WHERE WE ARE
The Nuna Ayni organization is located in a small community called Pillawara, in the district of San Salvador, right outside of Pisac, 1 hour outside of Cusco in the Andean mountains of the Sacred Valley of Peru. Cusco can be translated as ‘the umbilicus of the world’, and is regarded by the Andean people as the spiritual capital of Peru.
According to local tradition, the Sacred Valley of Peru is a powerful energetic doorway. The people of this area can trace their ancestral lineage as far back as the Tiawanako people, who originated from the Lake Titicaca region. Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world, is regarded by Peruvians to be the spiritual origin of the Incan culture.
The Incan and pre-Incan cultural influence in this region is thriving. Ancient temples from these civilizations can be found lacing the tops of the towering Apus (sacred mountains) that constitute the spiritually important pueblos of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, as well as one of the seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu contains the most notable remains of the Incan culture, depicting the complex nature of Incan architecture in a powerful and stunning way. The Incas harmonized their structures with the nature of the Apus, honoring them as they continue to be honored today: as teachers, providers, and spiritual guardians of this valley.
Tierra Nuna Ayni is on a terraced mountainside populated with fruit trees, herbs and medicinal plants, perched above the Wilka Mayu River, this peaceful and inspiring setting is a powerful place to conduct Nuna Ayni’s programs. Our land is graced by the presence of one of the largest, most important mountains in the region: Apu Pachatusan.