Join Lizzy McDonald of The New Body for an Andean immersion, steeped in culture and wisdom teachings in the Heart of the Andes.
The Prophecy of the New Earth lives here.
This is a trip for those who feel the call to the mountains of Peru— a potent energetic hub of earth where wisdom was never lost and people from the world journey to remember and awaken.
The prophecy of the new earth lives here.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Journeys to ancient sacred sites guided by local experts in history + mysticism
2 days of ceremony + wisdom teachings with Victor, Celia + Dora, Q’ero Wisdom Keepers
Teachings about Andean Cosmovision
A full-day cultural and spiritual immersion with Lucia in an untouched by time mountain Village
Walking distance to famous, waterfall, ruins and more from Pachananda
Visiting famous markets and enjoying delicious Peruvian food
Daily morning practice such as Yoga or Qi Gong
Optional plant medicine ceremony (extra cost)
Optional Machu Picchu add-on after trip dates (extra cost)
Optional coca readings, spiritual healing, wellness services on-site (extra cost)
We ask before we enter, and we allow the spaces we encounter to lead.
YOUR INVESTMENT
$2,750 (EARLY BIRD + PAYMENT PLAN)
$3,250 (STANDARD RATE + PAYMENT PLAN)
*EARLY BIRD PRICING THROUGH MARCH 1, 2026 {ALL PAYMENTS DUE BY AUGUST, 2026}
*PAYMENT PLAN PRICING THROUGH MAY 31, 2026. ALL PAYMENT AFTER JUNE 1, 2026 MUST BE PAID IN FULL.
EMAIL US FOR DETAILS + PAYMENT PLAN INFO
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Airport Transfers (pick-up + drop-off in Cusco)
9 nights lodging at Pachananda (mostly shared* accommodations and bathrooms)
All vegetarian/vegan meals, lovingly prepared on site*
Authentic Wisdom Teachings + Ceremonies
Private ground transportation during program
All entrance fees to applicable sites + temples
Full-day cultural immersion to Amaru, including traditional lunch, and weaving demonstration with natural dyes
Daily Morning Practice
Translation from Quechua-Spanish-English during Q’ero teachings
Unlimited Tea and Coffee
Support with travel plans and tours before and after trip
*private room may be available for an additional fee pending # of participants and preferences
*meals off site, excepting visit to Amaru are not covered
A PERCENTAGE OF ALL PROCEEDS GOES DIRECTLY TO LOCAL ANDEAN COMMUNITIES
Ready to reserve your space?
Click below to complete the retreat application (email lizzy@lizzymcdonald.com for payment plan)
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
International + Domestic Flights
Travel Insurance (REQUIRED)
Tips for Guides {optional, but appreciated}
Alcoholic Beverages + Meals During Free Time
Wellness add-ons
ACCOMODATIONS
We will stay at Pachananda, a simple retreat center with a beautiful geodesic temple built as an amplifier of the powerful energies of Cusco. It is the only retreat center uniquely situated within steps of Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park—a hub of ritual complexes and stone formations pilgrims have traveled to for thousands of years to receive healing and practice ceremony.
Pachananda was built as a node of the prophecy of the Inca— a space of awakening a new earth. Meals are prepared with love by the resident chef, and the basics are cared for so you can simply receive.
All rooms are shared. Bathrooms are shared. Private suites depends on final head count. This is a communal experience: rustic, intentional, and stripped of excess.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary is subject to change. An important thing to understand is that time does not operate in the same way in the Andes. Events unfold in their own rhythm and may shift due to weather, strikes, or a variety of other factors. These changes will not diminish the experience; however, if you struggle with unpredictability, please be aware in advance.
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Settle in at Pachananda, rest, sip coca tea together to help adjust to the altitude. A short meeting to meet each other, open our time together, and go over the schedule.
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The altitude in Cusco is something to adjust to. Day 2 is all about grounding. Nothing better than getting your feet on the earth and breathing in the fresh air of somewhere new to land. We will stay close to home and orient you to the nearby sacred sites.
Wellness add-ons and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber will be available to support your acclimatization. The altitude is Cusco is no joke!
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A guided tour of the surrounding archaeological park with Peruvian born mystic and historian, Geraldine, exploring the ritual geography and sacred sites woven into the hills above Cusco.
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Visit city highlights, markets, street food, and more
A short taxi or a long walk down the hill and many steps will get you into the city of Cusco. Think colorful, aromatic markets, sacred sites and stone, chocolate, shopping in the artsy neighborhood of San Blas, or people watching over coffee in the main Plaza de Armas. Return to Pachananda for lunch or join us for an optional traditional meal.
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We will travel together down from Cusco into what is know as the Sacred Valley. Our Guide for Day 5 is Lucia
Lucia is a community leader, mother, and skilled weaver from the highlands of Amaru. She’s part of a collective focused on responsible tourism—offering an intimate glimpse into the ancestral ways of her community.
On Day 5, after walking to the mountain lakes of Kinsa Cocha and passing through Paru Paru, Lucia will welcome us into her home for music, dancing, and a traditional lunch. She’ll guide us through ancestral weaving practices and the use of local plants for natural dyeing— where color, pattern, and story come together in ritual.
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with P’aqos Don Victor + Celia , Q’ero Nation + Dora Fronek, Medicine Woman
Together we enter the heart of Andean cosmology and practice— learning ancient practices for energy healing (such as saminchakuy and chaninchakuy), and working with the sacred coca leaf ceremonially (hallpay). Thought story, practice, and ceremony, we connect with Pachamama, the Apus (sacred mountains), the elements, and the ancestors. A traditional despacho (offering) as well as an evening fire ceremony will anchor the days teachings.
On day 7, we will. take a day trip to a nearby sacred site (such as Huacarpay, Huaypo, or Quillarumiyoq) for a special ceremony.
Bio: Don Victor Churas Quispe, Q’ero Nation was born into the Q’eros Nation in the high Andes of Peru and was initiated on his spiritual path at a young age through a lightning strike while tending his family’s herds. Raised by his grandfather, a revered Paqo, and his grandmother, a well-known healer, Don Victor was immersed in traditional Andean teachings from an early age. He later trained for 14 years with Master Tupacanchi Adolfo Ttito Condori and comes from a powerful lineage of healers, including his wife Celia, her father Don Marcelino Samata (a Pampamasoyoq), and her grandmother Doña María Apaza, the renowned Altomesayoq. Known for his joy, humility, and deep integrity, Don Victor is dedicated to walking and transmitting the sacred path of Q’ero wisdom.
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Free Day
Choose your journey. A full-menu of services is available to you to choose a la carte from nearby healers. Massage, reiki, acupuncture, shamanic healing, and more. Explore Cusco further, or the local sites around Pachananda.
Join a group and head down to the special Saturday market at Tupac Amaru Plaza in Cusco for some of the best shopping of your trip.
Optional plant medicine ceremony, off site.
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Breakfast ONLY and departures
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Optional post-journey trip to Machu Picchu. For an additional fee (subject to interested parties) we can organize your transport, lodging, food, and tour to visit Machu Picchu. There is also an option to trek in to the site.
ABOUT YOUR GUIDES
Lizzy McDonald
Lizzy McDonald is the founder of The New Body. With 20 years of practice, her work integrates clinical training, somatic + spiritual healing, plants, and nature to support people and communities to respond to life with choice, resilience, and connection.
Lizzy holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and has professional background in psychology, coaching, and restorative justice. Alongside her clinical and systems-level work, she has spent over a decade apprenticing in different healing traditions and wisdom teachings, both locally and internationally, including extended study in the Andes of Peru, through the lineage of Don Elijio Panti the famous Maya healer, and in her ancestral homelands of Southern Italy.
Lizzy curates travel experiences in Peru in collaboration with Andean wisdom keepers and local guides, centering education, cultural context, and reverence for the land and it’s people. Her facilitation emphasizes listening, learning, and relationship WITH people and place rather thane extraction, exploitation, or spiritual tourism. The intention of this work is to support participants in learning directly from the land and teachers and carrying those teachings back into daily life, family, and community as part of PACHAKUTI- the prophecy of the new earth. make all the difference.
Victor Churas Quispe, Q’ero Nation
Victor was born into the Q’ero Nation high in the Peruvian Andes. His spiritual calling revealed itself early in life through a profound initiation involving a lightning strike while he was caring for his family’s animals. Raised within a lineage of wisdom keepers, Victor learned from his grandfather, a respected Paqo, and his grandmother, a gifted traditional healer, both of whom rooted him deeply in Andean cosmology and ceremonial practice from childhood.
He later dedicated fourteen years to advanced training with Master Tupacanchi Adolfo Ttito Condori. Victor stands within a strong ancestral lineage of healers that extends through his family, including his wife Celia, her father Don Marcelino Samata, a Pampamesayoq, and her grandmother Doña María Apaza, the widely revered Altomesayoq. Known for his warmth, humility, and unwavering integrity, Victor’s life work is devoted to embodying and sharing the living wisdom of the Q’ero tradition.
Celia Samata Apaza, Q’ero Nation
Celia is the granddaughter of Mama María Apaza, recognized as the eldest living female Altomesayoq in Peru — a designation that reflects the highest level of Andean priesthood, though the tradition itself does not operate through rigid hierarchy. Celia carries this ancestral knowledge forward, as does Victor, who also trained directly with Mama María. Together, they are actively transmitting these sacred teachings to the next generation through their youngest daughter, Angelica, who is already stepping into the ways and wisdom of her ancestors.
Dora Fronek
Dora Fronek brings decades of lived experience to her work in the healing arts, weaving together natural herbal medicine, education, eco-spiritual practice, and a deep devotion to the natural world. She holds a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and has served as both Program Director and Instructor in Therapeutic Massage. Over the years, Dora has guided countless workshops, private sessions, and public retreats, all while sustaining a long-standing clinical practice.
Following a profound calling, Dora relocated to Peru, where she became the founder and former president of Sacred Wisdom Discovery, a Peruvian nonprofit committed to safeguarding ancestral wisdom, cultural traditions, and ceremonial practices. She apprenticed directly with Andean wisdom keepers, and at their invitation translated the first three original texts authored by these elders—teachers with whom she continues to co-facilitate healing journeys for individuals and groups in the Andes.
Dora is also a trained ceremonial guide, pipe carrier, vision quest facilitator, translator, and writer. Known for her grounded presence and courageous heart, she is a devoted advocate for practical, compassionate service, empowering others through integrity, clarity, and embodied wisdom.
We are deeply grateful for Dora’s presence, experience, and healing medicine, as well as the living bridge she offers through her translation and facilitation during our Andean wisdom teachings w
Lucia Ccana, Amaru
Lucia is a community leader, mother, and skilled weaver from the highlands of Amaru. She’s part of a collective focused on responsible tourism—offering an intimate glimpse into the ancestral ways of her community. She is the lead weaving teacher at the Waldorf inspired school is Pisac, Peru, focused on preserving the Andean cosmovision and practices for both local and ex-pat children.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE JOURNEY
“The journey to Peru offered exactly what I needed: deep immersion, meaningful education, and a return to presence through an unfamiliar landscape. I arrived with an open palette and without overplanning, allowing color, rhythm, and quiet moments to lead. That openness created a kind of alchemy that continued unfolding when I returned to my work.
As my first retreat experience, it gently redefined inspiration for me — not as something to pursue or manufacture, but as something that arrives when you slow down, trust the environment, and allow the experience to move through your body and into your creative practice. Thank you, Lizzy, for holding such a thoughtful and transformative journey.” -Kelsey Tyler , https://www.kelseytyler.info
I came on this retreat because it sounded genuinely interesting, and I knew Lizzy would make it fun, spiritually full, relaxed, and thoughtfully held. Two things stood out most. I loved that we were within easy walking distance of two sacred temple sites — the Temple of the Moon and the Temple of the Monkey — which I walked to every day just to enjoy being there.
The second highlight was meeting so many local Indigenous people. Being welcomed by a beautiful family into their home, and spending two days with Victor and Celia learning Incan wisdom, was such a meaningful experience. They shared so much knowledge and generosity that I can’t begin to name it all. The land itself is incredibly beautiful, spiritual, and sacred, and the people in the markets are friendly and laid back, giving the whole place a sense of ease.
I stayed at Pachananda, which felt like home. The rooms were simple but really great — clean, easy, and cozy, with a hot water bottle at night to keep warm. The communal space is especially lovely and inviting, with beautiful views and a warm, homey feeling. The staff is so sweet and supportive, and the food was always fresh and delicious.
The temple space there feels especially special and sacred. Its glass roof is amazing to look up at and made the space feel even more magical. What stayed with me most from this experience is the deep reminder that I am enough, just as I am. I was also really proud of myself for keeping up with everyone! 😃
I highly recommend this trip with Lizzy. It is an incredible learning experience, and the ease of getting there made everything feel even more accessible. Everything Lizzy planned made my heart so happy, and having such an authentic experience was truly special.
If you want to meet and learn from the Indigenous people, culture, and communities of Peru, this trip is for you. If you want to walk the Incan path, feel the energy and spirit of this sacred land, laugh, meet new people, enjoy great food, breathe fresh, cool air, and witness the most beautiful sunrises, this trip is absolutely for you.- Tara Baab “Mama Tara”, Medicine Woman: https://www.mama-tara.com/
WHO THIS TRIP IS FOR
This trip is for those who feel the call to the Andes of Peru.
For those who feel the call to travel with presence and humility— not to be healed or served, but to listen, to learn, to land.
To fly with the Condor.
To return to a land that activates something inside of you.
It’s for those who want to be guided, not by an itinerary, but by the pulse of the place and the people and the unseen worlds that live so integrated amongst things in this part of the world.
We ask before we enter, and we allow the spaces we encounter to lead.
This is for those who want to share a traditional Pachamanca meal cooked in the earth.
Sip a prideful glass of homemade chicha morada, deep purple and sweet.
To walk the markets of Cusco, lured in by fresh juice ladies and compelling smiles.
To lay under blankets beneath the geodesic dome at Pachananda, watching the stars turn and the sun rise over Apu Ausungate.
To be with the rhythm of the day. Taking rest with choice. You get to choose your own, be your own.
This is for those who understand that this is not about being changed— it’s about remembering. Awakening. Becoming. The prophecy of the new earth lives here.
If you come, come with reverence. Come with flexibility. Come with your own rhythm, too. And let it all weave together inside of you, as it may..
You are responsible for your own journey.
The itinerary weaves culture, nature, spirituality, simplicity, and joy. And we allow ourselves to synchronize with that rhythm.
Travel in South America moves on its own time — si dios quiere (as God wills) as they say. And in the Andes, up near the sun, it can be intense. The altitude alone is a teacher. Which means we don’t over-plan. We leave space. We let the land, the people, and the pulse of the group lead us.
You’ll be responsible for your own emotional and energetic care, but you won’t be alone. Skilled practitioners are available on-site, as is the companionship of your fellow travelers.
If you need to rest or step back at any time, that choice is honored—we respect the unique pace of each participant’s process. This trip welcomes those ready to lean into travel with humility and presence.
Who this Trip is NOT for
This trip is NOT for those seeking a luxury vacation or private accommodations. If you prefer individualized schedules or a highly curated, pampered experience, this is not the right journey for you. It also may not suit individuals unable or unwilling to participate in shared activities, communal meals, and group living situations. Those who struggle with flexibility, self-awareness, or respect for diverse cultures and environments may find this trip challenging. Additionally, if you require privacy beyond shared rooms or expect all programming to be mandatory, this experience may not meet your needs.
Group size is limited, and rooms at Pachānanda range from 2-bed to 5-bed shared setups. All programming is optional.
Additional Financial Information
Early Bird (January–February)
$2,750 — best value
Pay in full or
$1,000 deposit + 6 monthly payments of $292
Payment plan runs March–August
Early Bird pricing ends February 28
Standard Rate (March–May)
$3,250
Pay in full or
$1,000 deposit + monthly payments through July
Payment plans close May 31
Late Enrollment (June–July)
$3,250
Pay in full only
Space dependent
Important Notes : All payment plans must be paid in full by July. Deposits are non-refundable. Spaces are limited
Please email me directly to inquire about payment plans: lizzy@lizzymcdonald.com
