I like the way my teacher Teresa refers to Machu Picchu.

“It’s the boss of the Apus,” she says.

And it’s true. Maybe you’ve read about Qorikancha, Apu Salkantay, Sachsayhuaman, Inkilltambo, Apu Veronica and now thanks to Instagram, Rainbow Mountain of Apu Ausangate. But it’s Machu Picchu on you’re mind when you hit CLICK to purchase your first trip to Peru. I know that’s how I was first drawn to Cusco. At the podium of a Catholic Church at my father’s funeral, I tapped my heart three times, took a deep breath, and announced to the universe and those sitting in the pews:

As I stand here looking out at the Church and seeing all the hearts you’ve touched, I want to know what you are experiencing and if you are ready for the next adventure I’m planning. I’m thinking about hiking Machu Picchu this summer in your honor, and I’ve said it more than three times, so you know that I’m serious. Make sure you write Peru in your planner. And make sure you look at the stars tonight so that we have had a chance to share something today. I know you are there, waiting for me. Behave yourself. See you at the airport. Love always and forever, Katherine.

Six months later I was in Peru. On paper I was there to complete an internship for my Masters in Economic Development back in Spain. In my heart, I was just beginning to scratch the surface of my lifelong mission to understand life, death and our purpose between that inhale and exhale.

More than a million people visit Machu Picchu each year. They have now capped daily entrance to 2,500 people a day (before up to 5,000 people visited!). So when you say Machu Picchu and Peru are on your bucket list, take a number, get in line, the bandwagon’s leaving the station.

But why? What is it about this ancient citadel of the Incas that has become such a hot place to visit? Do you feel the same pull to visit the other Seven Wonders of the World (the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum, the Chichen Itza, Christ the Redeemer or Petra)?

“In the variety of its charms and the power of its spell, I know of no other place in the weld which can compare with it.”
- Hiram Bingham

While writing this blog post, I reached out to my friend and our retreat guide, Miguel Belota, who has extensive knowledge and experience exploring and guiding tourists through the sacred ruins of the Andes. “What is it about Machu Picchu?,” I asked.

“Machu Picchu is a Master Piece of a higher state of consciousness, created during a time when humans had the ability to harmoniously integrate into the cosmos and interact intimately with living nature. It is one of the most potent places of energy to receive and give light, peace and love” he responded, short, sweet and potent.

His response confirmed for me that all of Cusco’s visitors, diverse and unique from faraway lands, all at varying depths of opening their consciousness, harbor a strong yearning to evolve, grow and taste a more meaningful life than the one we’re so commonly shown in modern day society. And according to Incan Legend, our visits are a critical part of moving into a new Golden era.

Since the 1970s, it is believed that the center and core of the Earth’s spiritual energy has shifted slowly from the Himalayas to the Andes, rooting itself through Peru and Bolivia, magnifying the potency of places like Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. During the primacy of the Incan culture, Wiracocha, the creator of the Inca World, sent different forms of wisdom to the four corners of the Earth, as means of preservation of the culture. Today, those who feel called to visit Cusco, are bringing elements of this wisdom back and in turn experience more than just a trip, but a profound pilgrimage, sometimes intense spiritual awakening, that up levels their consciousness in ways they could have never imagined. Even if you just came for the selfie and hashtag and don’t believe in the woo-woo spirituality, I guarantee that at some point during the journey home, you’ll notice that something has shifted, evolved, opened or maybe even ignited.

“I was vibrating for nearly two months after we came home from the Peru retreat,”
-2019 Sacred Elements Journey to Peru participant

“I can’t wait to go back, I want to bring my husband and son and share the magic of those mountains with them.”
-2019 Sacred Elements Journey to Peru participant

I know this feeling all so well. After my four months in Cusco, I returned back to Spain, and then six months later found myself in Lima, and not too long after, I was living in Cusco working for GirlSportWorks. When the one year contract job finished, I couldn’t leave. I had a dog now, so that slowed me down a bit. I didn’t know why I was supposed to stay, I just knew there was no where else in the world that I wanted or needed to be. That feeling of connection and love to the land quickly rolled into seven years of living, working, creating and guiding travelers through spiritually awakening experiences in the most sacred and beautiful places and ceremonies.

To quote the legend, Tina Turner, Sacred Elements Journey to Peru is a 10 day journey (optional 8-day) that is “SIMPLY THE BEST” of the most real and intimate invitations to soak in the raw healing powers of Cusco, and the loving spiritual energy of the Earth, that lies concentrated beneath your feet, supporting each step of your journey.

The flow of our retreat, from tours, local youth outreach and delicious meals in Cusco city, to the heart of the Sacred Valley, to an evening of camping in a Nature Sanctuary at the foot of Apu Veronica, all build upon on opening and aligning our bodies, minds and hearts to take in the ultimate conclusion of our experience, Machu Picchu. Reflecting on the trip, Machu Picchu may or may not be the place where your heart skips the biggest beat, or whee your soul shines through and illuminates the path forward to your heart’s deepest desire. But Machu Picchu is was struck the match, inspired the journey. Machu Picchu, we honor, as a Teacher and a Guide. He’s the boss, He put Cusco on the modern day map. But the depth of what He represents, goes far beyond the boundaries of this Incan citadel, and His honor is proud like a father, welcoming you home to this beloved, sacred land.

And so I fall back to the popular saying , “Life is a Journey, not a Destination.” But a destination like Machu Picchu isn’t a conclusion, a period, or an ending. It’s a Wonder of the World, so maybe making a visit will be the start of a wonderful new, golden beginning.

Find full itinerary here.

Email kat@kintuwellness.com to set up an information phone call.

Machu Picchu, Wonder of the World, Incan Citadel