WEAVING THE GOLDEN THREAD
Thresholds — Connecting with Ñustas
A Journey of Initiation and Deep Personal change
Thresholds.
Lea Motlow and Nelida Vilca Huaman of Chinchero Village Lead the Way.
May 6 - May 15, 2026
Join the Ñustas family on a transformative journey that invites you into a deep communion with the sacred lands of the Andes. Beginning in Cusco, you will walk among revered sites, participate in ancient ceremonies, and honor Pachamama through offerings and purification rituals. Guided by the powerful energies of the Ñustas, you will receive the spiritual wisdom of the Incas in an intimate, heartfelt way. The journey culminates in a pilgrimage to the holy waters of Lake Titicaca, where blessings from the mountains and the lake bring purification, renewal, and a profound reconnection to the Earth.
A Sacred Quest
The Journey
DAY 1 | MAY 6: Welcome!
Arrive in Cusco! Transfer to the Sacred Valley and Introductory Meeting
Your journey begins in Cusco, where you will be warmly greeted at the airport and transferred directly to the Sacred Valley. Descending in altitude allows us to acclimate with ease, leaving you refreshed, energized, and ready for the days ahead.
Upon arrival at your beautiful hotel, you’ll have time to settle in before we come together for an introductory meeting. Here, we will share an overview of the carefully planned activities awaiting you on this transformative adventure.
Overnight: Villa Urubamba, Sacred Valley
Meals Included: Lunch
DAY 2| MAY 7: Ñaupa Iglesia
Today, we journey northwest of Urubamba into the tranquil Pomatales Valley to visit the mystical ruins of Ñaupa Iglesia, also known as Choquequilla. A short but rewarding 18-minute walk up the hillside brings us to this sacred site, surrounded by breathtaking Andean landscapes.
Ñaupa Iglesia, meaning “the ancient temple where gold shines,” was a revered ceremonial center of the Incas. With its exquisite stonework and unique location, it served as a powerful place for rituals honoring Pachamama (Mother Earth), the cosmos, and the spiritual realms. Here you will see the sacred Chakana carved into the stone and take part in a special ritual we have prepared for you.
Overnight: Villa Urubamba, Sacred Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch or Box Lunch
DAY 3 | MAY 8: Quillarumiyoq
After breakfast, we depart the Sacred Valley and travel through the wide-open Anta Valley, a fertile landscape of golden grain fields, adobe villages, and grazing cattle. Leaving the main road, we arrive at the Incan archaeological site of Quillarumiyoc—known as the Temple of the Moon. This sacred place holds profound spiritual significance, with ancient walls, fountains, and the remarkable Moonstone: a limestone boulder intricately carved with a bas-relief of the moon.
Walking along well-preserved Inca trails, we immerse ourselves in the wisdom of the past. Exploring the caves of Quillarumiyoc, we encounter extraordinary carvings that reflect the Incas’ deep spiritual knowledge. We then visit the temple of the Quillarumiyoc water priest, a striking example of imperial Inca architecture. At its center flows a serene waterfall, where we pause for cleansing and purification, allowing the mind to relax and harmonize with the site’s energy.
Shaped like a crescent moon, the Temple of the Moon embodies feminine energy and celestial alignment. Its design reflects the sacred Inca trilogy and is oriented to capture the morning sunlight, serving both as an astronomical marker and a spiritual calendar.
In the afternoon, we continue on to the Sacred Valley.
Overnight: Local House in Chinchero
Meals Included: Breakfast, Family Lunch
DAY 4 | MAY 9: Mama Piuray and Chinchero
Today invites a journey of magic, balance, and self-discovery. After breakfast, we visit the serene Piuray Lagoon in Chinchero—a sacred place of harmony and renewal. Here, we will attune to the balance of feminine and masculine energies and open ourselves to their blessings.
By the tranquil waters of Piuray, we will take part in a Connection Ceremony, deepening our bond with the spirit of these sacred lands and with our own inner essence.
Overnight: Local House in Chinchero
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5 | MAY 10: Poq Poq Waterfall
After breakfast, we set out on a scenic hike to the local waterfall of Ñusta Poq Poq. Revered as the spirit of a mermaid, Ñusta Poq Poq embodies abundance and prosperity. Immersing yourself in her crystalline waters is considered a powerful blessing—realigning body, mind, and spirit.
Following this sacred communion, we continue our hike down to the town of Urquillos, where transportation awaits to return us to our hotel in Cusco.
Overnight: Hotel Colonial, Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6 | MAY 11: A Scenic Journey from Cusco to Puno
At approximately 6:20 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel for a comfortable private journey from Cusco to Puno, designed to let you experience the region’s most magical landscapes and ancestral history at your own pace.
Along the way, we will pause to admire the dramatic rock formations of Tinajani, take in the sweeping views from the majestic Raya Pass with its clear vistas of the towering Chimboya Glacier, and explore the fascinating Lithic Museum of Pukara.
Your adventure concludes upon arrival in Puno, where the pristine waters of Lake Titicaca await.
Overnight: Casa Andina, Puno
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 7 | MAY 12: A Journey Across Lake Titicaca
We begin early, greeting the morning sun before setting out on a private boat journey across the tranquil waters of Lake Titicaca to the floating Uros Islands. Crafted entirely from totora reeds, these islands are home to the Uros people who, according to legend, existed before the sun, when the earth was still cold and dark. Once used as a mobile defense system, the islands now welcome visitors to learn about ancient traditions and experience the beauty of a simple, enduring way of life. Though the Uros speak of their “black blood” that makes them impervious to the cold, they are known above all for their warmth and hospitality.
We continue onward to Amantaní, the “Island of the Kantuta,” named after Peru’s national flower that blooms abundantly here. This circular island, about 9 square kilometers in size, is crowned by two sacred peaks: Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth). Each holds ancient Inca and Tiwanaku ruins at its summit, while the terraced hillsides below sustain the community with wheat, quinoa, potatoes, and other crops.
For us, this sacred crossing is a time to draw upon the healing energy of the lake, receive the wisdom of the ancestors, and reflect deeply on the meaning of our journey.
Overnight: Local Home Stay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8 | MAY 13: Amantaní and Puno
On Amantaní, we will practice dreaming awake—envisioning the new life we wish to create from the heart. As the sun rises, we welcome the day with solar practices and activations, connecting with the sacred temples of the Amantaní people and attuning to their ancient wisdom.
After breakfast, we journey across Lake Titicaca, aligning with the energetic chain of peace that flows through these waters and honoring the Mother of the Lake in ceremony and reflection.
We then return by boat to Puno, where you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Casa Andina, Puno
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 9 | MAY 14: Amaru Muru Doorway; Chucuito Temple of Fertility
This morning, we set out for Aramu Muru’s Doorway, located in the mystical Valley of the Spirits. As we carefully tread across the immense rock formations—shaped like a serpent and a feline—we attune to the powerful forces of the Underworld and Middle World. Passing through this enigmatic valley, we encounter naturally sculpted stones that create a landscape both sacred and mysterious.
Upon reaching Aramu Muru’s Doorway—believed to be a portal to other dimensions—we will take part in a ceremony of honor and renewal, dedicating ourselves to self-improvement, transformation, and rebirth as we step into a new phase of life.
Afterward, we continue to Inca Uyo, the Temple of Fertility, a sacred rectangular ceremonial site where rituals for Pachamama and sun worship have been performed since ancient times and are still carried out today.
Overnight: Casa Andina, Puno
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 10 | MAY 15: Transfer to Juliaca Airport and Return Home
At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to Juliaca Airport for your departing flight. As you journey home, carry with you the clarity, vitality, and deep sense of well-being received from these sacred lands. You leave with new friendships, cherished connections, and lasting memories of a healing journey that will continue to unfold long after your return.
Meals Included: Breakfast
What’s Included
Travel to each place along with pick up and delivery to the Cusco airport as required
Shared double rooms
Please reach out to lea@golden-threads, if you have a need for a single room, this will be an additional cost.
Tents, sleeping bags, mats, and blankets while at Ausangate
Horses, if needed for Ausangate
Paqo’s and Sacred Teachings
Ceremonial supplies
Translator
All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners and our last night celebration meal.
Not Included
Your flight coming into Peru, your flight to Cusco, and any additional taxes coming out of Peru.
Travel insurance ... (required)
Some dinners, if you decide to go out on your own, any additional food that you may require (snacks), any personal items/ that you may need along the trip, and personal spending money
Private healing or coca readings
Tips ... (for our drivers, cooks, and people who assist us along the way ... Recommended: 150 — USD 250. This will be collected early on the trip or you can also pay along with your trip fee.
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Travel and Entry Requirements for Peru
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Cost
$3,495.00 early bird pricing
If you register with a $500 non-refundable deposit by March 28, 2025
Full payment will be due by May 1st,2025, No refunds will be issued after May 1st….We cannot provide refunds for unexpected situations. Your travel insurance is to assist you from unforeseen circumstances that may result in travel changes or cancellations.
$3,695.00 after March 29, 2025
A $500 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration and the balance will be due by May 1, 2024.
***Any CC or PayPal fees will be added to your balance-due invoice. Please reach out to see how to pay without incurring fees. lea@golden-threads.com
If you are interested in a structured payment arrangement please reach out to Lea. lea@golden-threads.com
Once you are registered you will receive guidance and information on how to prepare for your trip.
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Lea Motlow
Lea Motlow is a mother, grandmother, business owner, and a woman that has been walking the Medicine Path for many years. She was gifted her medicine name “Thunderbird Heart” in 2014 and her walk since then has been to “follow her name”. She has been in healing circles with her first teacher Kedar S. Brown for many years in his Rites of Passage Program. She has assisted him in his programs and is a Certified Vision Quest guide.
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Nelida Vilca Huaman
Chinchero Village
Nelida was born the 29th of November in 1986 in Cusco with family origins from Apurimac (the Apu who speaks) and from Chumbivilcas, where she carries a lineage of warrior healers. In 2010, she met master Puma - he started teaching her, and initiated her as a master in the path of Kapaq Ñan, and since then, she’s been walking and sharing all of the knowledge, ceremonies, offerings, and mesa work in Chinchero.
Nelida is also offering online teachings. Visit her page to learn more.
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Dora Fronek, Translator and Paqo
Dora Fronek is the President and founder of Sacred Wisdom Discovery, a Peruvian foundation dedicated to the preservation of ancestral traditions, culture, and ceremonies. She followed Spirit's call to move to Peru to apprentice directly with the Andean Masters of the Musuq Tawantinsuyu and through her dedication to the spiritual path, she translates for the Andean Masters.