2026 Journey Full · July 11–22, 2026 · 2027 Waiting List Now Open
Join the 2027 waiting list →Sacred Heart Pilgrimage Retreat, Peru — A Passage into the Living Heart of the Andes: Apu Ausangate
Sometimes life gets so full, so fast — and somewhere underneath it all, a quiet voice keeps asking: what else is possible for me?
This journey is an invitation to untangle, detach, unwind, and uncondition everything we have been wired to be — making a living, being somebody. It is a breathing space to step away for a while. To be physically held in the arms of the Sacred Valley, under the stars, in the whisper of ancient wisdom. You will be touched by something greater than anything your mind could have planned.
A lifetime opportunity to let go — and let it come.
You may recognise this — if you feel…
You have built a life that looks full from the outside. You show up, you deliver, you care for others. And yet somewhere underneath all of that — quietly, persistently — there is a voice asking if this is really all there is. You haven't had the time to stop and truly listen to it. Not yet.
You have already been searching. You have sat in meditation, read the books, attended the workshops. You have had moments of real clarity — and then watched them fade back into ordinary life. You sense that what you are looking for isn't more knowledge. It's something you can only find by going deeper, and slower, than you've allowed yourself to go.
Something in your life is changing — or needs to change. You can feel it. Maybe it's a career that no longer fits. A relationship that has shifted. A version of yourself that is quietly asking to be released. You don't need someone to tell you what to do next. You need the space to finally hear what you already know.
If you feel the pull but also sense a feeling of uncertainty — you are not alone.
Every person who joined our pilgrimage retreat in 2025 came with their own set of experience of being pulled in between. Below is their self-reflection after their journey.
Our 2025 group came from across the United States — teachers, parents, professionals — all arriving as strangers and leaving as family.
"It is the best gift I gave to myself in a long time."
Will arrived on his own, not knowing what to expect. He describes the experience as one of the rare moments when you stop performing and simply return to yourself.
— Will, 2025 pilgrimage
"More than one month later, I remain touched by the experience."
More than a month after returning home, the shift stayed with Alan. He found himself naturally drawn to what truly matters — family, health, the bigger picture — rather than getting lost in what doesn't.
— Alan, 2025 pilgrimage
"Every moment was so beautiful. The heart of the people is so alive and generous."
Marianne and Ryan joined together before Ryan moved to New York. What they found was far more than anticipated — a lifetime memory they now carry with them separately.
— Marianne & Ryan, 2025 pilgrimage
Something stirring in you as you read this?
Any question? Send Christy a message and get your answer right away.
I have a question →
I have been a lifetime explorer of this world, starting from my childhood village in Taiwan — long before I began leading others to enrich their lives.
For as long as I can remember, I have longed for a certain kind of experience — one that moves beyond sightseeing and goes deep into living culture, sacred land, and wisdom that is still alive. That longing brought me across more than 20 countries and 100 sacred sites, including the high-altitude shores of Namtso Lake in Tibet and the ancient cave-dwelling communities of Matera, Italy.
Originally from Taiwan and having lived in the United States for nearly 20 years, with over 12 years of teaching yoga and meditation across the US and Asia — I felt a calling. Not to create another retreat, but to collaborate with local communities and transform the way we travel. To move from being a visitor passing through, to being welcomed into someone's home. To learn their language, taste their food, understand their way of being, and receive their wisdom.
Spending a month in Peru in 2025 changed me in ways I did not expect. From the moment I arrived, I felt an immediate sense of homecoming — as if something in me already knew this land. Two worlds that appear so different on the surface, and yet speak the same language underneath. It reminded me, again, that the world is far more connected than it looks — and that separation is often just a story we have been told.
Yoga & Meditation
Offering over 7,000 sessions across the US and Asia for the public and organizations since 2014
ICF Accredited
Meeting the standards of the International Coaching Federation. Guiding private groups and offering the 8-week Inner Transform Framework in spring and fall annually.
Italy & Peru
Co-creating life experiences with Italian and Peruvian local experts to bring you a lifetime experience that will live in your heart forever.
St. Louis, US · Originally from Taiwan
Based in St. Louis since 2007, originally from Taiwan. She enjoys deep travel through more than 20 countries across over 150 cities on four continents — by all sorts of transportation, but mostly walking.
Real questions from people who felt the same pull as you.
1 of 4
Still have a question on your mind?
No question is too small. Reach out to Christy directly — she would be happy to connect with you before you decide.
I have a question →A Passage into the Living Heart of the Andes.
Two days at high altitude, in the care of ancient mountains and a lineage that has never forgotten how to heal.
There is a place in the Andes where the air is thin, the sky feels closer than usual, and the mountains are not simply mountains. They are alive. They are listening. And if you come with an open heart — they will receive you.
Apu Ausangate, rising at approximately 4,570 metres (14,993 feet), is the most sacred mountain in the Andean world. Known as the great Father — the one who brings the family together — he is the source around which everything in this tradition revolves. Within him resides an energy called Rual: the soul of everything created. To walk toward Apu Ausangate is not to go sightseeing. It is to enter a living conversation with something ancient and vast.
We make this pilgrimage with much respect and love — to feel the energy and the medicine of the APUs, which open their channels to those who come sincerely. Along the way, Mamacoca — whose sacred medicine and properties have guided pilgrims for generations — will accompany us. We will offer Coca leaves, Tobacco, and incense to the mountain in gratitude. And we will visit the sacred lagoons: Ancash Qocha, its twin China Otorongo Qocha (the Female Jaguar Lake), Puka Qocha, and Anqas — drinking from their waters, nourishing ourselves with the medicine of the glacier, and allowing the lakes to do what they have always done: help us release what we no longer need, and remember who we are.
This is the experience of rebirth — not as a concept, but as something you feel in your body, at altitude, in the presence of a mountain that has been holding this wisdom long before any of us arrived.
We will be guided by Don Rufino Turpo, an Altomisayoq and spiritual guide from the community of Pacchanta. His family has carried the sacred connection with the Apus and Pachamama (Mother Earth) for generations. With deep humility and presence, Don Rufino will invite us into his community — not as guests passing through, but as people walking a meaningful path together. His prayers, his presence, and his ancient knowledge will hold us as we move through the land, the lagoons, and the ceremony. You do not need to know anything about Andean culture to receive this. You only need to be willing to slow down, look up, and let the mountain do the rest.
Meet Don Rufino Turpo —
Pampamisayoq of Apu Ausangate
We are honoured to share this journey with Don Rufino Turpo, a respected Altomisayoq and spiritual guide from the community of Pacchanta, at the foothills of the sacred Apu Ausangate. Don Rufino comes from a family of Altomisayoq — Andean priests who have carried the sacred connection with the Apus (mountain spirits) and Pachamama (Mother Earth) for generations.
Guided by ancestral wisdom, he serves as a bridge between the spiritual and natural worlds, bringing messages of harmony, gratitude, and respect for all life. With deep humility and presence, Don Rufino shares the living traditions of the Andes. His guidance and prayers invite us to walk this pilgrimage with open hearts, listening to the voice of the Earth and the spirit of the Andes.
"The mountains are not only majestic landscapes, but wise beings that teach us how to live in balance and reciprocity."
A note before you arrive
Imagine yourself in the 1950s — a sense of going back in time.
The way of learning here is through listening and observing what is happening around you, and adapting — in the present moment, as you are. Allowing yourself to let go of a sense of time, to be fully immersed, nourished by food freshly grown in the Sacred Valley, and to fall asleep under the stars in the stillness of the Andes at night.
— Christy
"The first days are intentionally slow. The Andes sit at high altitude, and both body and mind need time to truly arrive before we walk the ancient Inca Trail."
Day 1 — Welcome to Sacred Valley, Peru!
Christy will meet you at Cusco airport at 11:00 a.m., and together, our driver will take us through the beautiful city of Cusco and then into the winding mountain path through the Sacred Valley to your new home, Munay Sonqo — about 1 hour 50 minutes of scenery that will slowly take your breath away. Once we arrive, enjoy a warm late lunch, check into your room, take a walk around or simply rest. A lovely afternoon in the presence of the Andes. Free time until dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Day 2 — Despacho Ceremony & Spa Day
We begin the morning with a sacred Despacho ceremony — a traditional Andean offering guided by our local spiritual guide, helping us tune in, relax, and connect with the presence of the mountains around us. We ask Pachamama for her permission to enter the sacred realm of mountains and rivers, for protection, and we offer our gratitude for the journey ahead. The afternoon is yours to restore. Choose a spa experience as your personal offering to the four elements: Air — Salt Cave Halotherapy (45 mins); Water — Outdoor Jacuzzi (45 mins); or Fire — Dry & Wet Sauna + Infrared Sauna. Dinner around 7:00 p.m.
Day 3 — Community Permaculture + Massage Therapy
After morning session and breakfast, we join the Sacred Valley community to learn about permaculture — an ecological design system that integrates human settlements with natural ecosystems. We give back through a tree-planting initiative that supports the regeneration of the Sacred Valley's land. After lunch, book an Earth Element massage to release what the body has been carrying and soften into the rhythm of the retreat. Choose one session: Relaxation, Deep Tissue, or Shiatsu; or Reiki Energy Therapy ($60.00). Dinner around 7:00 p.m.
Day 4 — Waterfall Hike, Stargazing & Bonfire
After morning session and breakfast, we enjoy a lovely hike to the beautiful waterfall near the retreat property — an opportunity to connect with nature and immerse ourselves in the tranquility of the Sacred Valley. After dinner, we gather under the open dark sky for a stargazing experience with our local astronomer. In the high Andes, far from city lights, the stars and planets are extraordinary. We sit around the bonfire and let the vastness expand your imagination. Everything you see on the ground is mirroring what is above in Peru.
Day 5 — Ancient Inca Trail Hike — Sun Gate — Aguas Calientes
We leave on an early train from Ollantaytambo, then begin our hike at Chachabamba — the entrance to the Inca Trail. We hike from approximately 7,054 ft through ancient landscapes — 12 km (7.5 miles) over 6 to 8 hours depending on our pace. You will be walking on paths built by the Incas over 500 years ago. This is the trail the Inca pilgrims walked. Today, you walk it too. Trail highlights: Chachabamba (hike begins here after the train); Wiñay Wayna (terraced ruins after a 4-hour climb); and the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) — we enter as the ancient pilgrims did, arriving at the citadel around 4–5 p.m. We descend by bus to Aguas Calientes for a free evening and stay overnight at a local hotel.
Day 6 — Machu Picchu Full-Day Excursion
After breakfast, we return to Machu Picchu in the morning with fresh energy and our incredible knowledgeable guide. Learn its history, feel its energy, and take in a place that has stirred something in every human being who has stood here. Lunch and free exploration time in Aguas Calientes. We take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and return to Munay Sonqo for a well-deserved dinner and rest.
Day 7 — Community Permaculture + Massage + Evening Cacao Ceremony
A gentle morning back in the garden — just as the local farmers do — contributing once more to the living land that has been nourishing us with pure energy every day. After our exploration through the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, a great massage is a gift well given to yourself. In the evening, we gather for a traditional, heart-nourishing cacao ceremony — a time to reflect on how far we have come, connect with your heart, and simply be in the moment, as you are.
Day 8 — Pisac Exploration & Sound Healing Ceremony
After breakfast, we explore Pisac — remarkable Inca ruins with some of the best-preserved agricultural terraces in the region, overlooking the valley below. We visit the traditional local market, held daily, where locals from surrounding Andean villages come to trade fresh produce. You will experience the warmth of the Quechua communities firsthand. In the evening, a deeply restoring sound healing ceremony washes through the body and quiets the mind — the perfect close to a full day.
Day 9 — Pilgrimage to Apu Ausangate, Day 1
We rise early and begin the most sacred leg of our journey — a two-day pilgrimage to Apu Ausangate, the great Father mountain of the Andean world, standing at 20,945 feet. We stop for lunch in the remote mountain village of Pacchanta, then step into the natural hot springs beneath the open sky and the watching mountain. That evening, we are welcomed into Rufino Turpo's community and spend the night in the presence of the Apu.
Day 10 — Apu Ausangate Hike & Sacred Lagoon Ceremony, Day 2
After a lovely breakfast, we hike through high-Andean landscapes to the sacred lagoons of Ancash Qocha and Otorongo Qocha. Guided by Rufino, we participate in a personal cleansing ceremony — releasing what no longer serves us. A ceremony of letting go, so that new can come. We then move through breathtaking landscapes on our way back to the Sacred Valley in the evening, and enjoy a quiet, restful night.
Day 11 — Relaxation, Spa & Integration Circle
After the depth of the pilgrimage, this day invites you to simply be. Walk in the garden, book a spa session or massage, visit the nearby waterfall again, or simply enjoy the opening view of the Sacred Valley in front of you. After dinner, we gather in circle one final time — to share what has moved through us, honor the journey, and complete this life experience with gratitude.
Day 12 — Farewell & Return with Your Newly Found Self
After breakfast, our driver picks us up at 9:30–10:00 a.m. for Cusco airport, arriving around 12:00–12:30 p.m. If you wish to continue your journey in a different area, please let Christy know so we can help take you to your next destination. We are happy to make your journey as full and complete as possible for you!
Munay Sonqo — a place already healing the Earth before you arrive.
Built from stone, adobe mud brick, timber, and clay tiles. Solar-powered hot water. Wastewater filtered through a natural reed bed system. Nothing wasted — because in Sacred Valley, they live what they teach.
100% organic food — many ingredients from their own farm
Hot springs, spa, massage, and sacred ceremony space on site
A portion of every retreat investment supports Sach'a Munay — a local NGO serving over 130 families in the Sacred Valley
When you travel here, you become part of Ayni — what you receive and what you give are one and the same
Your place in the sacred circle.
✉ Contact retreat leader Christy — christy@yogaindemun.com →
$3,790
per person · double room · 12 days fully included
- Private transport between Cusco airport (CUZ) and Munay Sonqo
- 11 nights' accommodation in the double room at Munay Sonqo with full board — 100% organic meals, freshly made daily
- Yoga & meditation sessions with Christy
- Ancient Inca Trail hike, train ticket & hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Machu Picchu excursion with knowledgeable guide
- Waterfall hikes & the Sacred Valley
- Stargazing session with local astronomer
- 2 permaculture community projects & tree planting
- Traditional Despacho ceremony & cacao ceremony
- Full-day excursion to ancient sites in Pisac
- Andean sound healing ceremony
- 2 days / 1 night pilgrimage to Apu Ausangate & hot spring in Pacchanta
- One night with local Altomisayoq community by Apu Ausangate
- A sacred ceremony with Don Rufino Turpo, Altomisayoq & spiritual guide, by the sacred lagoon
- 3 group spa sessions — Salt Cave Halotherapy, Outdoor Jacuzzi, Sauna
- 2 massages — Relaxation, Deep Tissue, or Shiatsu
- 2 laundry services
Our 2026 journey is now full. If you feel called to join us, I warmly invite you to add your name to the 2027 waiting list — I read every message personally, and would love to connect with you about next year's pilgrimage.
Join the 2027 waiting list →2026 Journey Full · Price shown reflects the 2026 season
Not included in the package:
International flights to/from Cusco (CUZ)
We recommend arriving the evening of July 10 to be rested for the 11am pickup on July 11.
Travel insurance
Strongly advised. Most providers require purchase within 7–10 days of booking.
Visa
US passport holders do not need a visa. A tourist card valid for 90 days is issued upon arrival. Ensure your passport has 6+ months validity.
Cancellation policy
The $525 deposit is non-refundable. In case of emergency, Munay Sonqo can credit 67% of amounts paid toward a future retreat.
Weather
Sacred Valley averages 71°F / 22°C highs and 43°F / 6°C lows. Bring layers — sweaters, long pants, a warm jacket.
If the quiet pull is still with you —
that is enough to begin.
Our 2026 journey is now full, but if this path is calling you, the door for 2027 is open. Schedule a free 15-minute conversation with Christy — not a sales call, but a real conversation to help you feel whether this journey is right for you — and add your name to the 2027 waiting list.
2026 Journey Full · 2027 Waiting List Now Open
A note from Christy
The mountains are already waiting for you.
The only question is — are you ready to answer?
If something in you is still here, still reading — that is not an accident. Our 2026 journey is now full, but I would love to hear from you about 2027. Whether you have a question, a hesitation, or you are simply ready to say yes to next year, reach out and we will take it from there together.
2026 Journey Full · 2027 Waiting List Now Open
2026 is now closed · 2027 waiting list open
Our 2026 journey is full — join the waiting list for our 2027 Sacred Heart Pilgrimage.
Registration for our 2026 pilgrimage is now closed. If the timing wasn't right this year but your heart is being called, I would love to keep you close for next year's journey. The 2027 waiting list is now open — add your name and you'll be the first to know when registration opens, with early access before it's shared publicly.
Join the 2027 waiting list →
