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What are the accommodations?
Cusco: Our first night will be spent in the cultural and historical city of Cusco. Our home base for this night will be at Hotel Encantada http://www.encantadaperu.com/en/hotel-cusco a locally owned boutique hotel in the artsy neighborhood of San Blas with a fantastic view overlooking the city center. On our arrival day, we will have time to walk around and explore the historic and cultural center of the city.
Machu Picchu: We will spend one night in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), in order to have a base from which to explore the ruins. We will be staying at El Mapi Hotel, a newer upscale hotel http://www.elmapihotel.com/ near the train station and close to where the buses leave for the ruins. The hotel staff will make sure we are comfortable and able to get a good night’s sleep and healthy dinner and early breakfast to fuel us for our two days spent extensively exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu.

Sacred Valley/ Urubamba: Women’s Quest has looked high and low for the Perfect eco lodge which actually feels like a hidden oasis in the Sacred Valley with it’s flowers, gardens and beautiful trees along our footpaths to our individual bungalows. This slice of heaven is called Casa Colibri www.casacolibriecolodge.com. 

Single Rooms are available at an additional cost of $1500.

What will the food be like?
One of the highlights of our trip will be to sample Peruvian food, the gourmet cuisine of South America. Peruvians take great pride in the preparation, presentation and nutrition of their food which includes a huge variety of colorful, locally grown vegetables, grains and fruits. The unique dishes of the highlands feature local crops including the world’s largest variety of potatoes, olluco, corn, purple corn, quinoa, amaranth, fava beans, native berries and other delights. A healthy breakfast buffet featuring fresh fruit, juices, coffee, tea, yogurt, granola, eggs, bread, butter and local berry jams will be served each morning at all of our hotels. Box lunches will be provided for carrying in our day packs when we are out exploring. In Cusco we will enjoy two special catered restaurant meals near the Plaza de Armas featuring local fare. At Casa Colibri, our home in the Sacred Valley, we will have daily breakfast at the hotel and then go out for dinners near the hotel in Urabamba to explore, listen to local music and enjoy different Peruvian specialties.  Vegetarian options and other food preferences or dietary restrictions will be available.

We will take care of all breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners

4 lunches OYO, 2 dinners OYO

What is a typical day?
Each day is totally different on this trip. We will give you a “Day by Day” itinerary upon request.
We will be getting up early on most mornings to get out and hike (Sunrise at Machu Picchu) and see the sacred sites, visiting local weavers and artisans. We will restore and rest in the afternoons with yoga or massage.

Tell me about the yoga?
We will try to practice yoga or stretch out every day but many times we are out hiking and exploring.
We begin each adventure-filled Women’s Quest day with a unique “Awakening the Senses” Yoga. This gentle but powerful practice draws inspiration from Yoga, Qigong, and Tai Chi, and is a perfect way to prepare the mind, body and senses for the activities of the day. When we get up for the morning hikes we will stretch out in the afternoon.

During the activities of the day we will cultivate a yogic focus—bringing with us awareness developed in the daily yoga. We’ll take mini “yoga breaks” during the day, finding opportunities to feel suppleness and receptivity of the body as we draw the beauty of the environment into our cells.

The yoga practice on this retreat is designed to be accessible for all levels—both fresh beginners and experienced practitioners will deepen their practice according to individual needs and desires. Variations will be offered, and the instructors work with the principle that each person can find relationship with an “inner voice” that guides the balance of challenge and ease.

Tell me about the hiking?
We will be hiking everyday so GET READY!!
While in Machu Picchu we hike two days which are really amazingly beautiful hikes and are long days.
We also hike Gaby’s favorite trail in the Sacred Valley. This hike takes about 3 to 4 hours or you can stay and hike along the beautiful river and that hike is about 1 to 2 hours.
The distances will not necessarily be great, but the hiking will often be steep up and down at high elevations on uneven stonework sometimes with exposure (safe but impressive)
We also have options for the hikes

What is the altitude?
Cusco is at 11,150 ft., The Sacred Valley is at 9400 ft., and Machu Picchu is at 8250 ft. While adjusting to the higher altitudes we recommend to taking it slow, eating lightly, abstaining from alcohol, and drinking lots of water. Mild symptoms that some people experience usually subside in a couple of days. In order to prepare for the altitudes, we recommend spending time walking at higher elevations in the days/weeks immediately prior to the trip. Please consult with a physician if you have any specific medical concerns. We have had success with people going to their doctor and getting Acetazolamide (diamox) tablets which can really help. Oxygen will be available at our hotel in Cusco and medication is available over the counter at pharmacies just in case someone needs them.

Do I have to participate in everything on the schedule?
You do not need to participate in everything; you can pace yourself so that it is the perfect amount of activity for you. We fully support you in doing as much or as little as is right for you in the moment. The schedule gives you a sense of the flow of each day. It is subject to change, depending upon the needs of the group, weather, etc. We will go over the schedule each day at breakfast. We can arrange for massages.

What weather can I expect?

May in Cusco and the Sacred Valley offers a delightful blend of pleasant weather and natural beauty. With the rainy season behind, the city enjoys sunny days and comfortable temperatures. This makes it an ideal time to explore Cusco’s charming streets, hike through the surrounding mountains, and witness the vibrant flora in full bloom. Evenings can be quite cool at the higher elevations of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. We are asking the sun gods to bless us with sunshine for our trip, but bring your rain gear just in case of some rain showers.

What is the average age on this retreat?
We have a wide range of women who attend our retreats, from 15-75 years young. Each retreat will vary. Please contact us if you have questions about the ages on a specific retreat.

What if I am coming alone?
The majority of the women who attend our retreats come by themselves. English is widely spoken and we are here to answer any questions about travel that you may have. Although you may come alone, you will leave the retreat with new, lifelong friends!

Payment Policy

To secure your spot on a retreat, a non-refundable deposit is required:

 

    • $500 for domestic retreats

    • $1,000 for international retreats

Single room reservations may require an additional $200 deposit. Reservations cannot be held without a deposit.

Full payment is due 90 days prior to the retreat. If payment is not received by this deadline, you may lose your reservation. For bookings made within 90 days of the retreat, payment in full is required at the time of registration.

Payment Options:

 

    • Avoid fees by paying via check or Zelle.  

    • Payments via PayPal or Stripe incur a 4% processing fee.  

Cancellation Policy

 

    • 91+ days before the retreat: Refund of payments (minus your deposit).

    • 90 or fewer days before the retreat: Payments are non-refundable.

Women’s Quest reserves the right to cancel retreats with insufficient participant interest. In such cases, all payments will be refunded; however, Women’s Quest is not responsible for personal expenses, such as airline tickets, due to schedule changes or cancellations.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment in case unforeseen circumstances prevent you from attending or completing the retreat.

Travel insurance is particularly important in the event you:

 

    • Need to cancel due to illness or injury (including testing positive for COVID-19).

    • Require medical care during the retreat.

    • Face trip interruptions, delays, or unexpected quarantine requirements.

We suggest a policy that covers:

 

    • Trip cancellation and interruption

    • Medical expenses

    • Quarantine costs

For maximum flexibility, consider a “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) policy, which provides additional peace of mind. While this type of coverage is more expensive, it offers the most protection for unforeseen changes.

To compare and purchase travel insurance, we recommend using Squaremouth, a trusted platform to find the best policy for your needs.https://www.squaremouth.com/22393

Before purchasing any policy, consult a travel insurance agent to ensure it meets your coverage expectations.