Isla de la Luna equinox celebration, Tiahuanaco & Puma Punku
September 20 to 25, 2026
with Peter Woodbury & Andean Shaman don Juan de Dios
$1888
(single supplement $400)
ITINERARY
September 20: Meeting don Juan – making our way to the sacred Lake Titicaca.
Breakfast included
After breakfast, meet with don Juan and board our transport from Cusco to Copacabana
Overnight at Hotel Rosario Copacabana
September 21: The Fall Equinox & La Isla de la Luna
Breakfast included
After breakfast, make our way to our boat to visit the Lake Titicaca islands.
We will disembark at the Island of the Sun and The Island of The Moon.
Autumn Equinox ceremonies on Isla de la Luna (Island of the Moon) focus on honoring the moon and the divine feminine.
These rituals connect with ancient Andean traditions dating back to the pre-Inca Tiwanaku and Inca periods.
The Spiritual & Mythological Roots:
Birthplace of the Moon: In Inca mythology, Isla de la Luna is where the creator god Viracocha commanded the moon (Mama Kilya) to rise.
Temple of the Virgins: The island houses the ruins of Iñakuyu, an ancient “Temple of the Virgins” where chosen Incan women were trained as priestesses.
Honoring the Feminine: Unlike the larger Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) associated with masculine solar energy, Isla de la Luna focuses on feminine lunar cycles. The autumn equinox in the Southern Hemisphere is a prime time to celebrate this energy.
What the Ceremonies Look Like
Coca and Offering Ceremonies: Local spiritual guides (Amautas or Yatiris) build a sacred offering known as a mesa. This offering often contains coca leaves, sweet candies, and items representing prosperity, health, and a good harvest.
Ritual Circles: Participants gather in circles, often aligned with the Chakana (Andean cross), to share energy.
Dancing and Feasting: Local communities wear bright traditional clothing and perform ritual dances to honor Pachamama (Mother Earth) and give thanks for the season’s first fruits
Overnight at hotel to be decided.
September 22 : Tiwanaku & Puma Punku
Breakfast included
After breakfast, make our way to the sacred site of Tiahuanaco and Puma Punku.
Tiwanaku and Puma Punku are two monumental archeological and spiritual sites near Lake Titicaca. Built by the Tiwanaku civilization around 500 – 600 AD, they are famous for their megalithic architecture, precise stone masonry, and deep cultural and religious significance.
Both sites are actually part of the same massive, ancient complex. Tiwanaku was a thriving religious and administrative capital that may have supported up to 20,000 residents. Puma Punku, situated just a short distance southwest, was an architectural marvel and a significant ceremonial focal point.
Puma Punku (Aymara and Quechua for “Gate of the Puma”) is celebrated for its highly advanced stone-cutting and engineering.
- Megalithic Stones: The structures were constructed using massive slabs of red sandstone and remarkably hard andesite, some weighing up to 130 tons.
- H-Blocks: The site is famous for its interlocking H-shaped andesite blocks. They feature perfectly straight cuts, sharp right-angle corners, and evenly drilled holes that align to the millimeter.
- Advanced Theories: Due to the extraordinary precision of the stonework, the site has been the subject of numerous alternative theories—ranging from ancient lost technology to extraterrestrial intervention. However, mainstream archaeology attributes these achievements to careful quarrying techniques, highly skilled masonry, and abrasion using sand.
Tiwanaku features several well-known monumental structures, ceremonial platforms, and sunken courtyards. - The Gate of the Sun (Inti Punku): Perhaps the most iconic ruin at Tiwanaku, this is a massive gateway carved from a single block of andesite. It features intricate friezes and a central figure thought to be a creator deity.
- Kalasasaya: A large, open-air temple platform constructed with massive stone columns and walls.
- Semi-Subterranean Temple: An open, sunken courtyard featuring numerous carved stone heads “nailed” into the walls, as well as central monoliths like the Ponce Monolith.
Night 1 of 2 at Taypikala Puno Hotel
September 23 : Uros & Taquile Island Tour
Breakfast included
Our Uros and Taquile Island tour will take us across Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. We will explore the Uros floating islands built from reeds, and then travel to Taquile Island to experience local Quechua culture and handmade textiles.
Night 2 or 2 at Taypikala Puno Hotel
September 24: Return to Lima
Breakfast (included)
We depart our hotel and say our good byes to don Juan, and make our way to the Juliaca airport for our flight back to Lima.
We are scheduled to arrive at 5:10 PM into Lima
Overnight at Wyndham Grand Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel
September 25 : Return home
Check out of hotel
Breakfast included
Safe travels home!
Peter Woodbury 