Sacred Threads of Peru: A Ceremonial Weaving Rainbows Journey In the Sacred Valley of Peru

May 14-24, 2026

Sacred Threads of Peru: A Ceremonial Weaving Rainbows Journey

In the Sacred Valley

ONE WEEK SALE Nov. 14-21 Save $400 code AYNI

Enter into the heart of Andean textile traditions on a transformative journey through Peru’s Sacred Valley. This immersive experience blends hands-on natural dyeing, traditional weaving, sacred site visits, and Andean ceremonies—guided by master weavers and wisdom keepers who carry these ancient traditions forward with their commitment to Cultural topsoil and deep reverence for the Earth.

Our Guide & Host

We are deeply honored to be welcomed by Nilda Callañaupa Álvarez, master weaver, cultural leader, and founder of the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC). Through Nilda and the CTTC, we will be hosted by weaving communities who have carried forward the ancestral lifeways of the Quechua people for generations.

Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez

Nilda was born in the small community of Chinchero. Like many other children during this time, she was responsible for taking care of her family’s flock of sheep. Watching over them in the fields, she spent her time learning to spin and weave with her friends. As she grew and learned more complex designs, her curiosity was sparked. She could see there was a powerful history behind the art of her people, but that it was slowly being lost. When Nilda was a teenager she befriended an ethnobotanist and anthropologist who moved to Chinchero in the 1970s. With their encouragement, she embarked on a journey that would change the fate of Cusco textiles. After becoming the first person from her community to attend college, she went on to become one of the founders of the CTTC. Since her youth Nilda has been a community organizer and leader, bringing her town together behind the goal of reviving their textile traditions. Now the director of the CTTC, an award-winning author, an international speaker, and expert in Cusqueñan textiles, Nilda cannot believe how far the Center has come since its early days as a group of friends meeting to weave in each other’s homes.

Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez is an indigenous Quechua weaver from the mountain village of Chinchero, in the Cusco region of Peru.  Chinchero, known as the "birthplace of the rainbow," is referred to as the weaving center of Peru and is famous for its especially vibrant colored textiles. Nilda will share about her involvement in the revitalization of the pre-Columbian techniques, natural plant dyes, and the important role that textiles play in her culture.  Nilda and the other weavers will share with us demonstrations of traditional backstrap loom weaving and the show us how to spin alpaca wool into yarn. 

Natural Dye an Ancient Technology needed for Modern Times: Journey into the Sacred Valley, an ancestral home of the woven rainbow, where natural dye brilliance weaves together textile traditions, ritual, and ancient wisdom. 

Hands-On Natural Dye Immersion: Learning by Doing

This journey goes beyond observation—we will spend two full days immersed in the natural dye process, working alongside master dyers to learn, create, and connect with the ancestral wisdom of color courted from the plants and minerals of place.

From gathering local plants, roots, and minerals to grinding pigments, preparing dye baths, and transforming raw fibers into vibrant threads, we will experience firsthand the alchemy of natural dyeing. Through this hands-on process, we’ll deepen our understanding of the sacred relationship between nature, textile traditions, and Andean cosmology.

Rather than simply watching, we will engage with the land, the elements, and the wisdom keepers, gaining skills that have been passed down for generations. This is an opportunity to truly embody the artistry and reverence of Andean textile traditions, bringing home not just knowledge, but a lived experience of the beauty and spirit woven into every thread.

This is an invitation to immerse yourself in the living traditions of the Quechua people.

Guided by master weavers and dyeing experts at the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC), you’ll learn ancient techniques of natural dyeing, connecting hands-on with plants, minerals, and time-honored methods passed down for generations.

Visiting Ancestral Weaving Strongholds & Wisdom Keepers

Throughout this journey, we will be welcomed into the heart of Andean textile traditions, visiting communities where weaving is more than an art—it is a language of ancestry, identity, and spiritual connection. These strongholds of tradition hold the stories of the people and place, woven into every thread.

Guided by master weavers and wisdom keepers, we will witness their intricate processes, from the gathering of plants for natural dyes to the rhythmic movement of the backstrap loom. Each color, each pattern, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance—representing sacred mountains (Apus), cycles of life, and relationships with the natural world.

As we connect with weavers and culture keepers, we will hear their stories, learn Quechua words and prayers woven into their creations, and gain insight into how these traditions are being protected, reclaimed and revitalized. This is an invitation into a living lineage—a chance to honor, learn from, and support the keepers of this ancient wisdom.

Walking the Sacred Sites: Ritual & Offerings with Andean Wisdom Keepers

Our pilgrimage is also about deepening our connection to the sacred lands that hold these traditions. Throughout our journey, we will visit powerful sites such as Sacsayhuamán, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac, where the energy of the ancestors still lingers in the stones.

Guided by Paqos (Andean wisdom keepers, healers, and spiritual guides), we will enter these spaces with reverence, making traditional offerings (Despachos) to the Apus (mountain spirits) and Pachamama (Mother Earth). We will learn the art of working with coca leaves, an ancient Andean practice used for divination, gratitude, and energetic alignment.

Through these rituals, we will not only honor the land but also experience firsthand the living spirituality woven into Andean culture. This is an opportunity to step into reciprocity, to give thanks, and to receive the profound teachings of the mountains, the ancestors, and the wisdom keepers who carry these traditions forward.

Sacsayhuamán  Overlooking the city of Cusco, Sacsayhuamán is a monumental Inca fortress renowned for its massive stone walls, precisely fitted without mortar. This archaeological marvel serves as a testament to the ingenuity of Inca engineering. Here, we'll participate in ceremonies that connect us to the land and its ancestral spirits, deepening our appreciation for the site's historical and spiritual importance.

Ollantaytambo  Situated in the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo is both a living town and an archaeological site. Its impressive terraces and stone constructions reflect its significance as a military, religious, and agricultural center. We'll walk the ancient pathways, learning about the site's strategic importance and engaging in rituals that honor its enduring legacy.

Pisac  Perched atop a hill overlooking the Urubamba Valley, the Pisac ruins encompass agricultural terraces, ceremonial baths, and temples. This site offers insight into the Inca's sophisticated agricultural practices and spiritual life. Our visit will include traditional offerings and ceremonies, allowing us to connect with the site's vibrant energy and historical context.

Throughout our journey, we'll be guided by local wisdom keepers, known as Paqos in Quechua. These spiritual leaders will introduce us to the sacred practice of working with coca leaves, used for millennia in Andean rituals as offerings and for medicinal purposes. We'll also learn the art of creating Despachos, ceremonial offerings that express gratitude and reverence to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus (mountain spirits).

Engaging directly with these sacred traditions at their source, we'll foster a profound connection to the Andean cosmology and the timeless wisdom embedded in these ancient sites.

Why Join This Pilgrimage?

Engage in Immersive Learning & Connection

 Traditional Weaving & Natural Dyeing  Learn directly from expert Quechua artisans in hands-on workshops, including a multi-day natural dyeing immersion. Participate in the full process—gathering plants, grinding pigments, stirring the dye pots, and witnessing the alchemy of color transformation.

 Visit Sacred Sites & participate in Andean Rituals  Walk the land with Quechua wisdom keepers and visit the sacred sites of Sacsayhuamán, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac. Participate in Andean ceremonies, including a despacho offering to the Apus (mountain spirits) and an introduction to the sacred coca plant.

Support Indigenous Culture Keepers   Your participation directly supports local weavers and cultural preservation efforts, ensuring that these traditions continue to thrive.

 Andean Spirituality & Sound Healing  Experience the magic of the Andean flute with renowned sound healer Omar La Rosa (Tito de la Rosa's son), deepening your connection to the musical spirit of the Andes. We will have a full day flute making class with Omar and you will make and learn to play a traditional Andean flute in this legendary flute making and sound healing studio.

Pilgrimage Highlights

•Visits to vibrant local markets & weaving villages    

•Ethnobotanical hikes with Quechua elders   

•Conversations with master weavers about their craft & culture   

• Weaving Immersion: Days spent with master weavers in the Sacred Valley, practicing backstrap loom weaving, fiber preparation, and design.

• Natural Dyeing Classes: Learning to work with ancestral dye plants, minerals, and cochineal under the guidance of Quechua teachers.

• Traditional Foods: Hands-on cooking of regional dishes with local families, learning foodways tied to the land and its cycles.

• Ritual & Ceremony: Participating in rituals with traditional peoples, entering into relationship through offering, song, and prayer.

• Healing Flute Making: Creating a traditional Andean flute in the studio of the legendary sound healer Tito de la Rosa, guided by his son, master flute maker Oscar de la Rosa. Each participant will craft a flute as a personal and collective healing instrument.

•Traditional Andean Music Class learning to play the Siku (Andean Pan-pipe) with Omar La Rosa at the World Renowned La Rosa Workshop in Cusco 

• Sacred Valley Stay: Living simply and reverently in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, surrounded by mountains, rivers, and the vibrant cultural fabric of Andean life.

Honor & Intention

This pilgrimage is offered with humility and gratitude — honoring the Quechua people, their ancestral knowledge, and the sacred landscapes that hold these traditions. We come as learners, guests, and allies, weaving relationships of respect and reciprocity.

Itinerary Overview

May 14: Arrival in Cusco, welcome lunch, drive to Pisac, opening despacho ceremony

May 15-16: Weaving & natural dyeing workshops at CTTC & Chinchero, hike Urkillos valley

May 17: Calca market & Accha Alta weaving community for Alpaca Fertility Celebration

May 18: Chahuaytire weaving community, stay in local homes

May 19: Chahuaytire Potatoes Harvest, Ceremony, return to Pisac

May 20:  San Salvador Valley to Urcos, return to Cusco, free evening Cusco 

May 21: city tour, museums, market explorations, Andean Music workshop

May 22: visit Sacsayhuamán and Inkiltambo, closing despacho ceremony

May 23: Andean Music Flute workshop

May 24: departure

Join us in honoring and uplifting the wisdom of the Quechua weavers. Spaces are limited—secure your place today! 

Your Guides:

Nilda is our host and local guide.

Robin Kang

Robin Kang is an artist, weaver, and student of ancient earth based lineages.  Honoring the sacred histories of textile arts, Kang has studied ancient techniques with Mayan, Quechua, and Scandinavian weavers and has been initiated into the Amazonian Shipibo-Conibo tradition to learn the mystical textile techniques of the lineage. Kang earned an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, focusing on fiber & material studies and has taught courses in fiber arts and digital weaving at Tyler School of Art, Parsons, and RISD. Her art reclaims weaving as a computational craft.  Utilizing a digitally operated Jacquard hand loom, the contemporary version of the first binary operated machine and argued precursor to the invention of the computer, she hand weaves tapestries that combine mythic symbolism, computer related imagery, and digital mark making.

Lena Eastes

Lena Eastes is the founder and director of Earth Path Education and the visionary behind Weaving Rainbows, a living bridge between ancestral craft, ceremony, and contemporary culture. For the past sixteen years, she has guided Rites of Passage for young women and inspires Women to become Rites of Passage Guides through her trainings.

Lena has co-guided earth-based pilgrimages in Oaxaca, Guatemala, and Copper Canyon, Mexico, collaborating closely with Indigenous friends, elders, and culture keepers. The Sacred Threads of Peru journey marks a new chapter in this lineage of cultural exchange and ancestral remembering.

Her work tends the threads between earth skills, ceremonial arts, and ancestral traditions, honoring them as vital expressions of cognitive diversity—the wisdom of many ways of knowing—and recognizing them as central to the biodiversity and spiritual health of our planet. Through her leadership, Lena invites others to remember the wisdom of their hands, hearts, and homelands, rekindling the sacred conversation between people and place

Lodging & Travel

Lodging and food have been chosen to support local culture keepers and keeping us in beautiful and traditional spaces.

Reserve Your Spot!   🌿✨ Join us in honoring and uplifting the wisdom of the Quechua weavers ✨🌿

Enter into the heart of Andean textile traditions on a transformative journey through Peru’s Sacred Valley. This immersive experience blends hands-on natural dyeing, traditional weaving, sacred site visits, and Andean ceremonies—guided by master weavers and wisdom keepers who carry these ancient traditions forward.

Logistics

• Duration: 10 days (May 2026)

• Includes: Lodging, meals, in-country transport, weaving and dye materials, flute-making, and community guidance.

• Location: Sacred Valley of Peru, hosted by CTTC weaving communities.

• Cost:  $3,300 ON SALE Nov. 14-21! Save $400, $2, 900

Join us in honoring and uplifting the wisdom of the Quechua weavers. Spaces are limited—secure your place today!