Travel Information

Our retreat center is nestled in a valley, and enveloped by the Andes Mountains about an hour and a half outside of the Incan Capital of Cusco.

You’ll need to catch a flight into CUSCO, PERU (Airport code CUZ).

I recommend flying in a few days early and spending some time in Cusco, acclimating to the 14,000ft altitude and exploring the city before our retreat begins on the 10thth.

Give yourself extra time in case of any travel mis-haps and acclimatizing to the altitude. I recommend 2 extra nights in Cusco.

**Please note that transportation from Cusco airport to your hotel or to the group pickup spot is not included, however, a taxi can be taken for around $5USD (15 soles) and is easy to catch right outside the baggage claim terminal.

If you have the time to come early or stay late, there is plenty to see in do in the Cusco surrounding region, including the many archeological sites, and incredibly beautiful hikes to Rainbow Mountain, Laguna Humantay, and of course a visit to Machu Picchu.

What to Pack:

• The sun can be strong during the day and the nights can be a little bit chilly, so bring clothes for both temperatures

  • Long and short sleeve shirts or tank tops - layers are crucial!

    • Sweaters and hoodies with basics underneath make for great layering options

  • Leggings or long pants for walking around town, hiking, practicing yoga, lounging

  • Comfortable, non-restrictive clothing for ceremonies

  • Hiking shoes/socks

  • A sun hat to protect during the day and a warm beanie for the evenings

  • Polarized or UV protectant sunglasses

  • Raincoat (just in case! :)

  • Bathing suit / sports bra / shorts for sauna, pool, sweat lodge

• A warm-toned head-lamp or small flashlight (important for ceremony)

• Refillable water bottle (and tea thermos if you would like)

• Eco friendly toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc)

• Sunscreen

• Chapstick

• Vitamin C, Probiotics or Activated Charcoal, natural electrolyte packets

• Yoga Mat (they are provided, but you may like to bring your own)

• Journal

• 100-150 soles gratuity to be divided amongst the beautiful people that lovingly take care of us during the retreat. {suggested}

General Info about Peru

Capital:  Lima

Population:  30.38 million (2013) 

Currency: The currency of Peru is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN).

There are currency exchange counters in the airports, or you can easily withdraw PEN from an ATM in the towns

Dollar exchange rate: USD $1 (American dollars) = approx. 4.13 Soles (Oct 2021)

Languages: Spanish, Quechua, some English

Territory
With an area of 1’285,215 square km (496,225 sq mi), Peru is bigger than France, Germany, Italy, Netherland and Switzerland combined. It is the third largest country in South America and bordered to the north by Ecuador and Colombia, to the east by Brazil and Bolivia, to the south by Chile and to the west by the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Coast (12% of the territory): a warm climate along the coastline that includes superb natural beaches, mysterious deserts, fertile river valleys and exotic dry woods.

Highlands (28% of the territory): a region of varied terrain and temperate climate, dominated by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes rising above 6,000 meters, the highest of which is Mount Huascaran, at 6,768 meters (22,206 feet). It includes deep canyons such as the Colca and Cotahuasi, the two deepest on the planet; and high plains like the plateau of Collao, on the shores of the world's highest navigable lake, Titicaca, at 3,810 masl (12,500 feet).

Jungle or Amazonia (60% of the territory): a region of tropical climate, lush vegetation and abundant fauna that is part of one of the planet's largest natural reserves. Peruvian Amazonia is the source of the Amazon River, the largest in the world.

Climate
Temperatures and atmospheric cycles vary from one region to another.

Coast: There are two clearly-defined seasons on the coast: summer (December-March), when temperatures can reach 27ºC (80ºF); and winter (May-October), which is damp and chilly, with temperatures falling to 12ºC (53ºF). Although it rarely rains on the coast, mist and drizzle are common during the winter. The far north coast enjoys sunshine all year round, with temperatures reaching 35ºC (95ºF) in the summer.

Highlands: The climate is dry and temperate, with two clearly-defined seasons: the dry season (May-October), with sunny days, very cold nights and scant rainfall -the ideal time to visit the Andes; and the rain season (December-March). There is a sharp contrast in temperature between sun and shade, and temperatures can often vary widely during the same day, from 20ºC (68ºF) to 2ºC (35ºF).

Jungle: The area has a tropical and humid climate. There are two well-defined seasons: the summer or dry season (April to October) with sunny days and temperatures above 30ºC (86ºF), and the rain season (November to March), with frequent showers and high river levels.

Electricity: 220 volts. (2 pin round and flat travel adaptors are common)

CUSCO

Cusco is situated at an altitude of 3400 meters (11,156 ft). At altitudes in excess of 3000 meters, there is half the oxygen in the air compared to sea level, and the air is extremely dry. This means that with every breath, visitors to Cusco who live at or near sea level inhale less oxygen than they are accustomed to. For this reason, travelers find themselves experiencing shortness of breath when walking, particularly when walking uphill.

Altitude sickness does not affect all visitors to Cusco, and susceptibility to altitude sickness is not dependent upon age, gender, or physical condition. However, people with heart or lung problems are at a higher risk. Symptoms may include headache, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea or constipation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To help avoid the symptoms of altitude sickness:

• Drink coca tea - an infusion made from coca leaves. Most of the hotels in Cusco offer their guests coca tea. Although it has not been scientifically proven that coca tea combats altitude sickness, many travelers have found that it certainly provides relief from the symptoms. In Cusco, the coca leaf is also available in candy, cookies and brownies. Local people, particularly in rural communities, chew coca leaves. It is completely legal to drink coca tea in Peru.

• Stay hydrated: The first symptoms of altitude sickness, including headaches, are usually caused by dehydration. As mentioned above, the air in Cusco is extremely dry. You will lose a lot of moisture when above 3000 meters, and you should drink plenty of water.

• Only drink bottled/filtered water. You can buy it everywhere.

Many visitors to Cusco choose to see the Sacred Valley first. The valley is 2,000 feet (600 meters) lower than Cusco.