Discover Ancient Explorer and their Willka T’ika Peruvian Wellness and Cultural Retreat

Devoted to enhancing your wellbeing the ancient Andean way, a retreat at Willka T’ika will leave you inspired and nurtured. Explore the ancient sights of Peru with a knowledgeable tour guide and learn how to deepen your connection with nature. The resort is renowned for its serene and lush chakra gardens, which feature medicinal flowers and plants and which was designed using the principles of feng shui. It is also equipped with multipurpose yoga studios and sun-heated baths.

The experience

A retreat at Willka T’ika wellness resort is devoted to building strength and wellness the ancient Andean way. This particular seven-day retreat will take place in Cusco, Peru, on 11-18 April, 2019. During the retreat, you will be taught practices that allow you to embrace the flow of wellbeing and master its flow in your life, whether personally or professionally.

The program will be facilitated by Dr Lisa Dunbar Solas, who will act as group leader. Lisa is an Australian-born archaeologist and mythologist, who specialises in the central Andes. She has dedicated her studies to the central Andes for more than 10 years and wrote her PhD dissertation on Inka sacrifice and the sacred landscape. She is an independent artist, known for her “Little Earth Mama” works, inspired by her experiences and love of the central Andes. She practices yoga and meditation and her first spiritual teacher was the Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba.

Keesha Goode, a well-known mandala artist and Kundalini yoga teacher from the Central Coast, Australia, will also support the retreat.

The group will meet at Cusco city, the ancient Inkan capital, and will spend the first two nights in the historic area at a renovated 16th-century hotel built on Inka ruins (Novotel).

While staying in the city, the retreat participants will take a day trip around town, guided by Lisa. This tour will introduce participants to the cultural history of the area and will include a visit to the most sacred shrine and temple of the Inka, Qorikancha, as well as to royal palaces.

The following day, the group will travel to the Sacred Valley, where they will stay for five nights at the Willka T’ika resort. Transfers to and from the resort are included in the retreat package.

During their stay at Willka T’ika, guests will stay in the Garden Rooms, which are twin or triple share. Single rooms can be booked upon request for an additional charge.

Retreat program

The retreat program includes workshops and classes designed to introduce participants to nurturing their wellbeing and deepening their connection with nature following ancient Andean principles.

The workshops include:

A daytime herbal medicine workshop
Traditional despacho (fire) ceremony
Evening Andean musical performance
Inka water divination, spiritual bathing practices and creative dreaming
Working with the Inka mother archetypes, including Pachamama
Daily Kundalini yoga classes (five in total)
Paint your own mandala workshops.

There will also be trips to the following archaeological sites:

Pisac, an Inkan royal estate
The shrine, Urqo Calca
Machu Picchu

All entry fees and transfers to and from these places are included in the package. Additional services available while staying at Willka T’ika include:

Private coca leaf readings with a Qero Paqo and Layka (initiated healers)
Traditional Andean healings with a Qero Paqo (depending on availability)
Spa services (including shiatsu and full-body massages and lymphatic treatments, facials and Andean spa floral baths)

The food

Meals offered are vegetarian and made from local produce. Special diets can be accommodated with advance notice.

Water at Willka T’ika is filtered with the internationally recognised Sawyer filter.

Things to remember

This is an alcohol- and drug-free retreat. Hallucinogens will not be consumed during workshops and/or classes. There are only 15 places available for this retreat.

Participants are advised to consult with a medical professional prior to departure for travel advice and vaccinations. We also recommend that participants discuss with their health professionals and practitioners how to best nurture themselves while living at high altitude.

When entering Peru, a passport valid for a minimum of six months with at least two pages in the visa section is required. A return ticket is also required. On a tourist visa, the maximum stay is 183 days per year. We recommend that participants seek the advice of their travel agent and the Peruvian embassy in your state.

We recommend that guests also purchase travel insurance.

Additional costs include flights from Australia to Cusco, Peru, and hotel transfers from Cusco Airport to the hotel. All meals will be provided during your stay at Willka T’ika only.

Wi-Fi is available at the resort.