Our Retreat Focus:

Expand your heart and perspective on a culturally curated journey through Andean natural wonders and sacred sites.  Integrate the 8 Limbs of Yoga, yoga psychology, mindfulness practices, nature immersion, hiking, local indigenous wisdom, community connection, play and personal reflection to help release stagnant life-force energy and renew inner and outer harmony.

Location

Stay 2 nights in a hotel in Cusco, 6 nights in a sustainable luxury wellness resort in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and 1 night in a hotel near Machu Picchu, and visit the surrounding Andean mountain region.  

This retreat is for you if you are...

Photo: Michelle with Shipibo Healer (Peru 2022)
  • Longing for a deeper relationship with Mother Earth
  • Open to learning wisdom teachings from Andean indigenous culture
  • Feeling called to release what no longer serves your well being
  • Needing to renew joy and inner and outer harmony
  • Moved to clarify and embrace what’s sacred to you
  • Wanting an authentic cultural experience with local Peruvians and like-minded world travellers
  • Inspired to share in community asana (physical) yoga practice with daily meditation and breathwork​
  • Excited to see archaeological and natural wonders
  • Someone who enjoys hiking and nature walks
  • Seeking to expand your heart and perspective with mindfulness practices
  • Looking for a balanced itinerary of play, learning, personal reflection and social connection
  • Choosing to travel mindfully, respecting the land and people you visit
  • Ready to cultivate a beginners' mind

Why Michelle's inspired to invite you:
Global travel has been my catalyst for personal discovery and transformation.  I love immersing in down-to-earth cultures that can teach me about open-mindedness, humility, loving nature, the joy of simplicity, living from the heart and appreciation of diversity.  Ultimately, my adventures abroad have been teachers of living my yoga practice.  Through hosting this yoga retreat in historically and culturally rich parts of Peru steeped in indigenous reverence for nature and humanity, I humbly hope to share ways to integrate yoga into daily life and promote harmony with our planet, each other and yourself.  May this adventure activate a deep sense of loving connection with Life.  (Read Michelle's Bio here.)

What's this retreat about?

For 10 days and 9 nights, embark on a mind- and heart-opening journey through Peru’s ancient awe-inspiring sites: Cusco, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu (World Heritage site and among the Seven Wonders of the World), the Andean mountains and more.  Travel with a diverse community of nature-loving yoga adventurers hosted by Root 2 Rise Yoga’s founder, Michelle Chua, and a native-Peruvian professional guide fluent in English, Spanish and Quechua (indigenous Andean language).  For most of your stay, ground in the Sacred Valley’s first ever yoga resort, where the Lonely Planet claims the spirit of Pachamama (Mother Earth) burns bright among luscious healing gardens. Relax and rejuvenate at the luxurious and sustainable eco-sanctuary featured in Yoga Journal, Vogue, CNN Travel and The Guardian.  Enjoy a time-tested itinerary that balances daily group meditation and breath-work yoga, visits to archaeological and natural wonders, hiking and nature walks, calming and uplifting physical yoga, authentic fire and cacao rituals, musical celebration, personal reflection, quality time with the local community, cultural exchange at an Andean mountain school, free time in the gardens or spa, farm-to-table plant-based meals, energy-balancing practices in nature and space to unwind or explore local culture on your own. 

How are Yoga and Mindfulness integrated?

Start or strengthen your daily meditation practice, as Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500) Michelle Chua guides you daily through preparatory breathwork and a variety of centering techniques, from walking meditation, forest bathing (shinrin yoku), mindful movement and meditations to cultivate clarity, Self-trust, compassion, joy and gratitude. On most days, practice physical yoga for all experience levels, including beginners, from energizing Vinyasa Flow to relaxing Yin and Restorative Asana Yoga.  Draw on the tools of the 8 Limbs of Yoga, mindfulness and yoga psychology, connecting to your inner wisdom to help release stagnant life-force energy and renew joy, vitality and interconnection.

Accommodations 

The majority of your stay will be at the original private yoga retreat center of the Sacred Valley of the Incas​, set in majestic scenery at the foothill of the Andes mountains and cared for by a local Andean family.  Surrounded by hiking trails and the renowned Seven Chakra Gardens, our retreat accommodations (pictured below) are sustainable luxury guest rooms, each named after the Andean medicinal plant that grows at its doorstep and designed using feng shui principles.  Each spacious luxury room has a mountain or garden view and includes a modern bathroom, a seating area and entry to the gardens.  Pending availability when you apply to join, choose a room at the retreat center with 2 Queen-sized beds (to share with a roommate), 1 King-sized bed (for couples) or 3 Twin-sized or Double-sized beds (to share among three roommates).  Single guests will be assigned to one of the above options.  (Note: The retreat center will try its best to find same or similar bed sizes at the other two hotels we'll stay at, depending on availability.
Our other accommodations include a shared or single room: 2 nights in Cusco and 1 night near Machu Picchu at Aguas Calientes in 3- or 4- star hotels selected by our retreat center's expert concierge, 

What's Included in Your Retreat Investment:

  • Accommodations for 9 nights and 10 days (wellness resort in Sacred Valley and hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes handpicked by resort's expert concierge)
  • All Group Yoga sessions and reflection activities with Michelle Chua, Registered Yoga Teacher of Root 2 Rise Yoga
  • Private airport transfer upon arrival in Cusco before 11am and group transfer to Cusco airport for departure time between 2-5pm
  • Private, professional and Peruvian tour guide fluent in English, Spanish and Quechua for all days of guided sightseeing.  See itinerary below.
  • All admission tickets and ground transportation to archaeological and sacred sites on itinerary
  • All organic, plant-based and farm-to-table meals at retreat center and most meals in Cusco and Aguas Calientes
  • Amenities at retreat center include pre-breakfast and afternoon coffee and tea, indoor yoga studio with props and mats, indoor and outdoor gathering areas, a library, a music room and access to the famous Seven Chakra Gardens  
  • Fire ceremony, Cacao ceremony and water ritual with local indigenous healers and Andean facilitators​​
Your retreat investment does NOT include your roundtrip flight to Cusco, some meals in Cusco and Aguas Calientes (where you are free to explore local gastronomy to your personal tastes), travel insurance (highly recommended) and optional additional services, like spa treatments, specialty classes, plant medicine ceremony and private sessions with the local healer at the retreat center.  If you require a private transfer to the airport (for your departure) at a different time than the group transfer, there is an additional fee.

Retreat Investment Options

Please read what's included in your investment above, and choose a single or shared (double or triple) accommodation.  You may only choose a shared accommodation if you have selected a roommate or roommates, and they apply to join at the same time.  If you would like to share your email with other potential participants seeking a roommate, please email Michelle here. 
$660 non-refundable deposit holds your space until you complete your balance of one-half the remaining amount by March 14, 2023 and the rest by April 21, 2023.

Early Bird Rates available through January 3, 2023:
  • ​Shared (Double or Triple): $3,660 USD per person
  • Single: $4,560 USD

After January 3, 2023, pending available rooms:
  • Shared (Double or Triple): $3,990 USD per person
  • Single: $4,890 USD

Cancellation Policy:
Participant cancellations received in writing at [email protected] by April 1, 2023 are refundable, minus $950 USD of the total retreat investment.  After April 1, 2023, the full balance is nonrefundable and non-transferable. It is strongly recommended to purchase travel insurance.

How to Apply to Join this Retreat:

To apply to join this retreat, complete the application form below.  If your application is accepted, and room availability is confirmed, you'll receive an email with payment options (i.e., Zelle, mailed check or credit card) to submit a $660 non-refundable deposit within 1-5 days.  When your deposit is received, you'll receive a welcome email with preparation details for your travel and retreat.  You will be required to have a valid passport with expiration date at least 6 months after June 17, 2023, our retreat end date.