Peru wellness trip beyond the spa - spirituality & self-care in Peru with Tanit Trails
Everyone knows that taking a trip can be the perfect way to unwind and switch off but where do you start when switching off looks different to everyone? While one guest might want to indulge in a beachside massage, another might get the same feelings from hiking deep in the mountains, getting in touch with nature in Peru’s Amazon, listening to traditional folk music and sometimes a combination of these things. The list goes on.
Nico Ramirez from Tanit Trails, a boutique DMC in Peru, is a firm believer in taking a holistic approach to wellness, incorporating elements of gastronomy, nature, and spirituality to create a more powerful experience. His wife, Brisa, is a chef, wellness guide and mindfulness-certified teacher, and accompanies guests on a journey through Peru to enhance their connection with the food and spirituality of each destination.
Watch a webinar on Wellness Travel in Peru by Tanit Trails HERE
For more example itineraries and resources about Peru and Tanit Trails check out our sales toolkit HERE
Here are just a handful of the ways Tanit Trails can incorporate wellness into your itineraries.
Community immersion & Andean blessings ceremony
Spending time with local communities is the best way to create a deeper connection with the Andean traditions. Your guests can spend time with a Quechuan community high up in the valley, getting stuck into daily activities like farming and weaving. The experience includes a traditional ‘Despacho’ ceremony in which the local people give thanks to Mother Earth (Pachamama) and the elements, asking for protection over their families, land and property.
Sound Healing in the Sacred Valley
Sound healing is a practice that encourages healing of the mind, body and soul through intentional sound vibrations. Traditionally it will incorporate a mix of gongs, vocals, tuning forks and Tibetan singing bowls but this experience has been designed to use some of Peru’s indigenous instruments, to deepen the connection with Peru and its culture.
Mindful Eating in Lima
The magic of Peruvian food is the world’s worst-kept secret. Incredible biodiversity, rich local ingredients and international influences combine to make Peru’s gastronomic scene rich and inviting, whether you’re dining at street-food joints or Michelin-starred restaurants.
Starting with a city tour and market visit, guests will be shown how to live more in the present moment and enhance the senses to experience the food more deeply. During a hands-on cookery class, Brisa will guide your guests in the art of mindful cooking and eating. They can then put those skills into practice at a Peruvian chocolate tasting or dinner at one of Lima’s top restaurants.
Mountains & Meditation in the Sacred Valley with Local Communities
After exploring the terraces and buildings at the archaeological site of Pisac, your guests can tuck into an open-air picnic, surrounded by the spectacular Andean peaks. The mountains here are of great spiritual importance and spending time outdoors in the valley is a great way to connect with the Andean culture. Movement and meditation sessions can be added in the hotel grounds, including yoga and Qi Gong.
Hiking or Horse Riding from Moray to Maras
Starting on the heights of the Chinchero Plateau, this scenic hike takes in Moray, an important Incan agricultural site, and the salt mines of Maras. The Incas were known for their advanced agricultural techniques and Moray is no exception - this series of concentric circular terraces sit at slightly different heights, each creating its own microclimate to encourage different crops to grow.
Views from above the site are spectacular and the trail continues across fields and wide-open steppe, eventually winding down to the village of Maras. Throughout the experience, guests will be guided through the process of mindful walking, stimulating a connection with their surroundings and the earth.
A similar but longer route can also be done on horseback using unique Peruvian Paso horses from a local horse breeder and trainer.
Andean Weaving Workshop
Spending time with the Queros community is a magical experience and many of their ancient traditions still form a huge part of daily life. The Quero people were isolated for the last 500 years and their culture has remained relatively undiluted by the government or the church. Your guests will have the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Marquesa, a healer from the Queros community. Marquesa will introduce the world of Andean textiles with a hands-on weaving workshop that dives into the spiritual meaning behind traditional textiles.
Connect to the Earth with a Pachamanca
The Pachamanca is a typical Peruvian meal that is cooked in the ground in an earth oven. Ingredients like native potatoes, meat and vegetables are wrapped in local herbs and cooked using heated stones. The Tanit Trails version is an experience from start to finish, taking place on an organic farm that’s set on an old Inca terrace. Guests can get stuck in and assist with the preparation before the tasting begins. The owner of the farm also owns a whisky distillery that uses local ingredients to enhance the flavour There’ll be opportunities for a sip or two once the meal is over.
Meditation & Hiking Machu Picchu Mountain
There’s no doubt Machu Picchu is a highly spiritual place so what better way to start your day than with a spot of meditation and yoga, right outside the ancient Inca citadel. Soak in incredible views from the terrace of a hotel, right outside the gates. The sacred mountains that surround provide intense energy and exploring the site adds another dimension. A trek is included up to the peak of Machu Picchu Mountain for 360° views of the Vilcabamba mountain range and the ruins of Machu Picchu. It’s a challenging, vertigo-inducing trek but well worth the effort.
If you have clients who are looking to embrace the spiritual side of Peru, Tanit Trails has a wealth of experiences that fit the bill. Brisa’s insider knowledge of all things wellness and spirituality can add another dimension to your clients’ trips. We’d love to introduce you to Nico and Brisa so you can find out more.
Contact us to set up a meeting with Nico from Tanit Trails and connect with them on the www.squirrel-fish.com platform for access to copyright-free images, videos, example itineraries, restaurant recommendations and other helpful resources.