10090 Main St. Suite G, Peshastin, WA 98847, USA (425) 281-4996 www.redlotustours.com

Peruvian Women's Empowerment Tour - 16 Day/15 Night Itinerary

Friday, Day 0 - TRAVEL DAY

Board your flight to Peru from your home city. When you arrive in Lima we will meet you after you exit from customs with a WELCOME sign, where our Peruvian guide, Washington will greet you and provide you with transportation to our hotel. Most flights from North America arrive in Lima very late at night, so this day is spent traveling. We will provide snacks in your room in case you need something light before you go to sleep.

Saturday, Day 1

This is a day in Lima to recover from your late flight and get rested so you can begin your trip healthy and relaxed. We don t have a lot planned today for that reason. We will have a group lunch as well as a visit to the Catacombs. For dinner we will assist you to find a great restaurant.

Sunday, Day 2

We will enjoy breakfast at our hotel together then transfer to the airport for our flight to Cusco, once the capital of the Incan Empire. We will then be transported to our local bed and breakfast, get checked into our rooms and have an introductory talk and ceremony. You will be able to rest in the afternoon and the bed and breakfast will provide coca tea which helps the adjustment to high altitude. (Please see our section "About Cusco"). After a group dinner you will be at leisure to take a walk around town or return to the bed and breakfast to relax, unpack and get to bed early or visit with fellow travelers.

Monday, Day 3

Today begins with group meditation and intention setting. You will begin Spanish classes today and lunch will be at your leisure (you will be given a list of suggested restaurants). Your first salsa lesson will be this afternoon and there will be time to unwind at the B & B before we gather again for dinner.

Tuesday, Day 4

Today begins the same as yesterday with a group gathering followed by Spanish classes or free time, your choice. In the afternoon we will explore the Incan ruins of the Temple of the Moon. In the evening we will take a short walk down from the hillside above Cusco to arrive in San Blas and our B & B. We will enjoy another great Cusco restaurant together for dinner.

Wednesday, Day 5

After breakfast this morning we gather for our tour of Sacsayhuaman, the famous Inca ruins in the hills surrounding Cusco. We will be treated to traditional Andean music while we enjoy a picnic lunch at the ruins. There will be a group dinner and the opportunity to attend group salsa classes at the local disco, or enjoy your evening at leisure.

Thursday, Day 6

This morning we will be checking out of our Cusco B & B after breakfast. We will board a private bus in Cusco for the trip to Ollantaytambo. There will be stops along the way for shopping in local markets at Chinchero and a picnic lunch at the ruins of Moray. After visiting the salt flats of Salinas, we will take a short but beautiful walk down to the town of Urubumba where we will meet our bus. The bus will deliver us to our private retreat center on the outskirts of town where dinner will be prepared for us that evening. Today is a good day to sign up for the crystal healing room or outdoor mineral baths.

Friday, Day 7

After breakfast Washington will pick us up and take us to the Universal Heart Restaurant in Ollantaytambo. We will help the local women prepare lunch for 120+local school children, and we will present these children with our gifts of school supplies that we have all brought from home. For the afternoon you have options of joining our yoga class back at the retreat center, enjoying a silent retreat on your own in the gardens of the center, or spending time in town enjoying the people, shops and sights of Ollantaytambo. Dinner will be at the retreat center.

Saturday, Day 8

After breakfast at the retreat center there will be a group session in the yoga/meditation hall where we will lead you in a meditative journey. During this journey you will have a chance to connect with your spirit animal (totem animal) or receive a gift from your spiritual guides. Lunch will be at the retreat center. The afternoon will give you free time to enjoy relaxing, visiting or just soaking up the vibes and reflecting on the mornings meditation. We will meet Washington at the ruins of Ollantaytambo for a tour. Dinner will be on your own in the town of Ollantaytambo.

Sunday, Day 9

A day of touring the indigenous Quechua villages of Willoc and Patacancha. Your choice of mountain biking or hiking (all downhill) through the Andean landscape of grazing llamas, majestic mountains and local people at the Sunday market in their authentic clothing. There will be a van accompanying us down the mountainside for those who prefer to ride down, or need to rest on the way down. Bikers, hikers and riders will all enjoy the same stops and activities. Our ride or hike ends in Ollantaytambo where we will be given a transport back to the retreat center. After dinner we will have a group ceremony in the yoga/meditation hall.

Monday, Day 10

After we check out of our retreat center we will board the train to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo. This scenic journey is about 1 hr and 45 minutes. Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel in Aguas Calientes. Aguas Calientes (meaning hot water, so named for their famous hot springs) is a small town the sits at the base of the mountain where the ruins of Machu Picchu are perched. The rest of the day is at leisure to wander around town, do some shopping, visit the hot springs, spa or simply rest. Our dinner will be at a local restaurant.

Tuesday, Day 11

Machu Picchu!
After a very early breakfast we will board a bus to take us up the windy road to the sacred Inca site of Machu Picchu. We will tour the ruins with our guide, Washington for the early part of the day. For those who would like to hike to the top of Huayna Picchu, you will take time before lunch to make the climb! Others can continue with Washi. Lunch will be at El Sanctuario, a luxury hotel at the site.
After lunch you will be able to explore the ruins at your own pace, return to Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes) on the bus, or hike down. Later we will meet outside the hotel for dinner and a private night at the hot springs.

Wednesday, Day 12

This is a day where you can visit Machu Picchu with Washington, and continue to have a guided tour of the ruins, hike around and explore temple of the sun and the Inca trail on your own, hike to Winah Picchu if you didn t on the previous day, or partake in a San Pedro Ceremony. The evening is free to dine where you wish.

Thursday, Day 13

We will meet together over breakfast for information on checking out of our hotel and train schedule. There will be time this morning to wander about the town or have a spa treatment. In the afternoon we will be catching the train back to Cusco. Upon our arrival in Cusco we will check back into our hotel; dinner will be taken at leisure at another fine Cusco restaurant. Enjoy your evening as you wish.

Friday, Day 14

A number of options for this, our last day together; We have markets to explore, sight seeing, spas, and the favorite: SHOPPING!!! Tonight we will have our Farewell Ceremony after which we will enjoy our final dinner together and a night out on the town if you wish.

Saturday, Day 15

Check out of hotel and take transport to Cusco airport.
We will all fly back to Lima together (unless you are going to continue on in another direction), then homeward bound according to your own personal itinerary. * We have booked day rooms for you because almost all flights leaving for North America do so in the middle of the night.