Sacred Sites of Peru and Machu Picchu

I just had two people drop out of this amazing trip so I am letting you know if one of those spots is for you email me immediately. This is a once in a lifetime adventure and opportunity.

Merging with the Divine
Led by Dr. Susan Gregg

April 17^th-May 1^st, 2010

Of all the sacred sites, Machu Picchu is amongst the most talked about and mysterious. Truly there are more questions asked than answered regarding its purpose and ultimate demise. Imagine a city of incredible structures built using 50 ton blocks of stone fitting so perfectly together (without mortar) that you cannot fit a hair between the joints! Five square miles of astrological perfection sits majestically on top of a misty mountain in the Andes (8000 feet). Located two thousand feet above the rumbling Urubamba river, the city remained untouched and undiscovered until Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham explored it in 1911.

On this spiritual journey, we will be using the energies of this amazing country to assist us in experiencing the divine within. Peru is the perfect place for this adventure of ceremony and inner exploration of the heart. We will be joined by several Peruvian Shamans who are great sources of the ancient Inca teachings and traditions.
Using the three levels of the Inca’s mythology of transcendence, we move from the dark underworld of our own minds to the clarity of spiritual consciousness. The snake, puma and condor will be the symbols we use to represent our spiritual ascension for these 11 sacred days together.

Cusco, Ollantaytambo, the Sacred Valley, Moray and Tipon are some of the locations we will explore. There will be ceremony, and deep personal exploration on this incredible and sacred spiritual retreat.

Daily Schedule:

DAY  1 (L,D) Arrival  to Lima in the morning (we suggest that you arrive on the overnight flight to lima arriving around 4:30am). We then fly to Cuzco and go by bus to the Sacred Valley. On the way we will stop in Pisac to see the andean camelids, relax and drink some coca tea for the altitude, visit the Pisac market for some shopping time and relax in the market where we will have lunch. Overnight in Pisac Royal Inka hotel.

DAY 2 (B,L,D) Late start this morning! We will drive to the temple site of Pisac, do a welcome despacho ceremony for the Apu mountain spirits and then have an optional walk to Pisac market, lunch in Pisac, then to Ollantaytambo an incredible ancient Inca city. Two hundred steps lead up terraces to a double-jamb gateway and the Temple of Ten Niches, a long wall with odd protuberances. Above this is the unfinished Temple of the Sun, considered one of the masterpieces of Inca stonework.Six giant monoliths of pink rhyolite are perfectly slotted together with thin slices of stone and oriented to glow with the rising sun.

At Ollantaytambo we will discover the surprising Astronomical Watcher, which lies under the Tunupa’s glance (Part of the Wiraccochan myth) who is sculpted on stone in part of the Pinkuylluna mountain in front of the archaeological complex. In this place of power we offer Coca leaves which are used to send love and thanks to the Spirit of the Mountains, the Apus and to Pachamama (Mother Earth). We will take a beautiful walk to see the famous Pacarectampu Pyramid. Ollantaytambo for overnight.

DAY 3 (B,L,D) Today we will visit the sacred site of Moray – temple of fertility for a meditation and coca hallpay ceremony and picnic lunch. There are four huge natural depressions that have been sculpted into deep terraces. These circles represent for us the Cosmic Spiral, and we work with the energy of this place to connect with the womb of the Mother Earth (Mama Pacha). Time to do a ceremony in order to offer something to her and asking permission to be there. In the afternoon we return to Ollantaytambo to the temple of the winds for a cleansing ceremony.  Overnight at Ollantaytambo.

DAY 4 (B,D) Today we catch the morning train for our ride to Machu Picchu (1.5 hours) where we travel through beautiful mountains and jungle scenery of the Andes before arriving at the site. We will have our first ceremony to ask permission of the Entities of the place: The Puma, The Condor and Lights of Spirits. We visit the Seven Places of Power at Machu Picchu. This entire stone complex is a high voltage magnetic focal point and every invocation made at Machu Picchu is amplified to incalculable proportions. We will spend a few days here merging our energies with this sacred site and deepening our understanding of the Inca mythology. On arrival we will check into our hotel and then take the bus to the site for a shamanic visit, explore the powerful temples of the site and have a meditation. Overnight in Aguas calientes.

DAY 05: (B,D) Return to the site for optional hikes, ceremonies and just to be in the energy of this beautiful site. If we feel good we can hike to the Temple of the moon and the sacred peak of Wayna Picchu (this walk lasts 3-5 hours and is demanding but very special to connect the Hanaq Pacha upper world!) If you go you will have the opportunity to see the Temple of the Moon, part way down the northern side of Wayna Picchu. We will continue our explorations of the Royal Tomb, the Funerary Rock, the Sacred Plaza, Condor Temple and the Inihuatana Stone (known as the “hitching post of the sun” is a carved rock pillar whose four corners are oriented toward the four cardinal points. The Inca were accomplished astronomers, and used the angles of the pillar to predict the solstices). We may also walk to the Gate of the Sun which is the end of the Inka Trail. Overnight at Aguas calientes.

DAY 06: (B,D) Optional hikes to Putukusi mountain 3 hours round trip (very demanding) or walk to the waterfalls of Mandor over the train tracks (much easier 4 hours round trip). Overnight at Aguas calientes.

DAY 07: (B,L,D) Early train ride back to Ollantaytambo then by bus to Cusco, resting time, exploring the city, overnight in the city. (11,500 feet)

DAY 08: (B) Visit of the altars of the city including Koricancha, Inka streets, shaman market and the temple of the heart Kusilluchayoc. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 09: (B,L,D) Altars nearby the city such as Sacsayhuaman, Kenko and Chacan the temple of the rainbow (Picnic lunch) on the site itself, optional horse ride to the temple. Cusco, the navel of the earth, was laid out on a grid plan to reproduce the shape of a puma, their sacred mountain animal. The pre-Inca site of Sacsayhuaman, high above the northern edge of the city, forms the head of the puma and the Coricancha temple forms the center of the grid. At Sacsayhuaman; (a hilltop fortress looming over Cusco to the north with three ramparts of zigzag walls that run for nearly 300 meters on its north side) we connect with the rocks which contain messages and lessons for a new era through geometrical symbols. Rest of the day is free to explore the city. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 10: (B) We will drive to Tipon for a purification cleansing ceremony then we will drive to  Wasao to visit one of most popular shamans, Don Martin Pinedo, to receive a blessing and connect with the condor energy. Tipon is a little known Inca ruin complex southeast of Cusco. It consists of a vast walled enclosure with some of the most complex Inca drains, water works and baths, some of which are still functioning. The location is superb, with stupendous views of the mountains and Valley. Uphill from the enclosure is a magnificent Inca aqueduct which we will use for a purification ceremony. Afternoon for free in the city.  Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 11: (B) Today we fly back to Lima for our international flights OR if you are joining us for our extension to Lake Titicaca then we will be taking a bus to Puno.

Extension:

DAY 11: (B,L,D) Today we take our bus to Puno, we will stop on the way to visit several sites of interest including the temple of Wiracocha, the creator of the Andes and have a blessing ceremony and meditation on the site itself. Then drive to Juliaca and Puno. Overnight at Taypicala hotel.

DAY 12: (B,L,D) We leave in the late morning for the temple of the fertility then we will drive to Charcas beach on Lake Titicaca, have a cleansing ceremony, meditation, bathing on the lake, and a picnic lunch. Afternoon bus ride to Puno port for our excursion to the floating islands of Uros – an amazing experience. Overnight at Chucuito.

DAY 13: (B,L,D) We will drive to Cutimbo located on the road to Tacna, experience ancient pre-history caves, then meditating and working on the great Chullpas, places to connect the 3 worlds.  We will have a picnic lunch and take some time to work with the local children, then return to Puno to explore the city and have an early dinner. Overnight in Chucuito.

DAY 14: (B,L,D) Journey to Aramu Muru, we will drive on the Panamerican road to this amazing rock formation which is know as an interdimensional gate! We will have time to be in the energy of this powerful sacred place, do a meditation and have free time to explore. Picnic lunch. Overnight in Chucuito hotel.

DAY 15: (B) We will leave early our hotel, on the way to the airport we will visit the famous site temple of Sillustani, have a final ceremony, then we will continue our drive to the airport of Juliaca for our afternoon flight to Lima and then home.

Costs:

For the main trip itinerary $3395.00 USD double occupancy.

For the extension to Lake Titicaca $995.00 USD double occupancy.

All breakfasts are included in this program and many of our other meals. Our included meals are noted next to each day of the above itinerary and are in parentheses (). Non-included meals may need to be paid for in cash so plan accordingly. All spiritual teachings are included. All tips for the drivers, guides, and bell boys are included. All bus ground transportation is included on this journey. Your international roundtrip air flight is not-included in the cost of the journey, but your internal roundtrip flight from Lima to Cusco/Lake Titicaca is included. Entrance fees to all the ruins are included. Non-included items would include souvenir shopping, personal phone calls, laundry and the tips for your room maid (recommended $1.00 USD per day).

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