As a yoga retreat leader, I have been facilitating international yoga retreats for nearly 15 years, with groups ranging from 20 to 100+ students. On my recent journey to Peru, I brought two back-to-back groups to Willka Tika, with each group having around 50 students. In all of my years of leading retreats, I have never had an experience of holding a retreat at a facility as beautiful, well-run, supportive, and value-aligned as Willka Tika.

For a retreat to be successful there must be certain components in place: a great practice space, beautiful/comfortable accommodations, wonderful food, and a supportive staff. If a single one of these components is not in place, the retreat can feel shaky. Willka Tika hits a homerun on every single one of these fronts.

First and foremost, they have been doing this for decades. If you’re retreat leader interested in visiting Peru, taking a group to Machu Picchu, and experiencing the Sacred Valley, there is nowhere else you should go except Willka Tika. They will help you create a comprehensive schedule that supports your daily yoga practices while also ensuring you and your group receive a well-rounded, thorough experience of the Sacred Valley, local traditions, authentic connection to the history of the land, rituals and ceremonies, people, and more.

The tour organization that Willka Tika works with, headed by Silverio, took impressively good care of our two large groups. Silverio is unlike any other tour guide I have worked with. He was organized, communicative, flexible, confident, and incredibly focused, ensuring that each person in our group was not only safe but was also experiencing Peru authentically, with care, and a deep understanding of the history, the people, and the land. In Silverio’s hands there was never a moment of concern or doubt. He kept the schedule exactly as planned, ensuring we were always on time, never missing or having to delay a single yoga practice. Silverio is truly one of a kind and is absolutely living his dharma. It was wonderful to feel our group was being so well taken care of in his hands and as a retreat leader, it was a priceless relief.

The staff at Willka Tika is unparalleled. Verena, Livio, Mario, Roxann, Terry, and Tristan all worked tirelessly to care for each person in our group. Every single person on site seems truly and deeply happy to be a part of Willka Tika and greets every interaction not only with a smile but with deep presence. If someone in our group had a need or a request, the staff answered with continual support, always looking to find a solution or provide what was needed. From the gardeners to the kitchen staff to the cleaning crew, we were always greeted with warm, friendly smiles and it felt like being welcomed immediately into a family. Verena was absolutely amazing in supporting us, our group, and each individual from early morning to late at night. Our gratitude to her is profound for the love and care she provided daily.

The rooms are spacious, the hot water is HOT, the towels are impressively clean, the rooms were diligently cleaned daily, and the nightly ritual of receiving a warm water bottle tucked in our beds was soothing and a generous treat.

Each meal is different and drawn from their expansive organic gardens. Even the students who were not accustomed to a week of vegetarian meals were impressed and satisfied. The kitchen was able to accommodate dietary needs ranging from nut allergies to gluten-free to vegan. Most meaningful to me personally, as the mother of a 5 year old, was the entire staff’s support in helping our daughter find something to eat each night, making her a beautiful plate of salad, vegetables, and rice which she devoured. It meant the world to know they were caring not only for the needs of our group but also attending to our daughter’s needs, which is not necessary and truthfully, has not been done in the past by other retreat centers. Facilitating large groups can be energetically taxing, especially while balancing parenting, and Willka Tika’s attention to our daughter’s needs made our entire stay not only sustainable but rejuvenating. Their care and attention to the entire group was impeccable.

The practice space is not only beautiful, but it can comfortably hold a group of 60+ students while also providing the props necessary for either a yoga retreat or teacher training.

Willka Tika’s expansive gardens are not only gorgeous and inspiring, but they provide the entire retreat group with opportunities to immerse in nature, step away from technology, and locate spaces of reflection and privacy throughout the property. And the 1,000 year old tree which inspired Carol to found the retreat center is simply astonishing and an energetic gift to get to spend time with.

Spa treatments, massages, and solar baths are a must! Gabby, one of their therapists, has been there for 29 of the 30 years they have been in business, which tells you something about the integrity of the founders.

And speaking of integrity, if you are a yoga retreat leader, you know that where you and your students choose to place your money matters. How we utilize our financial resources is part of how we live our values. At Willka Tika you understand immediately that you have made a value-aligned choice to not only support the staff but the Quechua people. Knowing money you spend will go to support the local school Carol founded or the indigenous Shaman who come to lead ceremonies for your group is absolutely priceless.

It was wonderful to have access to the local town with such ease, either by foot or tuk tuk. It felt safe and easy to navigate around town and our group thoroughly enjoyed local restaurants, cafes, and shops. This access gave retreat participants a choice as to whether they wanted to stay on property in an immersive, digital detox setting or venture out into town for an experience of local life.

I could go on, but I think you get the point. My greatest hope is that if you have felt called to visit Peru and experience the Sacred Valley, you will choose Willka Tika for all they stand for, all they deliver, and all they continue to support.

Thank you, once again, from the bottom of my heart,

~ Lauren Eckstrom, April 2025
Co-Founder, Co-CEO Inner Dimension