Peru: Sacred Valley
| Day 1-2 | We congregate in Cusco and travel to Urubamba in Peru’s Sacred Valley. Nestled in a quiet eco-lodge, we spend two days orienting ourselves to our surroundings and learning about the cultural and spiritual significance of this sacred landscape. A day hike takes us to little-known Incan ruins tucked away in the surrounding mountains, as we learn about Quechua traditions and the legacy of the Incan empire in modern day Peru. |
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| Day 3-6 | Heading deeper into the mountains above the Sacred Valley, we spend four days in Parque de la Papa, a collection of remote Quechua villages working to preserve their cultural and agricultural traditions. Staying with local families, we learn about the more than 1,000 varieties of potatoes produced in this region, and the ways in which community members are adapting to changing climate conditions. Hikes take us to sparkling alpine lakes, while workshops with families engage us in traditional textiles, medicinal plants, and Andean spirituality. Conversations with our hosts explore the oftentimes incongruous forces of development and the preservation of cultural heritage and indigenous identity. |
| Day 7 | Bidding farewell to our host families, we descend from the Potato Park and spend an afternoon/evening at the Pisac Archaeological Complex, an elaborate fortress and burial site that once protected the southern entrance to the Sacred Valley. This lesser-known site offers sweeping views of the valley, intricate agricultural terraces and irrigation systems still in use today, and a window into the dramatic rise and fall of the Incan empire. |
| Day 8-10 | Returning to Cusco, we spend two days exploring this ancient colonial city, where past and present co-exist in a bewildering and captivating union. Our final days together will be spent navigating the city’s winding streets, enjoying the rich flavors of Peruvian cuisine, and reflecting on the enduring lessons of modernity, adaptation, and cultural resistance in southern Peru. Accompanied by our friend Siwar Qente, a Q’eros spiritual leader and descendent of the Inca, we will have a final ceremony at the Temple of the Moon overlooking Cusco. We complete the program honoring this sacred landscape, reflecting upon our journey, and preparing for the transition home. |
| Day 11 Extention | For participants that are interested, you can extend your trip for an extra day to explore Machu Picchu. For an additional cost, we will arrange your train tickets and a guide to explore the enchanting Incan fortress. During the excursion you will also discuss the impacts of tourism on cultural patrimony in the midst of the most visited archaeological site in the Western Hemisphere. |