tropical and warm (25 degrees Celsius).
A San Pedro journey provides deep insights and life-changing experiences, giving you a greater sense of connection and spirituality. Mescaline is also known for fostering compassion and gratitude, and helping people save personal problems, access their creativity and be more environmentally conscious. The sacred plant has also been known for its function as a powerful medicine with the ability to cure “unknown diseases”, especially in the Andes culture of Peru. There is actually scientific proof of the medicinal benefits from taking San Pedro. Researchers have shown that the San Pedro cactus is able to reduce hypertension and the risk of heart disease, to treat nerve disease and to alleviate joint problems.
Participating in a plant medicine ceremony is an opportunity for deep healing and personal transformation. An plant medicine journey provides profound insights and is great potential for healing your body, spirit and mind. Besides the spiritual and awakening experience, there are recently more and more researches about the benefits of ayahuasca. According to current research, aya medicine may protect brain cells and stimulate neural cell growth. Researchers are still investigating the actual effects of the sacred plant medicine and are trying to find out in which way it boosts mood, improves mindfulness, treats depression and addiction disorders.
People with colon problems, high blood pressure, heart conditions, diabetes, or mental illness should be cautious since ayahuasca can have strong effects on your body. You cannot do the ayahuasca or san pedro ceremony while being pregnant. Besides, period pain and discomfort may result in a negative experience while taking ayahuasca. This is why we recommend you not to do these experiences during your period. However, if you do not experience severe pain or discomfort, it is okay for you to participate. We recommend waiting until the second or third day of a period to allow you to gauge the intensity of the pain. The most important thing is that you feel ready for this retreat experience.
The diet purifies the body and mind for this shamanic healing experience, but also makes sure that your ayahuasca experience is safe. This is why we recommend you NOT to eat/consume at least two weeks before the retreat: pork, alcohol, cannabis, drugs and spicy food. Please do not take any prescribed medications or drugs two weeks before the retreat starts. Aya is a potent form of medicine and can therefore have different effects when combined with other medications. One week before the retreat, you should abstain from: red meat, junk foods, sweets or candies, carbonated drinks (including diet sodas, energy drinks and non-alcoholic beer), dairy products, fermented foods, caffeine and other stimulants. The last couple of days before the retreat, we suggest you eat well. Do not make any extreme diets! It is important that you are in a good condition and feel well before the retreat. Try to reduce the consumption of salt, pepper and oil three days before the retreat. Good organic food with a moderate amount of salt and sugar is recommended. In terms of meat you may consume chicken or fish. On the day of the retreat, please eat a light breakfast based on juice and fruits, no bread or dairy products!
Tipping is always appreciated and should completely be based on your satisfaction. Although tipping may not be usual to you, it is important to the people who’ll take care of you during your trip (drivers, translators, spiritual teachers, shamans, etc.).
We recommend to get an own Insurance for your time in Peru.
If you are a European citizen, we highly recommend booking THIS costumizable and reliable insurance.
Please write us in case you have any specific questions.