Our Shaman will guide you through a ceremonial ritual of connecting with Pachamama. This is a time to honour our ancestors, express gratitude and unite with nature. We give thanks to the four elements, the four directions and become aware of our journey here.

During this ceremony, we take time to release any sorrows and set our intentions for the retreat. We also offer mama coca (the sacred plant) to Pachamama in hopes that our intentions will be fulfilled. In our circle, we will share our stories and blessings, allowing ourselves to be cleansed from our past and fully present for the rest of our journey in the Andes.

Morning – Today marks the beginning of our maca harvest experience. We will spend the day at 4200m, immersing ourselves in the life of an Incan farmer. You will have the opportunity to learn how to properly harvest and select maca roots, with equipment provided for your use. We recommend bringing appropriate clothing and gardening or similar gloves to fully participate in this hands-on experience.

Lunch will be enjoyed in the fields alongside local community members, giving us a true understanding of their daily activities and way of life.

Afternoon – Once the maca has been harvested, we will clean and prepare it for sun-drying. This is a unique opportunity to connect with your food and gain a deeper understanding of the challenging conditions in which maca is cultivated and prepared. You will have a whole new appreciation for this superfood after this experience. Finally we will study the elements of Andean ceremony: preparing the table, making and sharing chicha, understanding duality.

Morning Workshop - Learn about some of the 2000 varieties of potatoes indigenous to Peru and participate in a hands-on demonstration on how to make traditional potato dishes and salsa using local indigenous herbs in a stone mortar. Trying different local foods papa, oca, olluco, mashua, achira, maca, arrachayacon y camote. Winding down the morning workshop, we will prepare an oven for a Pachamanca feast cooked in the ground.

Afternoon - It takes 3 hours to prepare the oven and only 30 minutes to cook the food. Our farmer and family work together with us to stack, cover, cook, uncover and remove the food before preparing a buffet-style feast. The feast includes a variety of meats such as chicken, pork, and lamb along with potatoes, corn, beans, sweetbread, salsas and sauces made during our potato workshop. We also have vegetarian and vegan options available upon request.

Morning Workshop - Dive deeper into the ancient superfood through an informative workshop led by Sally Huapaya and Corin Storkey. Gain knowledge on maca's history, traditions, medicinal use, unique colors, traditional preparation methods, and the science behind its many health benefits. Lunch – Discover the versatility of maca in cooking as you learn different ways and techniques to prepare and incorporate it into delicious meals. From traditional dishes to modern wholefood and raw recipes, this workshop will leave your taste buds satisfied.

Lunch – Join us for a special Fire Pit Maca Ceremony, where we will honour and connect with maca on a spiritual level. Led by Sally Huapaya, this ceremony includes the preparation and consumption of a healing maca elixir as a form of gratitude and respect to this sacred superfood.