A Heart Opening Sacred Journey during the Spring Equinox
with Andean Medicine Man, Healer and Wisdom Keeper,
Puma Quispe Singona
September 16 – 24, 2012
With an optional extension to Lake Titicaca, The Heart of Mama Cocha
September 24 – 28, 2012
Day 1 – Sun, Sep 16: Arrive in Lima
Arrive in Lima from your home city. You will be met by our representative and assisted with check-in at the hotel, right at Lima Airport. Let your dreams this evening welcome you to this sacred land and offer insights into the spiritual journey which awaits.
(Overnight at Lima Airport Hotel)
Day 2 – Mon, Sep 17: Fly from Lima to Cusco (B, D)
Today we fly over the majestic Andes to Cusco. Make sure to have your camera ready for some spectacular photo opportunities. On a clear day you can see all the valleys and peaks and the tiny mountain towns scattered among the hills. In the afternoon we will have our introductory meeting to go over all the exciting activities we have planned for our journey.
Spend the rest of the day independently to adjust to the altitude and wander through the colourful town. Make sure to check out the fabulous craft markets to get a head start on gift buying. In the evening we will gather together for our Welcome Dinner of traditional Peruvian cuisine and enjoy the local entertainment.
(Overnight in Cusco)
Day 3 – Tue, Sep 18: Full Day City Tour and Inca Sacred Sites (B, L)
Wake up early for a private meditation and set your intention for your journey. At breakfast fill up for a full day of sightseeing. We begin with a visit to Sacsayhuamán, where we will marvel at this architectural wonder and learn the mystery and legends of how this stone-walled complex was constructed. We will connect with the “Sacred Trilogy of the Puma Serpent and Condor” and learn about what the Incan elders believed of parallel dimensions. As we walk through the temple of Sacsayhuamán, known as the womb of Pachamama, we will experience a process of rebirth. At the Temple of the Condor we will participate in an Andean Initiation Ceremony to connect with the ancestors. We then continue on to Tambomachay, a favourite resting place of the Incas, commonly referred to as the “Baños del Inca” or “Baños de la Ñusta“, (Baths of the Incas or Baths of the Princess). This site, once used for ritual bathing, is believed to be a temple dedicated to the worship of water. As we listen to the crystalline water springs flow over the magnificently carved stones, we will connect with the element of water.
After visiting other sacred temples around the mountain, we return to the city of Cusco for acity tour and to immerse ourselves in the smiles and laughter of the local people. We may also have a moment to visit the markets to shop for some local handicrafts. Later we visit Coricancha, one of the most revered temples, dedicated to the Sun God, whose walls and floors were once covered in sheets of solid gold. Wander the courtyard which was once filled with golden statues. We also visit the Inca Museum near the main square. To end off the day we stop at Kusilluchayoc, an ancient shrine hidden in the countryside, for a private ceremony.
(Overnight in Cusco)
Day 4 – Wed, Sep 19: Sacred Valley: Pisac and Ollantaytambo (B, L)
After breakfast we make our way through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the area between Pisac and Ollantaytambo, catching sight of the scattering of ancient Incan remnants, reminders of the region’s immense ceremonial importance. This long narrow valley goes up to Urcos in the south and towards the north to cross Ollantaytambo before its stretch of broad plains, rugged peaks, and incomparable beauty finally reach the citadel of Machu Picchu. Its fertile lands have been home to the Inca for thousands of years and their mysteries and legends still resound. We drive into the hills to the picturesque town of Pisac to admire the colonial architecture and the awe-inspiring scenic beauty and stop at the ancient solar observatory, which we will enter through the ancient Temple of the Condor, for a private ceremony. We then make our way to the village of Pisac and enjoy time to explore the Andean Marketplace to purchase lovely handcrafted treasures to take home.
After lunch in Urubamba, we continue on to Ollantaytambo, the Sanctuary of the Wind, renowned for its ancient fortress. We visit the royal baths and fountains for a shamanic energy cleansing ceremony by Unu, the Water element, and then make our way along the murmuring river to the Temple of the Condor for a few moments of reflection and silent meditation. Ending off our afternoon, we stop at the main altar area of the temple to receive our blessings from Wayra (Wind Element), the guardian of the site. As we watch the sun set, take time to reflect on the day before returning to our hotel for the night.
(Overnight in the Valley)
Day 5 – Thu, Sep 20: Chinchero (B, L)
Chinchero, a small village located high up in the windswept plains, offers spectacular views over the Sacred Valley and the snow capped peaks of the Andes. Renowned for its beautiful traditional weavings, this town is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs and gifts. Here we immerse ourselves in the local community meeting village elders and the friendly local inhabitants.
We will have the pleasure of meeting Puma’s family to learn more of their traditional ways and practices and perhaps hear a few stories and tales. We will learn more about Puma’s mother’s foundation, the Ayni Ayllu Weaving Cooperative and hopefully pick up a few treasures for ourselves and loved 
ones back home. We will have the pleasure of meeting Puma’s family to learn more of their traditional ways and practices and perhaps hear a few stories and tales. We will learn more about Puma’s mother’s foundation, the Ayni Ayllu Weaving Cooperative and hopefully pick up a few treasures for ourselves and loved ones back home. We will also have the honor of participating in a special Despacho Ceremony with Puma and a local Q’ero Master to express our gratitude to Pachamama and the Apus, as well as the wonderful people of this small community. The ceremony is also one of healing, allowing you to shed whatever needs to liberated by offering it to the sacred fire and transforming all the heaviness you have accumulated into light and an energy of higher frequency. Enjoy the evening at your leisure to prepare for your visit to sacred Machu Picchu the next day.
(Overnight in the Valley)
Day 6 – Fri, Sep 21: Train to Aguas Calientes; Machu Picchu (B, L)
Today we enjoy a scenic train ride along the Urubamaba River to the charming village of Aguas Calientes. After checking in to our hotel we make our way by bus to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu for our spiritual awakening. “The Lost City of the Incas” is an inspiring and beautiful sacred site, an architectural wonder, and a great testament to Inca Civilization. Once used primarily as an astronomical Observatory, Machu Picchu now attracts thousands of visitors each year to connect with the sacred energies of this special place. Because it sits within 3 corresponding high peaks of power which create an energy triangle, it is a perfect spot to sit and meditate, focus your intent, and grow your awareness.
During our time here we will visit the Temple of the Sun and Moon, the Temple of the Condor, the Temple of the Three Windows, and the spiritual center of the Intihuatana, or the Hitching Post of the Sun to connect with the upper and lower worlds and the elements of air, and fire. Enjoy a few moments for private reflection and exploration, before being guided into a heart-opening ceremony to connect with Pachamama and the universal energies that encompass us – a life changing experience!
(Overnight in Aguas Calientes)
Day 7 – Sat, Sep 22: Machu Picchu & Special Spring Equinox Ceremony (B, L)
We return to Machu Picchu once again for another day of introspection and reflection. Spend the day exploring the magic of this special place and being fully present in each moment of wonder. During our special Spring Equinox Ceremony we connect with the spirits of the Apus and the heart of Pachamama for a deeply profound and transformational experience. Learn how to release old habits and patterns that do not serve you so that you may begin anew. With the guidance of Puma and the support of new friends, find the inspiration to recreate your life to live out your soul’s purpose.
(Overnight in Aguas Calientes)
Day 8 – Sun, Sep 23: Moray; Return to Cusco (B, L, D)
After breakfast we board the return train and after disembarking, our bus takes us for a visit to the captivating Inca site of Moray, six hundred meters above Urubamba. This ancient site contains unusual Inca ruins, large circular terraces, and a sunken amphitheater. The circular terraces were used for agriculture and were created as a type of open green house consisting of tropical microclimates. As Moray was also considered the womb of Mother Earth, it was thought to be the best place to initiate healers. Here, we will experience another connection with the sacred feminine energy for healing our physical bodies and our emotional temples.
Later in the day we travel back to Cusco and retire for the evening. In the evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner with music and traditional dancing for those leaving us at the end of the journey. Tonight will be a wonderful opportunity to share the gifts, wisdom, and insights we have all received on this magical journey.
(Overnight in Cusco)
Day 9 – Mon, Sept 24: End of Journey – Fly back to Lima for return home (B)
This morning fly from Cusco to Lima for your departure home blessed with new-found wisdom and insights, or continue on to Lake Titicaca for an inspiring cultural experience
Day 9 – Mon, Sep 24: Raqchi; La Raya; Pucara, Chucuito; Lake Titicaca (B, L, D)
This morning we continue to visit sacred sites near the city of Cusco. Our first visit will be to Raqchi, also known as the Temple of Wiracocha, the God Creator of the Andes. Here, we will find our centre and point of connection to our divine origins. After a quick stop for lunch, we will stop in La Raya, which divides the regions of Cusco and Puno. With an elevation of 4335 meters above sea level, La Raya provides enchanting panoramic views of the Andes as they rise tower over quaint alpaca farms. Here we visit the source of the sacred Willcamayu River, which for the Inca, was the reflection of the river in the stars or our milky way. We will connect with the smallest water volcano and then stop in Pucara the most important site of connection with the ancestral lineage of the Inca and the pre Inca culture. Petroglyphs found here reveal the origins of life on the planet and also the origins of spirituality in the Andes. We will also meet “The Frog God” which bestows fertility and prosperity to those who visit.
We then continue on to Puno and finally Chucuito where we will settle into our hotel for the evening. Here, we can awe at the splendor of Lake Titicaca, which sits over 3800 meters above sea level, making it the highest navigable lake in the world. Notable for its people who live on the Uros, a group of artificial islands made of floating reeds, this remarkable place is one not to be missed. Resting in the heart of the nurturing Andean feminine energy, we will be welcomed by the loving embrace of powerful Mama Cocha. Enjoy the evening at your leisure.
(Overnight in Chucuito)
Day 10 – Tue, Sep 25: Interdimentional Portal Arama Muru; Inca Uyo (B, L, D)
This morning we journey to Aramu Muru’s Doorway in the Valley of the Spirits. We will tread carefully upon large rock formations in the shapes of a serpent and puma to connect with the energies of the Lower and Middle Worlds. As we trek to the Doorway we pass by the mysterious Valley of the Spirits and a mystical arrangement of natural rock formations. At Aramu 
Muru’s Doorway, known to be a portal into other dimensions, we will be led into ceremony to honour our own personal growth and transformation and our own rebirth and crossing into our new life.
In the afternoon we make our way to the sacred ancient fertility temple of Inca Uyo, which means “dwelling or place of the Inca”. This walled enclosure is filled with phallic shaped stone carvings, some of which point up at the sky toward Inti, the Inca Sun God, while others lie resting on the ground towards Pachamama.
(Overnigt in Chucuito)
Day 11 – Wed, Sep 26: Uros Islands and Amantani (B, L, D)
Arise early this morning to revel in the morning sun before embarking on a private boat trip on the tranquil waters of Lake Titicaca to the Uros Islands. These islands of Tortora reeds are home to the Uros people who, according to legend, existed before the sun when the earth was cold and dark. Once used as a mobile defense system, the islands now attract visitors from all over and offer an opportunity to learn about ancient practices and traditions and a chance to admire the simple way of life of the people. Although the Uros claim to have “black blood” which makes them impervious to the cold, they are a warm and inviting people and we will all be welcomed with open arms and hearts.
Among the islands, we also visit Amantaní, a circular island about 9 square km in size, known as the “Island of the Kantuta”, after the national flower which grows plentifully here. The island is home to two mountain peaks, Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth), and contains ancient Inca and Tiwanaku ruins on top of both. Agriculture is a main way of life here evidenced by the terraced hillsides which are planted with wheat, quinoa, potatoes, and other vegetables. Fluffy Alpacas can also be spotted grazing the slopes. The local Amantaní are renowned for their beautiful textiles and ceramics as well as their heartwarming and welcoming natures. On this island, we will connect with the sacred balance of feminine and masculine energies at the Temple of Pachatata and Pachamama. We will prepare a sacred offering to heal any disharmony and to help balance the masculine and feminine polarities within ourselves to achieve harmony.
We will also enjoy a most unique experience as we overnight here on the island with a local “homestay”. While the comforts will be basic (sleeping bags will be provided), it is a great honor to be welcomed into the community and homes of the local Uros people who welcome us with open arms and hearts. It will also be a wonderful opportunity to gain a greater understanding, appreciation, and respect for their way of life and traditions.
(Overnight on Amantaní)
Day 12 – Thu, Sep 27: Ceremony by Lake Titicaca; Return to Chucuito (B, L, D)
This morning we leave the island of Amantaní and our new families, and journey for an hour to a pristine area unimpeded by tourists by the shores of Lake Titicaca. Here we will gather for a sacred ceremony to complete our healing process in preparation for our return home. This will be our final opportunity to give thanks to Mother Earth and all those who have nurtured us and blessed us on this journey. Gathered in reverence we will show our greatest appreciation tothe Great Mother and also have a chance to thank our new spirit brothers and sisters for their company and friendship on this transformational journey. We will also learn how to protect our aura and also how to keep our vibrational energy high and constant so that we can continue to heal ourselves. Later in the evening, we will enjoy our final farewell dinner to share stories, laughter and tears, give thanks to Pachamama and Pachatata, and to relive this most amazing journey.
(Overnight in Chucuito)
Day 13 – Fri, Sep 28: Return to Lima and Transfer to Airport for Return Home (B)
Transfer to the Juliaca airport for your flight to Lima. If required, we can arrange day rooms at the airport hotel before your return flight home from Lima.
BMSJ would like to thank Collista Zook, Jan Roscovich, Kathy Holme, Marcy Strate, Maria Hernandez, and Rosemarie Asterino who traveled to Peru on previous Heart of the Pachamama journeys and were gracious enough to share some of their photos that appear in this itinerary.
Tour Inclusions and Prices
Main Tour Includes:
- Accommodation at 4 star hotels in Double Occupancy
- Breakfast Daily, 6 Lunches, 2 Dinners
- Flight from Lima/Cusco
- Flight from Cusco/Lima or Juliaca/Lima if taking extension
- Transportation by Private Coach
- Train to/from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
- Entrance to Machu Picchu for TWO DAYS with shuttle service
- Entrance fees to Archaeological Sites and Temples
Added Features:
- Travel with Andean Medicine Man, Healer and Wisdom Keeper, Puma Quispe Singona
- Welcome and Farewell Dinners with music and traditional dancing
- Visits to Sacred Sites and Temples
- Traditional Andean Ceremonies
- Special Spring Equinox Ceremony at Machu Picchu
- Community Immersion
Lake Titicaca Extension Includes:
- Accommodation at 4 Star Hotel, 1 night Homestay on Amantani Island
- All Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily
- Transportation by Private Coach and Boat
- Flight from Juliaca to Lima (included in Main Tour)
- Entrance Fees to Sites Visited
- Private Ceremonies and Rituals
Tour Does Not Include:
- Airfare to and from Lima, Peru
- Cancellation and Medical insurance (see below)
- Meals and drinks not specified
- Cost to obtain valid passport
- Tips & Gratuities for drivers, bellboys, waiters, etc.
- Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks and telephone calls. Any item that is not specifically detailed on our website or in the final retreat itinerary.
Please read the Terms and Conditions for this tour.
TOUR PRICES:
** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.
Price Per Person (Land Only)
$2,980 payments via check or money order
$3,137 payments via credit card
Single Supplement
$610 payments via check or money order
$642 payments via credit card
Lake Titicaca Extension
$980 payments via check or money order
$1,032 payments via credit card
Lake Titicaca Extension Single Supplement
$275 payments via check or money order
$289 payments via credit card
Travel Insurance
Body Mind Spirit Journeys highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance.
If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.
For Flight Assistance and Ticketing, call: 631-624-7612
or email horst@rmctravelight.com