Peruvian Pampering in the Shadow of Machu Picchu

Peruvian vacations in pampering come in all shapes and tiers. From ancient indigenous traditions to contemporary healing treatments, Peru is the destination for finding a revitalizing wellness vacation  in the shadow of Machu Picchu complete with mystical, if not bragworthy, benefits.

Consider a Peruvian vacation that incorporates Inca headache therapy and 24-karat massages. Or make that eucalyptus foot treatments and coca-leaf body exfoliation Complemented by herbal infusions and orchid body mists. Peru offers myriad opportunities for pampering and soothing tired muscles after outdoor adventures, adding wisdom and wellbeing for these efforts. Treatments often incorporate indigenous healing ingredients and Peruvian shamanic twists based on centuries of spiritual traditions.

One place to find Peruvian vacations options with a wellness focus is Retreat Guru, a global marketplace for healing getaways that offers multiple retreats in Peru. The company’s Peruvian wellness packages range from five to 30 days in the Amazon and the Sacred Valley, including Master Plants Diet in Nauta, south of Iquitos; a Healing Cacao Retreat for Couples in the Sacred Valley (Urubamba); and a Sacred Valley Nature and Meditation Journey. 

Another company that specializes in Peruvian medicinal and spiritual retreats is Pumadventures. Its day programs, led by native spiritual healers and Andean priests, feature cleansings and offerings to Mother Earth; coca leaf readings; wellness-focused visits to the Sacred Valley; and customized mystical tours. Longer sacred treks and spiritual programs are also available.

In the Andes between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the lush Sacred Valley has its share of wellness spas with a Peruvian slant. At Belmond’s Rio Sagrado hotel, the Mayu Willka Spa occupies a wood and stone structure set close to the rumbling Urubamba River and features an indoor/outdoor pool. The spa is known for treatments that incorporate local ingredients with healing properties, such as quinoa, coca leaves, eucalyptus, and salt from the nearby Maras terraces that have produced salt since pre-Inca times. For an ancient remedy and a clear head, try the Inca headache therapy based on craniofacial massage.

A Macchu Picchu-infused wellness fix in the shadow of the royal estate for Inca emperors and nobility can be had at Unu Spa, next to an orchid garden and freshwater pond in the cloud forest that surrounds the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. The word “unu” means water in Quechua, and in addition to the natural spring, soothing waterfalls are scattered throughout the hotel’s orchid-rich private reserve at the base of Machu Picchu. The spa’s indigenous Andean-inspired treatments use complete natural products sourced from fresh plants and local botanical extracts. A foot therapy starts with a healing soak that incorporates locally mined salt and herbs, followed by exfoliation with cat’s claw extract (a common medicinal plant in the Andes that works as a blood cleanser, detoxifier, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic). A body exfoliation with brown sugar and an alkaloid-rich cream of coca leaves activates circulation and finishes off with lymphatic drainage using quinoa oil for a sensation of renewal. After purification in an Andean sauna, a body wrap of tea leaves from the hotel’s own tea plantation finishes with a cranial massage and orchid body mist. 

Thousands of tourists each year travel to Iquitos, the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon and global capital of ancient healing ceremonies, for its medicinal retreats that incorporate herbal infusions, massage, meditation, mental cleansing, reharmonization, and shamanic treatments. When selecting a wellness retreat there, avoid those that work with non-native shamans, and make sure you’re getting the real thing, that is, someone descended from multiple generations of healers. A wellness retreat uses body work, prayers, meditation, and unadulterated plants to treat conditions just like their ancestors since ancient times.

For a heavenly Peruvian wellness journey, take the luxurious Andean Explorer train that runs between Cusco and Lake Titicaca and then on to the colonial city of Arequipa. During a two-night journey through high Andean plains, passengers enjoy meals designed by the chefs at Belmond’s Monasterio in Cusco along with wellness treatments as the train passes through magnificent landscapes. 

Among the wellness options is the Andean Ritual, an ancient regenerative ritual that uses cleansing a clay wrap mixing local blossoms and coca leaves, followed by a relaxing massage with aromatherapy oils from Andean plants. Then, there is the Andean Explorer Massage to work through body kinks with warm compresses and hot onyx stones for deep muscle work.

Head down the Pacific coast to Paracas, a seaport and former fishing village and home to the Marriott’s waterfront luxury property, Hotel Paracas located om the edge of the Paracas National Reserve. It’s a great location for wildlife watching, pool lounging, and rejuvenating at the hotel’s Spa at Paracas. Guests can turn back time with a 24-karat massage that uses gold-infused oil as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, or the two-hour Ocean Therapy that uses healing properties of the sea to nourish the skin, such as sea salt exfoliation, seaweed wrap, and a seaweed-based massage packed with anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, retinol, and other properties that reduce signs of aging and repair skin cells. 

More information through Peru.Travel.