Peru FAQs

This retreat to Peru is perfect for you if you are an active person ready to get out for an amazing yoga adventure with like-minded people. We will experience most places in the Sacred Valley by hiking in a high-altitude environment and you can expect daily yoga practices in the morning and evening.

We have planned the days from least strenuous to most strenuous so that your body will have more time to acclimate. You don’t need any yoga experience, just an open mind, open heart, and a reasonably good fitness level.

This trip may not be right for you if you have conditions or injuries that limit your ability to participate in these kinds of activities as many locations do not have alternate points of access. Please consult with your physician to make sure these activities are safe for your body. We will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

What’s Included:
• All transportation to and from the airport and daily activities
• 5 nights at Munay Sonqo (there is no check out for the overnight at Machu Picchu)
• 1 night at Sanctuary Lodge
• 2 nights at Monestario Cusco /1 night gathering in Cusco at Novatel
• 25 mouthwatering meals for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner each day-excludes for Dinner in Cusco on Day 9 and Lunch in Cusco on day 10
• Entrance and activity fees to all the sites on the itinerary
• Local Guide, porter, and driver services and tips for all activities
• Train tickets to Chachabamba and returning from Machu Picchu
• Daily yoga, Sound bath, and/or meditation practices
• All programming and special evening activities such as astronomy night, and local musical experiences
• Day of service donation
• A lasting sense of wonder, joy, and tranquility

What’s NOT Included:
• Round Trip Air to Cusco
• Trip Insurance
• Any covid or other testing requirements that may be in place at the time of the trip.
• Water, snacks, or personal items from the shops and markets
• Optional Museum entry fees
• Restroom fee at Machu Picchu ($1/S)
• Dinner on day 9 in Cusco
• Lunch on day 10 in Cusco
• Optional hotel services such as massage and other personal services
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Also not included are: items of a personal nature such as, gifts, toll calls, medical costs, the costs of hospitalization and evacuation from remote areas, and additional expenses arising from the delay or extension of a trip due to weather, political disputes, sickness, failure of transportation, or other causes beyond our control

A 10% deposit is required at the time of registration except to receive early bird pricing which requires payment in full. Deposit is refundable up to 120 days from the start of the retreat. Cancellations between 90 and 119 days of the retreat will result in a 25% loss of the full trip price. Cancellations made between 60 and 89 days of the start date of the retreat will result in a 50% loss of the total trip price.

Any cancellation made between 59 days and the date of departure will result in the total loss of funds. Reservations made within any time window above will immediately subject to the cancellation policy for that time period. We reserve the right to cancel the trip at any time and for any reason including force majeure and in such an event we will refund the full price of the retreat.

We always recommend that you purchase trip insurance whenever making travel plans and strongly suggest you consider trip insurance that includes covid coverage. You can use our suggested insurance provider and choose a policy option that is best for you.

Refund Schedule:

On or before March 1st, 2023:

Full Refund

March 2^nd-March 31st, 2023:

Loss of deposit or transfer to another adventure

April 1^st-May 30th, 2023:

50% loss of total trip price

May 31st, 2023:

100% loss of total trip price

Payment Schedule:

Deposit 10% due at the time of booking prior to March 1st to secure your spot

March 1^st, 2023: 50% of balance is due

May 1^st, 2023: 100% of Balance is due

Solo travelers may request a roommate match by simply checking the box on the registration form requesting a roommate. We will make every effort to pair you with a roommate based on gender however if that is not possible there will be a single occupancy surcharge equal to 50% of the difference between the double occupancy trip rate and the single occupancy trip rate. Matches will be made on a first come first served basis and will be placed in the larger three single bed accommodations, however, as those rooms fill up we reserve the right to match you into a two single bed accommodation.

Each family member will need to complete a separate reservation process. This retreat is for adults only and Children under the age of 18 are not allowed.

Cusco Peru

Yes, we will provide transportation from Cusco Airport to our gathering hotel and travel to the retreat center together the next morning.

All the meals on this trip are plant based and we have arranged to accommodate other dietary restrictions. Please be sure to note your specific dietary requirements on your registration form so that we can work with our local chef and restaurants to make sure we can accommodate your needs. If you do not inform us of your dietary restrictions during the booking process, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate once we are in country.

Most parts of Peru are considered safe, and the people are very friendly; however, crime does happen in all parts of the world so you should always exercise caution to avoid getting into a situation where you may be a target for pick pocketing, robbery, or assault.

• Always arrange for a taxi through your hotel or restaurant and never hail a cab on the street or accept rides from soliciting cabs.
• Always travel in groups of 2-3 after dark and avoid dark or vacant streets.
• Never leave your drink unattended in a bar and use caution when ordering mixed drinks in some kinds of places.
• Don’t carry more cash than you need and be discreet with it.
• Only bring your credit card and passport with you when you will need them.
• Avoid using ATMs after dark.
• Use common sense and ask the hotel staff if you are unsure about the safety of an area or activity.
• In Peru you should be careful of Shamans, the popularity of certain “ceremonial” activities has attracted a lot of unethical, unsafe, and fraudulent practitioners to that business.

You should always exercise caution when traveling at home or abroad and check with the State Department website for any updates.

In the region of travel the current recommendations include Yellow Fever and Typhoid. Please consult with your doctor for recommended vaccinations based on your medical and vaccination history. Travel Clinics are also an excellent resource for current recommendations based on the specific areas of travel.

The sacred valley has two seasons, wet (summer months) and dry (winter months) but overall, it’s very mild year around. We are traveling during the dry season and can expect warm temperatures during the day and colder temperatures in the early morning and after sunset. Layering is key so please see the packing list for more details on what to bring. Even though it’s the dry season mountain weather can be unpredictable, and rain can pop up at any time. Expect damp conditions in the cloud forest area.

There are inexpensive laundry services available everywhere we will go so you can plan accordingly. Munay Sonqo has a maximum 24hr turn around so its quick.

• Passport with at least 6 months left before expiration. You will need this throughout the trip to enter all the parks, boarding any public transportation such as the train checking into hotels and exchanging currency. Check with your issuing government to be sure you don’t need other travel visa’s based on the country your country of origin. Currently US Passport holders do not need other authorizations to enter Peru.
• Covid Attestation forms. Currently required to board the plane to Peru and also required on some public transit. Peru Rail has its own attestation form that we will complete at the station. This may change and your air carrier will update you on current requirements prior to departure.
• Covid Test: Currently a negative Covid Test is NOT required to enter Peru or come back to the US. Arrangements will be made if this changes before the time of departure from either country.
• Proof of Covid Vaccination: Currently the proof of vaccination is presented before you board the plane to Peru and then presented at customs upon arrival. Vaccination is NOT required to enter the country or travel inside the country. It may also be requested in other settings such as boarding Peruvian Rail. The CDC white card and the State electronic cards are accepted.
• Document holder. It’s very handy to have a thought-out place to keep your documents safe and with you.

We will update these requirements if there are any changes prior to departure for US based flights. If you are joining us from another country, you will need to check the regulations of travel from your country to and from Peru although we can also help with that if you post a question in our private Facebook group as well.

• Travel clothes. Comfortable for airplane rides, site seeing, shopping and dinner in Cusco.
• T-shirts. Short sleeved shirts by mid-morning and most days a short-sleeved shirt and a fleece is all you need. It will be very warm on most days by mid-morning especially in the sun, likely not much different that LA during the day.
• Base layer. It gets cold at night so you may want to bring one base layer depending on what else you are packing mostly for walking around Cusco.
• Jeans. Bring thicker pants to wear at night when its colder or a long base layer for hiking pants. It can get pretty cold at night.
• Shorts. (Optional for sunny afternoons)
• Hiking pants. Good quality, stretchy (double for yoga pants), and quick dry ones are the best option.
Most of these materials are water resistant so they will hold out any rain if we get caught in a rainstorm and will dry quickly.
• Belt.
• Yoga clothes. Comfortable practice clothes for the yoga center. You may mix and match with your hiking clothes depending on the day’s activities.
• Jacket/coat. A good quality warm jacket or a fleece with a separate wind/waterproof shell are perfect for the climate. A nano puff type jacket with a long-sleeved shirt is probably enough on most nights and early mornings. The fleece and shell will give you more layering options. Both work well.
• Hiking boots/shoes. You will want a good quality water resistant boot. They need to be broken in but with good tread. We will not be packing with heavy loads so light hikers will be fine and you can choose what level of ankle support works best for you.
• Other Shoes. Flip Flops, Birkenstocks, and similar shoes are great for the hotels and spas and feel good on your feet at the end of the day. Depending on how light you like to pack you may want to bring walking or tennis shoes for Cusco as well. Keep in mind that it’s a town built on a mountain so you will be walking on cobblestone streets and stairs, up and down hills. Dress shoes or heels are probably not an option you will be happy wearing.
• Swimming suit. For the spas
• Underwear. Whatever you prefer here.
• Socks. Don’t forget something comfortable for hiking too.
• Hat. Highly recommended as we are going to be closer to the sun and its very intense especially in the afternoon.
• Sunglasses. Critical, the sun is very intense in the mountains.
• Gloves (optional). A light pair might be comfortable in the early mornings and evenings if your hands get cold.
• Scarf. Again, its optional depending on how you like to dress in colder weather. It will be colder but not freezing so depending on where you live you might have a different opinion of what is necessary.
• Masks. We recommend bringing a supply of KN95 masks with you. Currently masks are required on all transportation and some transportation services require double masks or a KN95. This is likely to change by the date of departure and we will keep everyone updated in the Facebook group.

• Travel Yoga Mat. These are thin and easily fold up to stow in your daypack. You will not be using these on hard surfaces. Manduka has foldable travel mats in both the Eco line and the Pro line. We will have a mat discussion in the Facebook Group as well.
• Studio Yoga Mat. Most of our practices will be in a studio with hard studio floors so having your regular yoga mat will be more comfortable than the travel ones. This is optional because you can always put a blanket or something under your travel mat in the studio practice room.
• Comfortable practice clothes. When we practice outdoors you can hike in your practice clothes or practice in your hiking clothes, but the climate and fabrics will allow for both. You may also want to wear your yoga pants as a layer under your hiking pants.

• Day Pack. We recommend one with a hip belt, a 2L-3L hydration system or ample water bottle storage and a 20L-24L gear capacity. This should be more than enough storage to hold your clothing layers, items you purchase while shopping, travel yoga mat, personal items, and snacks. Don’t bring a larger pack, Machu Picchu has restrictions on pack size so stick with a day pack. Keep in mind you will not be carrying your overnight clothing and toiletries on the Inca trail.
• Hiking poles. We are going to be on some steep terrain, and these give you two extra points of contact on descent especially in the damp cloud forest. These must be stowed and cannot be used in Machu Picchu, but the rest of the trails are fine, and they take a lot of stress off the knees.
• Rain Poncho. The weather in the mountains can turn to rain at any moment so you will want a lightweight rain poncho to carry in your day pack.
• First Aid Kit. We will have larger kits in our guide packs, but I always recommend that everyone venturing outdoors carry a basic kit just in case.
• Plastic Baggies. Great to have on the trip to organize toiletries for your overnight bag and to carry extra toilet paper on your day hike.
• Toilet paper. It’s always good to have some in a baggie in your day pack just in case and for day hikes. It’s also important to have an empty baggie to pack out trash.
• Hand Sanitizer. Handwashing stations are not always available when traveling so be sure to bring couple of small bottles with you.
• Insect repellent. There will be mosquitos and sand flies in the Sacred Valley and especially around Machu Picchu. This is also why the Yellow Fever vaccination is important.
• Sunscreen. We are going to be at high altitudes and the sun is very intense so you will want to make sure you always have sunscreen on and reapply it as needed especially for your face. And don’t forget your lips! 

• Snacks. We recommend you bring several snacks for each day based on what you like to munch on. Energy bars and trail mix are always good options. There will be fruit you can pack from the hotels too, but you will be burning a lot of calories so plan accordingly.

Munay Sonqo is a sustainable resort. They have a sophisticated system of steams and pools that filter grey water using plants. They request that you make every effort to use environmentally safe personal care products so that you don’t damage the filtering ecosystem. This applies mostly to items like soaps, shampoo, body lotion, and sunscreen. Smaller use items like toothpaste are not likely to have an impact.

We will post tips for products in the Facebook group, and everyone can add tips of their own to the list so you will be well informed on what’s out there and what works.

• Moisturizer. The air is dry from the altitude so your skin may dry out quickly so body lotion and lip moisturizer are important.
• Shampoo and conditioner.
• Hair care items. There will be blow dryers at the hotels, but you will want to bring anything else you want.
• Hair ties
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant.
• Prescription medications
• Pain reliver. Aspirin, Advil, or Tylenol
• Stomach irritation. Both Pepto-Bismol and Imodium should be in your bag for different reasons.
• Cold relief. Sometimes even the altitude or allergies might make your throat or sinuses irritates so throat lozenges and medication such as Dayquil and Nyquil can be handy to have.
• Aquaphor. This should be in every traveler’s arsenal along with a small tube of antibiotic ointment.
• Anti-Itch Cream. Such as Benadryl, for the breakthrough mosquito bites.
• Manicure items
• Ear Plugs. Great for catching some sleep on the plane or ride to Rainbow Mountain…or for a snoring roommate.

***Consult with your doctor, pharmacist or traveler’s clinic about optional or necessary prescriptions such as:
• Altitude Sickness medication
• Antibiotic Z-pak
• Prescription stomach medication

We may not have reliable access to a pharmacy on some parts of the trip so it’s important to be as prepared as possible when you arrive.

• Duffel bag or overnight bag for the trip to Machu Picchu. While we are hiking porters will deliver your overnight bag to the Sanctuary Lodge.
• Luggage zipper locks. You will want these for luggage left in your room and for luggage stored or sent with porter services. You have an option to put one on your day pack to keep wandering hands out in crowded markets.
• Transformer. See the electrical situation FAQ. Probably not necessary if you are just bringing your cell phone, lap top or similar devices that are equipped to regulate the voltage.
• Cash. You will want to bring cash for souvenirs, tips, and snacks. Credit Cards are accepted at larger places but many of the markets and smaller stores only take cash. Currently the exchange office is closed at the Cusco Airport but you can exchange your money to Soles on your lay over in Lima for the first part of the trip and then there are a number of international banks in Cusco near our hotel where you can exchange. We will update this situation in our Facebook Group as we get closer to our departure date.
• Credit Cards and Debit Cards. Its up to you of course but you will want to notify your bank of your travel and travel dates for any cards you plan to use on the trip.

Peru operates on 220V power. Most outlets in hotels are the flat two prong type outlet that also accommodates the round European plugs. Your cell phone chargers and laptops can handle the 220v power supply directly so you can use those as they are. Other items may need a transformer. Consult with the manufacturer of anything you plan to bring to be sure. and travel dates for any cards you plan to use on the trip.

Drinking unfiltered tap water is not a good idea in Peru. At Munay Sonqo the tap water is treated for personal use, however they recommend using the dispensing bottles in your room and common areas.

Our hotels may not have dispensing bottles in the room but sell bottled water and offer filtered water for table service in dining rooms. Bottled water is readily available in all the towns we will be visiting. Brewed beverages such as coffee and tea are fine.
You can bring a water filtration bottle to reduce the use of plastic bottles Do some research to make sure the item, you choose will filter everything you need to remove.

One of the most complete water bottle filtering options is the Grayl Geopress.

You can also fill your personal water bottle to carry with you.

We recommend using hydration packs or a hydration bladder in your day pack. They are an easy way to carry 2-3 liters with you while hiking and exploring. You can fill these at Munay Sonqo or the hotel.

SACRED VALLEY OF PERU ITENERARY 2023

JUNE 30^th  Arrive in Cusco

• Check in to Novatel Cusco
• Afternoon free to explore/short Yoga Class before dinner
• Welcome dinner at Prada Vegana

JULY 1st CUSCO-PISAC-MUNAY SONQO

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Morning Yoga at Pisac Archeological Park
• Explore Markets
• Transport to Munay Sonqo Wellness Retreat Center for noon check in
• Lunch at MS
• Afternoon free for spa and exploring the grounds to acclimate
• Dinner at MS
• Yin Yoga with Sound Bath
• Astronomy Night

JULY 2^nd PUMAMARKA – OLLANTAYTAMBO 

Breakfast at MS

Morning Yoga in Pumamarka 

Gratitude Ceremony at Pumamarka

Explore the temples and ruins

Hike to Ollantaytambo-depends on time spent in park

Lunch at a local restaurant in Ollantaytambo

Explore Ollantaytambo Archeological Park/Sun Temple Ceremony

Option to explore market-depends on time spent in the park

Return to Munay Sonqo

Dinner at MS

Yin Yoga

JULY 3rd CHINCHEROS – MARAS – MORAY

Morning Yoga at MS

Breakfast at MS

Tour Maras salt works

Lunch with a local family in Misminay 

Moray/hike/meditation

Dinner at Munay Sonqo

Yin Yoga with Sound Bath

JULY 4th INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU (Luggage Transport to Machu Picchu)

Early rise to board the train for the Inca Trail

Boxed Breakfast from MS eat on train

Boxed Lunch on the trail at Winayhuayna

Enter Machu Picchu through the famed Sun Gate 

Soak in sunset over the Citadel

Check in to Sanctuary Lodge and clean up

Optional Spa Services before or after dinner

Dinner at Belmond

Light Restorative yoga

JULY 5th MACHU PICCHU-AGUAS CALIENTES 

Early rise to enter the citadel before sunrise

Breakfast at Belmond Hotel/Check Out/Leave Bags

Sunrise Meditation in Machu Picchu

Explore famed Machu Picchu Site and ascend Apu Huayna Picchu

(Option to stay at hotel for the morning after Machu Picchu to enjoy spa and grounds)

Return to hotel for quick yoga class

Lunch in Aguas Calientes

Explore the town and market

Board train back to Ollantaytambo and transport to MS

Dinner at MS

Yin Yoga with special guest 

JULY 6th Munay Sonqo

Morning Yoga

Breakfast at MS

Day of Service at a local permaculture farm for reforestation celebration

Lunch at MS

Afternoon Ceramics class and/or Spa Time

Dinner at MS

Final Soundbath with Gonzalo and Sara

Bonfire/closing ceremony for Sacred Valley

JULY 7th RAINBOW MOUNTAIN (PALCOYO) (luggage transport to Cusco)

Early Rise Boxed Breakfast at Palcoyo from MS

Travel to Palcoyo

Morning Yoga at Palcoyo

Hike to the Rainbow Mountain/Ceremony 

Box Lunch by the river near Rainbow Mountain

Travel to Cusco and check in to Monestario

Dinner at Vida

Evening free to explore Cusco/Spa Time

July 8th CUSCO – SAQSAYHUAMAN 

Breakfast at Monestario

Yoga at Pumamarka site near Cusco/Pachamama celebration 

Hike around Sacsayhuaman (option to hike other sites)

Lunch at Vegan Temple (option to walk down for lunch or van transport)

Afternoon exploring plazas and museums of Cusco

Spa Time

Final Dinner together in Peru at Green Pointe

Evening Yoga

July 9th CUSCO-TRAVEL NIGHT

Morning Yoga at Hotel

Breakfast at Monestario

Check out and move luggage to common rooms

Options to explore Cusco market, museums, shops, and plazas

Free for Lunch

Leave for airport (will arrange transportation individually based on connecting flights in Lima and many are not traveling back but continuing on for a few days in Peru)

Note that the evenings have a flexible agenda.  Each place we are staying has optional Spa services for an additional charge so you can relax and enjoy whatever you would like.  You will want to book spa services in advance of the trip as there is limited availability especially in Monestario and Sanctuary.