(Stand alone or extension to Ascension of the Light Tour)

(Stand alone or extension to Andean Awakening Tour)

13 Day Itinerary

Day 1 Wednesday, July 18   ARRIVE IN LIMA
Today we arrive early in Lima and catch a flight to Juliaca. Overnight in Chucuito at the Taypikala Hotel.

Day 2 Thursday, July 19   FLY TO CUSCO  
We take a morning flight to Cusco — the Naval of the Universe and Center of the Incan Empire. We are transferred to the Taypikala Hotel and take time to adjust to the altitude. Here we connect with the first animal guide of the Incas — the great Puma — that represents this world and this time. Just being in Cusco, we become part of Puma. In its presence, we liberate the heavy energy (Hucha), and, with the help and courage of Puma, absorb and expand the refined energy (Sami) through our Cusco (navel). (Overnight in Cusco at the Taypikala Hotel) (B)

Day 3 Friday, July 20   TIPON RUINS  
Our first day in the Andean countryside takes us to Tipon Ruins. According to legends, Tipon is one of the royal gardens that Wiracocha ordered to be built. It also may have been a park for upper class or an agricultural center. It is one of the most elaborate examples of agricultural terracing created by the Incas. These tall terraces, which run up the narrow valley, are irrigated by an aqueduct from Pachatusan, the mountain above the site. In addition to the terracing there are also some other structures at Tipon, including baths, a temple complex, canals and aqueducts. Still today, water is rushing though the channels and the wide terraces, masterpieces of mortar-less walls, are in perfect condition.

It is here that we connect to the element of Water — one of the alive elements. We take part in a cleansing ceremony to clean our different bodies and chakras. We will listen to Water and talk to her, thanking her for her service and wisdom. (Overnight in Cusco at the Taypikala Hotel) (B, L)

Day 4 Saturday, July 21   MORAY, MARAS, CHINCHERO  
Today we venture to the sacred terraces of Maras and Moray and the ancient Incan village of Chinchero. In Moray, we find three sets of huge natural depressions that have been sculpted into deep terraces. These circles represent for us the Cosmic Spiral — the expansion of our essence from our center. We work with Earth energy to connect to the womb of Mother Earth, to release our Hucha and one-by-one to put our message into the Cosmos to live fully in this life.

Below Moray are the Maras Salt Terraces where the Incas cleverly built terraces to capture the flow of a salty spring that emerges from the hillside. During the dry season, the water evaporates, leaving salt that can be harvested and sold. When light is reflected across the terraces and refracted by the salt crystals, the effect is quite stunning — reminding us of our unique light inside that is spilling out into the world lighting a path for those to come.

Along the way, we travel up to 12,500 feet to the ancient Incan village of Chinchero, where the terraced farmlands of the Incas are still visible. In Incan times, Chincero was the main population center for the entire Sacred Valley and today remains an active traditional “weaving” center. With a spectacular backdrop of the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salkantay, Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Here we enter an adobe colonial church, dating from the early seventeenth century, which has been built upon the foundations of an Inca temple or palace. The ceiling and walls are covered in beautiful floral and religious designs. (Overnight in Cusco at the Taypikala Hotel) (B, L)

Day 5 Sunday, July 22   PISAC & OLLANTAYTAMBO  
As we continue our pilgrimage to Machu Picchu, we follow the Urubamba River up the Sacred Valley stopping in Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The Pisac and Ollantaytambo ruins are the most important ruins in the valley with their agricultural, administrative, social, military, spiritual and political roots. The hillsides are dotted with innumerable Inca constructions, including fortresses and magnificently crafted temples and terraces.

In the town of Pisac, we wander through the Sunday Mercado de Treque (local's trade market) where the natives trade vegetables, herbs and potatoes for other goods like matches, oranges and medicines. This market dates back to the ancient Peruvian days where Peruvians in the highlands depended on trade. This market is also an artesian market where you can practice haggling for Peruvian goods such as woven blankets, silver jewelry, alpaca sweaters, musical instruments, artwork and other goods.

The town of Ollantaytambo is strategically built on a mountainside that dominated the three valleys that come together at this point. The town appears to have been master planned based on the architectural style and layout of its streets and squares, the design of its water and sewage system and the use of massive polyhedral stones and trapezoidal doorways each cut perfectly to fit and withstand any natural disaster.

Overlooking Ollantaytambo is Viracocha — the great creator god in Incan mythology. According to legend, Viracocha rose from the darkness to bring forth light and breathed life into stones to make mankind. Here we greet and talk with the spirits of the mountains (Apus) using the ‘Mama Cuca’ (coca leaves) to send our intentions from our inner center to the spiritual world. We walk along the energetic line, called Tunupa's Route, visiting the Inca power places and connecting with the third animal guide of the Incas – the great Condor. (Overnight in Ollantaytambo) (B, D)

Day 6 Monday, July 23   MACHU PICCHU  
Taking the train from Ollantaytambo, we arrive in Aguas Calientes at the base of the 'Crystal City' of Machu Picchu. With great anticipation, we continue our pilgrimage to Machu Picchu celebrating our true essence, as the Children of the Sun. After asking permission of the guardians of Machu Picchu — the Puma, Condor and Light of Spirits — to enter, we ask to expand our spirits with the qualities of the Father and the Mother — Munay (love), Llancay (service), Yachay (wisdom). Our pilgrimage includes a visit to the Seven Places of Power intertwined with meditation and ceremonies to connect us fully to the energetic power of Machu Picchu. Every invocation made at Machu Picchu is amplified to incalculable proportions due to the stone complex's high voltage magnetic focal point. (Overnight in Aguas Calientes at the Taypikala Machu Picchu Hotel.)

Day 7 Tuesday, July 24   MACHU PICCHU & CUSCO
This morning, we return to Machu Picchu for a sunrise ceremony, merging our energies with this sacred site and deepening our understanding of the Inca mythology. You enjoy the rest of the day following your intuition and exploring at your own pace. You may want to climb the sacred peak of Wayna Picchu, hike to the Temple of the Moon, walk to the Sun Gate or Inca Bridge or further explore the Royal Tomb, the Funerary Rock, the Sacred Plaza, the Condor Temple or the Inihuatana Stone. In the afternoon, we return to Cusco. (Overnight in Cusco at the Taypikala Cusco Hotel.) (B)

Day 8 Wednesday, July 25   ALTARS  
Near Cusco, there are several important Incan temples including the Temple of the Heart, Moon Temple, Tambomachay, Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pucara or Q'enko. At some of these altars, we admire the wonderful work of our ancestors, connect with the living elements to release our heavy energies (Hucha), reconnect with what we are and surrender to our true essence of love. By connecting to the womb of Mother Earth (Pachamama) and the Serpent (the second guide of the Incas), we are given the opportunity for a new rebirth.

The Temple of the Heart opens our heart as we embrace the authentic nature of this power. Our heart is at home in this sanctuary as it readies us to connect with the womb of the Mother and the Serpent for our rebirth.

In Tambomachay – “Baño de la Ñusta” (Bath of the Ñusta) or “Balneario Inca” (Incan Watering Place) — we experience the very powerful purifying thermal baths that combine the energy of the elements of Water and Fire. The sound of the water, the quietness and peace of the environment, as well as its constructed form, allows us to rest our hearts and souls. When we are ready, we partake of the “source of life” (Water) to ignite our internal passions.

On our way back to Cusco, we visit the magnificent Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman (pronounced “sexy woman”). Sacsayhuaman can be translated as 'speckled falcon' or 'speckled head'. ‘Speckled head’ refers to the belief that the city of Cusco was laid out in the form of a puma whose head was the hill of Sacsayhuaman. The origins are uncertain but the fortress is generally attributed to the period of Inca Pachacuti, the man who essentially founded the Inca empire. Sacsayhuaman played an important part in the final defeat of the Inca Empire by the Spanish. (Overnight in Cusco at the Taypikala Hotel.) (B, L)

Day 9 Thursday, July 26   CUSCO TO LAKE TITICACA VIA RAQCHI  
Today, we travel up and across the highest road in Peru; watching the scenery change as we near the High Plateau and Puno. In route, we visit Raqchi — the Temple of Wiracocha — built for ‘Apu Kon Titi Wiraqocha’, the superior invisible God of the Andean people. Perhaps the most audacious Inca construction with the largest single roof, the temple is built on top of a volcanic stone foundation. Here we connect with the element of fire in preparation for our further water cleansing at Lake Titicaca.

In the late afternoon, we arrive in Chucuito and take some time to adjust to the altitude and prepare for our adventure in Lake Titicaca. (Overnight in Chucuito (near Puno) at the Taypikala Hotel.) (B, L)

Day 10 Friday, July 27   SILLUSTANI  
After a short ride from Puno, we visit the Cemetery Temple of Sillustani, the place of a remarkable telluric force that created a small plateau from where it is possible to see Umayo Lake and the mountains. We explore the Temple of Fire and the Sun Temple to connect with the Cosmic Spiral. The veil between the worlds is thinner here than in other sites, so we continue our pilgrimage to the Chullpas (Burial Towers) which hold the secret of reincarnation. (Overnight in Chucuito (near Puno) at the Taypikala Hotel.) (B)

Day 11 Saturday, July 28   UROS & ISLA AMANTANI  
We go to Puno and board our boat to take a three hour voyage across Lake Titicaca — the highest navigable lake in the world — through the floating islands of the Uros and on to Amantani Island. The floating islands, home to the pre–Incan Uros tribe, are manmade reed islands constructed totally from the totora reeds. These special reeds provide home, sustenance and transportation for their residents. Here, guided by the Uros, we sail on their reed boats — taking time to bask in our divineness and dream our sacred lives into existence.

According to legends, the Uros ‘existed before the sun, when the earth was still dark and cold. They were impervious to drowning or being struck by lightning. They lost their status as super beings when they disobeyed universal order and mixed with humans, making them susceptible to contempt. They scattered, losing their identity, language and customs. They became the Uro–Aymaras, and now speak Aymara. Because of their simple and precarious lifestyle, the Incas thought them worth little and accordingly taxed them very little. Yet the Uros, with their basic reed homes out lasted the mighty Incas with their huge stone temples and mountain–top enclaves.’

Continuing on, we venture to Isla Amantani — a vegetarian island — also known as the balance island. It is home to two temples; one to the Cosmic Mother (Pachamama) and one to the Cosmic Father (Pachatata). We hike up to the top–of–the–world and, as the sun sets over Lake Titicaca, have an important ceremony to Pachamama and Pachatata to help restore balance to us as individuals and to our world. We come down by the light of the star-filled sky to stay overnight with one of the warm, open-hearted and hospitable families; breaking bread and celebrating with music and dance under the Southern Cross and Milky Way. It truly is a beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Overnight in Adobe House of Amantani Islanders.) (B, L, D)

Day 12 Sunday, July 29   AMANTANI / CHARCAS / ARAMU MURU PORTAL  
As the sun comes full circle, we greet it with a special ceremony. Using the powers of t he Mother Earth and the Sacred Mountains, we practice self-healing. We connect to our inner wisdom and listen for the great message within each of us that will help us shine our own personal light — to be of service; to help the planet and its people to heal. It is time we resolve any fears we have within and awaken fully to our inner wisdom and unique purpose.

After receiving the ‘first light’ of day in our hearts, we bid farewell to our humble hosts and take our boat to Charcas and then on to the Interdimensional Gateway of Lord Aramu Muru — the house of the ancient Spirits and Masters — the dimensional doorway of the Ancient Ones. After paying tribute to the Puma and walking along the great Serpent's back, we make our way to the Condor at the Aramu Muru Doorway.

This gateway was not known for many years until Jorge saw it in a dream. He went to his elders who told him he had a sacred responsibility to re–discover this place... and so he did! We have a special ceremony to help us connect with the vortex energy and venture through the portal to other dimensions and worlds. We return to Chucuito to integrate our interdimensional travels. (Overnight in Chucuito at the Taypikala). (B, D)

Day 13 Monday, July 30   JULIACA TO LIMA AND HOME  

Our last day at Lake Titicaca is spent in service with Jorge's special Dream Pillow project. We learn from the innocence of children as they draw their dreams on their pillow so at night the energetic forces are put to work to “dream” their dream world into existence. Because of their innocence and purity, children have many of the answers we are seeking — what is our role in this world; how can we help ourselves; how can we help others; so listen carefully to the wisdom of the children! We then walk the labyrinth contemplating where we go from here.

In the afternoon, we transfer to the airport to fly to Lima and to connect with our international flights to go back home. With all the potential energies we experienced and integrated, you can choose to live a NEW LIFE — a DIFFERENT LIFE — a DIVINE LIFE. Always remember that life is a Divine Adventure!