UPDATE – COVID and Optimal Health
As of June 2023 – there are not testing or other requirements for COVID. That being said, we request – in the interest of the health of our Peru Family -that you take extra precautions before you leave and during travel. We will all be together for 12 days – if one person gets sick (which will be awful while traveling!) – it is also easy to pass it on. We ask everyone to take extra precautions. Please.
Weather
Mid April – October:
This period is the dry season, with warm, dry days and cold, dry nights.
Weather in Peru has been shifting with the rest of the world – though there are still some patterns that are fairly predictable.
Daytime temps hover around 70 degrees and night times can get down to the mid 30’s during the coldest part of the night. But as with everywhere these days – expect some variations. Last year there were several days during this period that were around 80 degrees.
Travel Documents:
You need a valid passport to enter Peru in 2023. Citizens of the U.S., Canada, and the European Union do not need a visa.
You should carry your passport with you at all times in case of random checks. We recommend the pouches that hang around your neck where you can keep your passport and your money safely tucked under your shirt.
Make copies of your passport and keep one with you (separate from your passport) in case of loss. Also keep a copy at home and in a secure internet cloud in case you need to access it.
If you need a certain kind of medicine or have a health issue, you should carry your medical records and definitely bring the exact medicine that you need with you.
Travel Insurance:
Some people like to purchase travel insurance. To get the best coverage be sure to get your insurance 10 days after you make your trip deposit.
There are many different kinds that cover many different things and you can easily research them on the internet. Have the copy of your insurance policy easily accessible during your entire trip.
We have only had experience with one company and it was a good one (we didn’t need to use the service). Each one has a different set of parameters so be sure to find one that best meets your needs. We used this one as it came highly recommended…. but please do your own research … this is NOT an endorsement. RoamRight https://www.roamright.com/
Packing Tips:
Based on the weather fluctuations – it is strongly advised to pack layers.
A fleece plus an outer shell (Gore-tex or similar) is good. With layers, you might be down to shirt sleeves at noon, then towards the end of the day, add an outer shirt, then the fleece, then add the outer jacket after dark. It may get down to freezing at night, and you might want a warm hat & gloves if you are outside. There are LOTS of sweaters, hats, gloves, ponchos, etc available for purchase at an inexpensive rate if you find you need more – and hundreds of shops in downtown Cusco and every place we visit.
Also – you will see from the itinerary that we are moving around quite a bit – so packing light is advised. Casual is the standard dress in Peru so no need to bring fancy clothes. Comfortable walking shoes are a MUST! Ladies (and gentlemen with such proclivities) – heels of any sort are not necessary and are unadvised with the cobblestone streets and uneven terrain. 🙂
A good sturdy walking shoe or athletic shoe is fine. Hiking boots are not necessary for any of the locations we are visiting. Just make sure whatever shoes you choose are comfortable and well worn in with a good soles for walking.
We recommend packing your favorite sunscreen. The sun is strong at this altitude and there will be many days that we are spending outside.
More packing tips and what to bring can be found HERE:
http://mysticalodysseys.com/packing-tips/
Laundry
There are a number of inexpensive laundry we can arrange. Rates run (approximately) $1.50 – 2:00 dollars per kilo for a one or two day turnaround time.
It is suggested to make a list of what you gave them to avoid problems with missing items. If there’s a special item with specific instructions – let them know or (better yet) hand wash it yourself.
Altitude
Cusco is at an altitude of over 11,000 feet and is the highest place we will visit. Machu Picchu is at an altitude of about 8,000 feet. Since we begin our trip at the highest altitude – we will take the first two days to acclimate and help our bodies adjust through massage and hyperbaric chamber. We will have some great circles – but our focus will be to take it slowly and let our bodies adjust. There is an endless supply of cocoa leaves to chew and cocoa tea to drink provided at the Mountain House Retreat- that often helps if you feel the effects of the altitude. Oxygen is available if you need it.
Most people find that taking it easy, drinking plenty of water and chewing cocoa leaves or drinking the tea is all that they need to stay feeling well. For the first few days we don’t recommend sodas or alcohol. It is important to note when walking around you may be a bit short of breath. No problem – just take it slowly and you should be fine.
We do recommend oxygen drops to help with oxygenating your blood and any other Altitude support that you find. Zaca and Altitude Rx are popular – but please research and find something that is aligned for you.
For more information about Altitude Sickness check here: http://mysticalodysseys.com/altitude-sickness/
Physical Activity/ Walking
Since we are at a high altitude and will be visiting many sites where we will be walking around – we will set a comfortable pace for the group and will always make accommodations as necessary. If you are not typically active in your daily life – if you get the chance before you leave – it might be a good idea to incorporate a walk into your daily routine before you travel.
Cusco is built on hills so you will be walking up and down many streets. Take it at your pace and you will be fine. The area around the central plaza – Plaza de Armas is flat and easy to navigate.
You will be sharing often very skinny streets with other pedestrians, cars, street dogs and the occasional llama – so wear very comfortable shoes and always be present while you are walking.
Food 
The food in Peru tends to be simple and delicious (and inexpensive!). Cusco has hundreds of restaurants catering to every taste and budget so you will not have any trouble finding good food. While Ollyantaytambo and Aguas Calientes are smaller – there are also a multitude of good restaurants in both towns…. and plenty of places to find snacks. (we love the large kernel corn on the roadside!) Beware – guinea pig is a popular food in Peru so you may see some odd meat dishes as they are often served whole. We do NOT recommend eating any meat on this journey. It carries a discordant frequency with trauma and the dense energy will weigh down your body and impact the frequency and the clarity for medicine journeys.
Gluten free diets are easy to accommodate – though we find that the ancient grains used in Peru don’t tend to bother people who are careful about their gluten intake. Of course – the first and only rule is to do what your own intuitive wisdom guides you to do to remain healthy for yourself.
Vegetarian diet is our focus and and vegan diets are also easily accommodated.
As we will be engaging in sacred plant medicine – we generally recommend a meat-free diet as much as possible. This helps the energy flow more freely through the body. There are a few dietary rules to follow the night before (pertaining to alcohol, citrus and sweets)- and we will let you know the specifics when are there.
What to eat / Food safety
Be careful when eating on your trip. Lighter, plant-based but cooked meals are most recommended during your stay. The tap water in Peru is not recommended for drinking, washing food, or brushing your teeth. Purified bottled water is easily available everywhere, and is also provided by the hotels we are staying in. Bottled water is found everywhere.
In order to avoid “Peru Belly” there are a few things that we recommend as nothing can spoil a trip faster than not being able to leave your bathroom.
Avoid tap water
Avoid raw foods – stick to cooked
Wash hands often and carry some hand sanitizer
Apple Cider Vinegar – this is our personal trick. A tablespoon first thing in the morning helps to alkalize the system and keep those nasty belly bugs away.
TIPS for staying healthy – Michael & Dona’s well tested suggestions (updated June 10, 2023)
Traveling can sometimes be hard on the body, changing water and diets as well as spending time in airports and enclosed spaces on planes where you are subjected to the airborne particulates of others.
1. Masks – We recommend that you find some N95 or KN 95 masks for the airport and the airplane. We ask that you are diligent about wearing them as a courtesy to your self and your Peru Family. In order to make it more fun to breath – we suggest a drop or two of your favorite essential oil placed on the inside of the mask makes this a really nice experience. Peppermint and eucalyptus are especially great at keeping your airways open.
2. Flying kit – we pack an “on the airplane” baggie that consists of Homeopathic No Jet Lag formula (one pill dissolved under the tongue every two hours – link below) and a simple saline nasal spray that we use at the same time. Keeps the nasal passages lubricated during flight and helps keep the germs out. Lastly in the “kit” are sanitizing wipes we use on the airplane to clean off the tv / screen, remotes and our eating tray.
*Update – (June 10 2023). It looks as though there is a shortage of this No-Jet-Lag formula listed below – and might be hard to find.
Do some research and see what feels right for you. We will be trying 1Above Anti Jet Lag, Energy & Immunity Recovery Effervescent Drink Tablets -but can’t yet recommend them as this will be our first time.
Upon landing – we will use Zaca Recovery Chewable Supplement and O2 drops throughout the trip
3. Peru Belly – usually avoiding or being very cautious about eating raw foods and NOT drinking the water will be all that you need to do. We always err on the side of caution and skip raw foods all together for at least the first week while our bodies adjust. Of course – always listen to your own body. The other trick that we utilize is taking one tablespoon of organic Apple Cider Vinegar first thing in the morning to help alkalize the system.
4. Immune Boosts – we always bring immune boost support and take that very generously while on the journey. We also bring a big box of Emergence C in case we start to feel a little run down. Usually this gets us back to feeling great right away!
Shopping
Cusco is a shopping haven. There are all manner of clothing, souvenirs, art, gemstones, etc. The markets in Aguas Calientes and Pisac are a colorful explosion of all kinds of Peruvian gifts and handicrafts. There are also fun gifts to be had such as the handmade chocolate at the Choco Museum in Cusco.
Bargaining is encouraged and expected from most vendors – although some of the higher end shops will have fixed prices.
Jewelry is abundant and found everywhere though the quality ranges drastically. Occasionally the level of quality is a bit misrepresented by the shopkeepers. There is a lovely jewelry seller named Mercedes that is invited to come to the Mountain House Retreat and the quality of her work is trusted. You will meet her there. She can also make you pretty much anything you want – so if you see something (either on the street or in her collection) and would like a different stone, etc. she can do that for you.
Our Q’ero Shaman Luis and his brother Juan often have beautiful handicrafts to sell after ceremonies – that are hand made by these beautiful people and support their village. Bracelets, hats, woven cloths and much more!
Money / Phones
Peru uses Peruvian Sol (also called Soles <So-Less>) and it is very easy to find money exchanges near the hotels which we can direct you to.
As of January 2023 the current exchange rate is $1 USD = 3.81 Soles. This may fluctuate a a very small amount daily but you can use this as an average.
If you want to use your phone while you are there you can get a sim card in Cusco for your phone or get an international plan before you go (like AT&T passport plan).
If you like to use apps like WhatsApp and Skype that call over the internet – wifi is readily available (although we find that sometimes the signal is far weaker then we are used to here in the States or Europe).
There are many ATM’s and banks located throughout Cusco and other destinations if you need to draw additional money. Some of the more remote locations don’t have these services so it is always a good idea to keep some cash with you. The are often limits (like $300 USD per day) at ATM’s – but we find that using the ATM is the easiest and most convenient way to get money in Peru with good exchange rates.
U.S. Dollars and credit cards are accepted in some stores and restaurants in Peru, but not all, so it is best to change your money and carry Soles. We do not recommend traveler’s checks as the exchange rate is quite high and few banks will exchange them.
**If you are bringing CASH to exchange into soles – please know they will (likely!) NOT accept any bills that are not crisp and new. Best bet is NEW crisp $100 USD bills. We have tried to exchange other denominations and have been refused!
Info on exchange rates and other tips can be found here: cuscoperu.com
Power and Electricity:
Peru uses 220 volt, 60 cycle electricity. Travelers will require a voltage converter for 110 volt devices. Plugs are typically the 2 pronged flat type found in the US, though some facilities have been noted to use the 2 rounded prongs instead. You can check for more information here: https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/us/peru/
Setting Intention 
As this is a journey of personal transformation – each place that we visit is an opportunity to express your intention or honor your personal theme. It is suggested that you take some time to contemplate your intention for this journey before you leave home so that you can create and set your direction for your adventure. Of course – along the way – you may have the realization that your initial intention has morphed into something else. It is perfectly fine to shift your focus as you open yourself. Whatever is honoring your truth and is for your best and highest good is a beautiful way to walk your path in Peru.