Peru Yoga and Meditation
Cultural Immersion in Sacred Peru
June 18-30, 2019 • 13 Days and 12 Nights
Opening Doors to the Mysteries of the Heart
A rare and intimate opportunity to practice Yoga with Suzi Hammer in Peruvian sacred sites: Cuzco; Machu Picchu; the Urubamba Sacred Valley; and the Madre De Dios River inside the Amazonian rainforest. See complete Itinerary for Sacred Peru 2019 trip.
Yoga Practice will be led by Suzi Hammer, a joyous, accomplished yoga instructor. She has an authentic style of yoga crafted over 20 years, which embraces all levels, and draws from many yoga traditions, including Hatha, Iyengar, Yin, and Restorative.
Suzi’s energy and inspiration is to have her students practice with curiosity and playfulness as they discover their own unique body, while improving balance, strength, flexibility, and nurturing the mind-body-spirit connection. Her infectious passion for yoga’s incredible journey, allows for possibility and growth for the individual student.
Yoga classes will include a sequence which will calm the body and release tension through mindful measured movement. Class will be followed by an optional 20 minutes of meditation on the “gems of the Bhagavadgita.”
Suzi received her 500 hour Master training from Mark Stephens and has studied under Rod Stryker, Rodney Yee, Todd Norian and Tias Little. Suzi has traveled to India several times and to Bhutan, where she taught yoga on a spiritual retreat. She currently works at a Wellness Clinic in Wisconsin.
Meditation practice themes will include: the setting of daily intentions, enhancing gratitude, cultivating self-compassion, and building resiliency.
Our cultural immersion in Peru will open us to a practice of being present more fully. Guided meditations and silent meditation practice will be led daily by Marla Perry, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and dharma practitioner.
Marla’s primary dharma teacher is Al Kaszniak, Ph.D., Zen Buddhist Sensei, neuropsychologist, researcher and author on Zen practice and neuroscience. Marla works in trauma-addiction recovery programs and co-leads annual Bhutan spiritual immersion pilgrimages and retreats.
Trip Details
What’s Included:
- Accommodations:
4 Nights in Miraflores, Lima at a period mansion, close in to museums, galleries, cafés, parks, Pacific Ocean beaches, and artisan markets. 4 Nights in storied Cuzco at the glorious Monasterio Hotel San Pedro, a converted monastery built in 1650; one Night at Gringo Bill’s Boutique Hotel in Aguas Caliente at the gateway to Machu Picchu; and four Days and three Nights adventure in the Amazon, at Monte Amazonico Jungle Lodge adjacent to the Tambopata National Reserve. - Daily Yoga practice and daily “Gems of the Bhagavad-Gita” teachings, and daily guided meditations.
- All breakfasts; three lunches; and four dinners. For meals not included, lunches in Peru are typically $7.00–15.00 USD, and dinners between $10.00 and $20.00 USD, depending on your food choices. There is an immense variety of vegetarian options that are creative and tasty, following the Peruvian cuisine. Other diet requirements, including vegan, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, can be accommodated in Peru.
- Airport transfers. Domestic national flights. multi-city, Lima–Cuzco–Puerto Maldonado (jungle lodge stay)–Lima are all included; the round trip train trip, Cuzco–Machu Picchu; round trip Amazon boat ride to Jungle Lodge and also day trips during our jungle lodge stay; transportation for day trips from Cuzco to local village markets and to the sacred Urubamba river valley.
- Guides. All admissions to Machu Picchu ruins, archeological sites, museums, temples.
What’s Not Included:
- Round trip international airfare to and from Lima, Peru.
- Beer, wine, and alcoholic beverages.
- Tipping. Best reflecting on the experience you had, and tip accordingly. Dana, the concept of giving from generosity, may apply to your experience with Suzi Hammer, the Yoga instructor. If you feel moved in your practice with Suzi, you may wish to acknowledge her through a monetary offering.
Cost of the 13 Day/ 12 Night Cultural Immersion Yoga Tour:
- Based on double occupancy, per person cost is: $3,195.00
- Single occupancy supplement, add $790.00. If you wish to have a roommate, we will endeavor to match you. However, we cannot guarantee finding a roommate.
- There is no Peruvian visa needed for citizens from the U.S. and most Western countries.
Health and Traveling: We each have our own unique body and possible health challenges, and we encourage you to consult your healthcare provider and or your local international health travel clinic. Hepatitis: A vaccine is recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for most travelers including those with “standard itineraries and accommodations”. Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated food and water, and via person-to-person contact. We have chosen hotels and lodges with the highest sanitation practices for international travelers. We recommend drinking only bottled water.
We will be in the Amazonian rainforest during Peru’s ‘winter’, and also during their ‘dry’ season. Malaria and yellow fever are transmitted via mosquitoes. We recommend while in the Madre De Dios rainforest region, wearing comfortable, loose fitting long sleeved shirts and long pants. We recommend, during those four days in the jungle, using your choice of insect repellent. The jungle lodge provides mosquito netting for sleeping.
There are prescription medications you can obtain to prevent malaria. We will not be sleeping outdoors in the jungle experience. Consult with your physician.
Altitude. Machu Picchu (7,900 feet) is surprisingly at less altitude than Cuzco (11,000 feet). High altitude affects different people in different ways. The sacred valley of Urubamba is at 9,000 feet. On the first day in the Cuzco area, we will drive to the village of Pisac, with an altitude of 9,750 feet. We recommend everyone take it easy, pace yourself and gently acclimate. You may want to research prophylaxis treatments for altitude sickness.
Weather. We will be in Peru during their winter. It is also the ‘dry season’. We will be in three distinct microclimates: Miraflores/Lima temperatures 68 days and 60 nights; Cuzco/ Machu Picchu 69 days and 35 nights; Puerto Maldonaldo/ jungle 85 days and 65 nights. Please consider comfortable walking shoes, sun hats, sun screen, and bringing layered clothing: jackets or sweaters for the evenings, and light cotton clothing for the jungle. Appropriate clothing for temperature ranges for Miraflores/Lima on the Pacific coast and also for Cuzco/Machu Picchu.
Currency. The Peruvian Sol has a currency symbol of S/. The Peruvian currency code is PEN. As of this writing, $20.00 USD is equivalent to 66 Peruvian Sols. For example, (1) PEN or Sol = 0.30 USD. And (1) USD = 3.30 PEN or Sols. Credit cards (VISA and Mastercard) are accepted at upscale stores and galleries and restaurants and boutiques in Miraflores/Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu. Peruvian Sols are mostly accepted in the rainforest. It is best to convert some dollars to Sols at the Lima airport, upon entry, especially for purchases in the villages and craft markets. ATM’s are available throughout Peru, except not in the jungle.