Deva Premal and Miten are offering a one-week retreat in Peru's Sacred Valley from April 11–17, 2026, that weaves together Andean shamanic teachings, sacred ceremonies led by Q'ero shamans from the high Andes, mantra chanting, and Sufi dancing. The retreat, called Via Illuminata: Shamanic Wisdom & Sacred Mantra, features guest teachers Alberto Villoldo and Marcela Lobos and is designed as a full experiential immersion into both shamanic tradition and sacred sound practice.
Why a Retreat in Peru's Sacred Valley?
The Sacred Valley holds a specific gravitational pull for practitioners seeking authentic encounter with Andean wisdom. Deva Premal describes the landscape itself as "truly sacred," noting that the experience "blows me away each time I'm there." The flowers, the majesty, and the specific energetic imprint of the valley create a container for receiving both teachings and ceremonies in the actual sacred sites where these traditions have been practiced for centuries. It is not incidental that the retreat happens in place—the geography is part of the teaching.
The announcement emphasizes the rarity and time-sensitivity of this offering: "It's not going to happen for much longer. But we are going to do at least one more." This suggests that the logistics of bringing together Q'ero shamans from the high Andes with international participants, along with the coordination required with local guides and sacred sites, makes these retreats increasingly difficult to sustain. Practitioners considering attendance should understand this may represent one of the last opportunities to participate in this specific configuration.
Who Are the Q'ero Shamans and What Do They Offer?
The Q'ero shamans are Andean indigenous practitioners who maintain unbroken lineages of shamanic tradition from the high Andes. The retreat announcement specifies that "the shamans themselves come down from the Andes with their families and spend a week" leading ceremonies and teachings. This is a significant detail: participants are not traveling to shamans' mountain villages for a brief, extractive experience. Instead, the shamans are traveling down to spend sustained time as teachers and ceremonial leaders for the full retreat duration.
The shamans will "take us to the sacred sites and lead us into their magical world." These sacred sites—locations within the Sacred Valley itself—have specific ceremonial and spiritual significance within Andean cosmology and practice. The presence of shamans at these locations, combined with the group's intention and the mantra practice woven throughout the week, is meant to create conditions for direct transmission and experience rather than intellectual learning alone.
What Does a Day at the Retreat Look Like?
The retreat combines multiple contemplative and movement practices throughout the week:
- Sacred ceremonies led by Q'ero shamans at ancient Andean sites
- Chanting and mantra practice led by Deva Premal and Miten
- Sufi dancing under the moon and stars
- Teachings by Alberto Villoldo and Marcela Lobos
The retreat is described as "a full-on experiential extravaganza," suggesting that participants should expect an intensive, embodied week rather than a relaxing retreat. The combination of shamanic ceremony, sacred sound, and movement practice creates a multi-layered approach to spiritual engagement—inviting participants to work with the sacred through place, voice, body, and ceremony simultaneously.
Who Are Alberto Villoldo and Marcela Lobos?
Alberto Villoldo and Marcela Lobos are guest teachers who contribute teachings and facilitation to the retreat. While the announcement does not detail their specific offerings, both have established practices and lineages connected to Peruvian shamanism and indigenous wisdom traditions. Their presence alongside the Q'ero shamans themselves indicates a layered approach to transmission—local shamanic practitioners working alongside teachers who have documented and trained in these traditions across different contexts.
What Is Via Illuminata?
The official name of the retreat is Via Illuminata: Shamanic Wisdom & Sacred Mantra. The Latin phrase "Via Illuminata" translates to "the illuminated path," suggesting the retreat is framed as a journey toward insight and awakening that integrates shamanic practice and sacred sound. The naming itself positions the week as a coherent path rather than a collection of separate activities.
What Preparation or Background Do Participants Need?
The announcement does not specify prerequisites for attendance. However, the intensity of the retreat—combining high-altitude Andes locations, ceremonial work, chanting, and Sufi dancing—suggests that participants should have some basic physical fitness and openness to non-ordinary experiences. Those unfamiliar with mantra practice or shamanic ceremony may want to familiarize themselves with both traditions before attending, though the retreat itself is designed to introduce and initiate participants.
Timing and Logistics
The retreat runs April 11–17, 2026. April is autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing cooler temperatures at altitude but clear skies ideal for starlight dancing and ceremony. Participants will need to arrange international travel to Peru, and additional logistical details (cost, accommodation arrangements, travel to/from the Sacred Valley) are available through the official event page at devapremalmiten.com.
Why Combine Shamanism and Mantra?
On the surface, Andean shamanism and mantra chanting represent different cultural and spiritual traditions. However, both share a core principle: the use of sacred sound, intention, and embodied practice to access altered states, commune with the sacred, and catalyze healing and transformation. Mantra works primarily through the vibration and meaning of Sanskrit sound; shamanic ceremony works through relationship with spirit, place, and the seen and unseen worlds. By combining these practices in a single retreat, participants are invited to experience how different wisdom traditions address similar questions about consciousness, healing, and our relationship to the sacred.
Where to Go From Here
If you are called to this retreat, the first step is to visit the official event page at https://devapremalmiten.com/events/holidays/peru-2026/ for complete details, pricing, and registration. You can also connect with Deva Premal & Miten through their Gayatri Sangha App, newsletter, or social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) for updates and preparation resources. Consider exploring the teachings and music of Deva Premal & Miten beforehand to familiarize yourself with their approach to mantra and sacred sound, and research Andean shamanism and the Q'ero tradition to deepen your understanding of what you will encounter. If high-altitude travel or intense ceremonial work is new to you, consult with a healthcare provider and consider your physical and energetic readiness for a full week of immersive practice.
