Inner Dimension TV
Machu Picchu Yoga Retreat #1

We will meet first at a hotel in Cusco, Peru, then on day two head to Willka T’ika , a one-of-a-kind retreat center, located in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Machu Picchu, one the seven wonders of the world, is not far from the retreat center and we will get to explore it during our stay! The exact location and details of the Cusco hotel will be communicated to participants around six months prior to the retreat start date and a one-night stay is included in the ticket price. Your flights from/to Cusco airport (Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, CUZ) are not included in your ticket price, but assuming you arrive and depart at group recommended times, all ground transportation from/to Cusco airport (CUZ), from Cusco to the retreat center, and otherwise for excursions are included in your ticket price. For more info on recommended flight times, ground transportation times, see below. For more answers to FAQs directly from the retreat center, please click here.

We’ve structured the retreat to be suitable for both newer and experienced yogis. Adjustments will be suggested for all levels, in particular during our more vigorous power yoga practices so everyone is welcome!

Weather is unpredictable and we make no guarantees, but according to our research, the end of March and early April is a great time for Andean weather (it will be considered fall then). Days should generally be sunny and the mountains and fields are beautifully green. Soft rains may fall at night which will also be cooler. The average maximum daytime temperature in the Sacred Valley in March lies at 23.0°C (73.4°F) and the average minimum temperature goes down to around 10.0°C (50.0°F). You can also check average weather in the region by googling “weather in Urubamba,” link here

Please note, weather can change dramatically at high altitude, so it is always wise to have a hat, rain/wind jacket and a dressing in layers will be key during your stay. Please see below for more details on the recommended packing list.

Be prepared for relatively high elevations. Approximate elevations above sea-level for the places we will be visiting are: Willka T’ika 9,420 feet, Cusco 11,150 feet and Machu Picchu 7,800 feet.

The retreat center has three decades of experience welcoming yoga groups from all over the world to the Sacred Valley and have informed us that guests do well in adjusting to the altitude if they just take it easy when they first arrive, stay very hydrated and limit alcohol consumption. The local antidote is sipping hot coca leaf tea that is available in the Cusco Hotels and at the retreat center too. Also, just in case, hotels and the retreat center are equipped with oxygen if a guest is in need.

If you are concerned about potentially experiencing difficulties, coramina (glucose lozenge) and sorroche (altitude) tablets can be purchased over the counter. They contain aspirin, Tylenol and caffeine to bring fast release from a headache or nausea. Electrolytes to rehydrate might also be helpful.

Diamox is another popular option and a sulfa-based prescription drug. It is designed for high-mountain trekking and not all people need or respond well to it, but please make sure to consider your personal health situation, do the research, consult with your healthcare providers as necessary, and be prepared to take care of yourself in this high-altitude environment.

Willka T’ika Retreat Center has a variety of spacious and beautiful practice spaces both indoor and outdoor. Subject to weather conditions, we intend to utilize a variety of options since most likely our group will be the only guests on site during the retreat. Having said that, our group yoga classes will likely be indoors mostly.

We’re currently expecting a full buyout of the retreat center (so hopefully all guests during our stay are part of our community!) which would mean around 40 -45 participants.

In addition to clothes, toiletries, and other things you would normally pack for a trip like this, we recommend you bring the following: passport, travel and medical Insurance cards, yoga clothes, light sweaters or wraps for cooler nights, layers for hiking, good walking shoes or lightweight hiking shoes, alarm clock, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water bottle (filtered drinking water will be available in the retreat center dining hall), mobile charger, any special medication (in particular, anything you might need for altitude issues per the above), a flashlight, slip-on shoes to enter and exit the yoga space, converter or transformer to 220V, earplugs (night time can be noisy in Peru!), insect repellent, small daypack, light rain/wind jacket or poncho, warm pajamas for colder nights, etc.

All yoga mats and props will be available at the hotel so no need to bring if you’d rather not!

Rooms will generally be available for check in at 3:00 PM. Check out is at 10:00 AM.

Tax and tip for all group meals, classes and activities are included in your ticket price so no need to tip separately after group meals, classes or activities.

Massage therapists are independent from staff and can be tipped directly. You can also leave an envelope for them in the office.

Lauren and Travis are hoping that the retreat can be an immersive experience for you to reconnect to your practice, reflect inwards and learn more about the lifestyle and culture of Peru. So we recommend things like enjoying the gardens, hiking, journaling, walking/sitting meditation or just even rest during break times. Spa/healing treatments are also available and you can sign up for any upon check-in (not included in ticket price, more info here). If you’re the adventurous type and are looking for more action, the retreat center offers a variety of excursions that you can sign up for upon check-in as well (more info here). Please note, to the extent you sign up for any personal excursions, it will be on your own dime and at your own risk.

This retreat is about taking care of yourself so please feel free to do what feels appropriate and best for your body, mind and spirit.

The retreat center serves gourmet organic vegetarian meals, teas and coffee, using high-protein Andean grains and legumes, as well as organic, freshly harvested vegetables and salads grown on-site. They will do their best to accommodate vegan, gluten/dairy-free, and any other special dietary requests. For group meals outside of the retreat center, we will likely experience fresh and healthy local cuisine (including meat options for those who want it). Please note, to the extent not specified in the schedule, meals are not included which will give you time and space to explore and enjoy meals on your own.

Although it’s impossible to customize the menu to perfectly accommodate everyone’s individual requests, we will try to account for dietary restrictions and allergies so please make sure to note them during the registration process. Alcohol is not included with your ticket price but will be available onsite for separate purchase.

As far as we’re concerned, this retreat is ON! Please note, we are only human and there are always things outside of our reasonable control (such as boarders closing, acts of war & terrorism, natural disasters, etc.) that might require us to change plans, but that’s what travel insurance is for and this is a risk that you would have with any travel. So the answer is, whenever you feel comfortable.

Below is some very important guidance to consider when booking flights:

Inbound: In order to take the ground shuttle from Cusco Airport (CUZ) to the Cusco hotel on arrival day, make sure you flight arrives no later than 11am in the morning on arrival day. Our shuttle will depart around 1pm to the hotel on that day. Any one arriving prior to arrival day should prearrange for a private transfer with the Cusco Hotel, or hire a taxi just outside the barriers of the baggage claim area. We’ll share more info on this with participants closer to the retreat start and once our hotel details are fixed.

Many international travelers book flights that land in Lima in the late evening/early morning and connect ASAP to a morning flight to Cusco. If you have a long layover, you can book a room at the Lima Airport (Wyndham Costa del Sol). If you want to spend time seeing Lima, we recommend doing so at the end of your trip.

For those arriving through Lima: You will go through customs when you arrive, and will need to present your passport. All luggage must be collected in Lima. It will be rescanned as you leave customs. Walk 50m to National Terminal and recheck baggage for your flight to Cusco. Do not make the mistake of thinking your bags will be “checked through” to Cusco, regardless of what you have been told. If your luggage is delayed/lost, immediately locate a representative in the luggage area. Complete forms with your Cusco hotel and Willka T’ika address and telephone details, and keep the copy.

Outbound: From Willka T’ika, allow 3.5 hours before your Cusco flight – the group shuttle is scheduled to depart the retreat center promptly at 10am on departure day for Cusco airport. Ideal flights to schedule depart from Cusco between 2 pm – 5 pm. Additional costs apply for an individual transfer for guests with earlier/later departures.

Everyone’s situation is different and therefore it’s on you to research and confirm any visas or other travel documentation that might be required for you to enter Peru based on your nationality, where you’re coming from, etc. Depending on your particular situation, you may need to apply for a visa, have COVID related documentation ready, have a valid passport (that doesn’t expire for 6 months after your scheduled departure), etc. Below is some information the retreat center has shared with us:

TRAVEL TO WILLKA T’IKA
A valid passport that remains valid at least 6 months after your departure date allows Canadian, American, as well as most Latin American, and European citizens to stay for up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries may require a visa to enter Peru.

Before you go to Peru, please make a copy of your passport, which you will need to carry with you at all times. You should leave your original passport in the safety box at Willka T’ika.

Yes! As described above, assuming you arrive on arrival day to Cusco airport and depart to Cusco airport from Willka T’ika on the departure day, ground transportation is included in your ticket price and we will arrange for group shuttles. If not, you will be responsible for arranging private transfer. Please email us at [email protected] with any questions.

Peruvians won’t accept any bills that are torn or very worn. Please bring only crisp, new bills for shopping or tipping. US dollars are accepted at Willka T’ika but most places and people will prefer Peruvian Soles. Credit cards can be used at Willka T’ika, tourist stores or hotels but not all shops and restaurants accept credit cards. For Peruvian soles, we suggest you wait until you arrive in Cusco or Urubamba to exchange money in reputable exchange agencies or withdraw from an ATM. You can withdraw cash at the ATM machine in the airport or upon arrival in Urubamba – “BCP” bank is a good option.

The retreat center has a laundry service that usually turns around in 24 hours. Unfortunately, they do not have a laundry machine that guests can use. Please put any dirty laundry the designated bag in the room and complete the itemized list. For immediate attention, drop the bag off at the office on your way out.

With the current state of affairs, we don’t expect to require official testing or proof of vaccination, of course, all subject to change depending on where the world is at closer to the retreat date! However, if you test positive before or during the retreat, you will not be allowed to attend and there are no refunds. We encourage you to purchase a comprehensive “cancel for any reason” trip insurance policy to protect yourself if this is a concern. Social distancing and mask wearing may be implemented (although currently, assuming rules & regulations stay the same, we intend to make mask wearing during classes optional).

Lastly, please note any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and we cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed while in attendance at the event.

We don’t have a separate block for this but you can book extra nights with the retreat center directly here. To the extent you do, please email us at [email protected] so that we can try to make your stay as seamless as possible.

In order to secure the venue and programming, Inner Dimension TV is required to enter into binding contracts with 3rd parties that do not allow for refund or cancellation in any instance except for limited instances where “acts of god” render the entire event impossible. For example, if due to the COVID-19 pandemic worsening, Willka T’ika must close down, then we would be able to get a refund and refund all ticket holders. Otherwise, unfortunately, we must enforce a strict cancellation policy and there will be no refunds in any instance. You may transfer your ticket under certain conditions. Also, purchasing trip insurance to protect yourself is always a good idea.

You may transfer your ticket to another person up to 2-days before the retreat start date without penalty by emailing us at [email protected]. After that time, our strict cancellation policy applies.

Per our strict cancellation policy (more details above), we cannot offer refunds for any personal cancellations. Even in the rare instance that Inner Dimension TV needs to cancel or reschedule the entire retreat due to “acts of god” including Covid-19 related shut downs, we will only be able to refund ticket costs at most, and would not in any instance be able to compensate you for other costs, such as flights booked, etc. Due to these concerns, we highly recommend that you purchase personal travel insurance.

We suggest that you include “cancel for any reason” with your policy and include medical coverage. Many insurance policies must be purchased within 14 days of making your reservation so please prioritize accordingly. Some credit cards also come with travel insurance benefits which you might want to consider. Here is a helpful site to compare different policies based on your specific needs.

Depending on the payment option you choose during check out, you will be automatically billed using the credit card on file so that all remaining balances have been fully paid at least 4 months in advance of retreat start (at time of ticket purchase, you’re only charged for the initial $1,000 deposit). As noted above, we have a strict cancellation policy with no refunds (including for any deposits) so please make sure you have sufficient funds ready to pay any remaining balances as they become due.

Yes! Just email us at [email protected] with a description of your partner’s needs (for example, partner would like to participate in meals and excursions but skip the yoga classes, etc.) and we can give you options that work for you.

This is possible! Each of you should still purchase the double ticket if you intend to both participate in all aspects of the Retreat and send a note to [email protected] just noting that you would prefer one larger bed in the room.

One of our goals at Inner Dimension TV is to expand the scope of offerings to better serve our community online and increasingly in-person as well. So look forward to some exciting announcements to come on future in-person retreats in addition to an annual summit! And of course, we recommend that you also practice with us online through your Inner Dimension TV subscription and Academy course registrations as well.