Limatambo: Andean Spirit Lodge

One highlight of our time in Peru was a five day/four night stay at the Andean Spirit Lodge. The lodge is nestled in the Limatambo Valley and is about 90 km from Cusco. After an early flight from La Paz to Cusco, we arrived at the lodge for lunch. All of the food was vegetarian and was some of the best of our travels. The chef used local ingredients (many from the garden). After settling into our bungalow we enjoyed a relaxing yoga class, relaxed by the open log fire, and ate a light dinner.

The following morning we woke up for an early breakfast before driving about 1.5 hours to the foot of the Choquechurco mountain. We made short stops to see Incan ruins and to admire a giant coral tree in Mollepata.

We arrived at a home and asked permission to cross their land before setting off on about a two-hour hike the little-known Choquechurco Inca ruins nestled in a magic dwarf forest.

After the hike, we enjoyed a picnic lunch with views of the peaks of the Humantay and Salkantay. We returned to the lodge and enjoyed a quiet evening by the fireplace.

The following morning we started our day with a meditation session. After breakfast, we drove through spectacular sceneries to the Apurimac river where we relaxed in the thermal springs of Cconoc and ate a picnic lunch along the river. We returned to the lodge for yoga, dinner and conversation by the fireplace.

The following day we started our morning with yoga and decided to stay at the lodge for the day. We enjoyed an amazing massage, walked around the property.

Our final morning started with yoga and breakfast before driving back to Cusco. On the way we made two stops. The first was to visit the Inca site of Tarawasi. The site was a ceremonial center and resting place for the chasquis (the Incan messangers). The site is unique because it has a polygonal retaining wall with 28 human-sized niches and flower shaped interlocking stones.

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The second stop was the Inca site Killarumiyoq or “the moon stone.” The site is believed to be the ceremonial center for the moon. In addition to the impressive “moon stone,” there are many terraces, a small cave and waterfall. We were sad to say goodbye to Oda and Armando when we arrived in Cusco.