About

Colibrí Journeys takes you to the Sacred Valley, in the heart of the Andes, where you can experience the beauty, generosity and vibrant abundance of Peruvian culture. A blend of adventure, education, cultural immersion and exchange allows you to explore, share and connect with this rich and humbling place. We will traverse a wide variety of landscapes, from the snow capped peaks of the Andes, thru the rolling altiplano, down the lush Urubamba Valley to the misty mountainous jungle of Machu Picchu.

Regular Spanish classes, volunteer projects, and visits to local families and schools give you unique opportunities to connect directly with the sweetness of the Andean people and give back with your own hands. Botanical gardens, nurseries and plant walks teach us about the natural dyes and medicines of the Andes, fruitful fields of the valley, and the potent diversity of the rainforest. We will learn directly from local experts, professional guides and museums about the rich spirit and deep traditions of the indigenous people who have sustained their culture for millenia.
Art markets, incredible food, ancient ceremony, Inca temples, traditional music and dance will fill our days with the color, joy and mystery of this most precious place on earth. Colibri Journeys is committed to navigating our experiences and relationships with a growing awareness of what it means to be a guest in an indigenous homeland. We recognize the impact that travelers have on a cultural and ecological level and strive to be a positive influence on rather than a consumer of this vibrant and evolving society.

This is an incredible 16 day experience that will open your heart and nourish your spirit. It is designed to be family-friendly: children, couples, and individuals of all ages are welcome to join. You will be well taken care of and learn how to travel, connect and give back in a healthy, culturally immersive and sensitive way.

Your Guide: Laurie Adams

YOUR GUIDE, Laurie Adams, was born in North Carolina, and discovered her passion for the Spanish language, Hispanic culture, and lush foreign lands at a young age. She has been traveling thru Latin America since 2001, including living on and off for several years in Pisaq, Peru. She has been teaching both the Spanish and English languages in hands-on, interactive classes for 13 years. She has a personal connection with the landscape and the open-hearted communities of the Sacred Valley, and these relationships are extended to embrace those who are lucky enough to travel with her.

   Laurie travels the world in a culturally sensitive, yet immersive and integrated way, prioritizing humble relationships with the sacred land and endearing local families. Her years of travel and residence in Latin America have imbued her with knowledge of the local customs, languages and history, and a wisdom of how to move with them in a graceful, respectful, and healthy way. She loves to play with the children, sketch the sunset, and explore the culinary and medicinal properties of the local plants in each place she has the honor of visiting.

In the midst of a two-year wander through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, Laurie began hosting her friends and family who came to get a taste of the adventure. It was then she realized how much she had learned about South American culture and how much she enjoyed sharing the incredible facts and deep connections with other visitors. Whether it is tasting an exotic fruit, marveling in the mysteries of Inca rock-work, or visiting her godchildren in the intimate village of Chawaitiri, Laurie’s enthusiasm is contagious as she connects with the people and land with love and awe.

   Laurie led her first tour thru the wonders of the Sacred Valley in January 2018, and it went so well, she decided to create Colibrí Journeys as a business. She is also currently developing an online Spanish curriculum designed to prepare travelers specifically for their time in the Sacred Valley. The course incorporates a few Quetchua phrases and much of the Spanish vocabulary needed to navigate the markets, gardens and weaving communities which we plan to visit.

   Laurie’s passion for travel, knowledge of how to do so safely and respectfully, and the richness of her relationships with Andean communities are blossoming to create a journey that verges on an art form. The experiences that she connects you with are profoundly beautiful and touching. She is providing a bridge for you to walk into the wonders of a world where your hands will be full of colorful fabric and fruit, and your heart will overflow with awe and love.

     If you have any questions or curiosities about Colibrí Journeys and what Laurie has to offer, feel free to contact her anytime- she loves to share stories and information with anyone interested in traveling to Peru or beyond.

Meet our Colibri Community:

Wayra

Raised in a small village above Pisaq, I first encountered Wayra as a youth when he was playing his flute for tourists' tips up in the sacred temples of Pisaq. He used that tip money to put himself thru Guide School and is now a talented and licensed guide who works throughout the Cusco Region. He tested his fresh skills on our first Colibri Journeys group and has been leading us ever since! He has a delightful sense of humor, his knowledge ranges from the personal to historical, from scientific to the spiritual, and he loves to teach us new phrases in Quechua (giggling contagiously when we get it mixed up). His presence in my life and on our trips is a total treasure, I consider him my brother and do all I can to empower his business and uplift his family.

Rosa

I first met Rosa in 2010 when I was invited into her home and fell unexpectedly in love with her endearing nature and a particularly enticing poncho she made for me with beautiful earthen tones woven in soft, yet sturdy alpaca yarn. Our friendship has grown thru the years as I sought her out in the markets to sit and converse while she adds the twirled fringes to her husbands latest weavings. Their family has textiles in the Smithsonian Museum, and though this is a great source of pride, they still live very humbly, herding their llamas and grateful for every scarf they sell to support their children. To this day that beloved poncho has hardly a loose thread and is my most valued possession.

Miguel Amaru

A Pisaq Native, Miguel (far right) has a unique way of viewing and explaining the world, encompassing ancient Andean cosmology and contemporary cultural perspectives as he guides us along the stone steps of the Pisaq Terraces. He is a musician and a mystic with a gentle, elven spirit and a wide smile. He often drops into the hostel to chat and play music and has a lot to offer to whomever he befriends. He will accompany us on an all day hike from the peak of Intihuatana thru the layers of sacred temples, to the Urubamba Valley below.

Hillaria and Felipe Huaman

Over a decade ago, Hillaria invited me to become her comadre, the godmother to her beautiful daughters Yoselin and Jasmin. At the time I was a footloose and fancy-free traveler with no idea how deep our bonds of kinship would become. After serious consideration, I agreed, and thus began my beloved relationship with their family and the village of Chawaitiri. They are some of the most talented weavers in the Sacred Valley, and recently expanded their home to be able to host guests who can study weaving and participate in daily village life. If you're looking for an even deeper cultural immersion experience, we are happy to set up a home-stay for any length of time. I am honored that we have come to play such meaningful roles in each-others lives and to consider them my Peruvian family.

Dolores

I truly believe Dolores has the sweetest face and most sincere smile of anyone I've ever met. We became friends at first sight, and her humble delight whenever we meet continues to flood my heart with gratitude and love. Dolores is also my comadre, as I am the godmother to her son Carlos, and she invites our entire group in for tea whenever we visit the Chawaitiri Village. This is such a sweet and generous gesture, as her whole family is quite shy and her small adobe home is as humble as they come. It is here, as we trade small talk in Quechua and exchange carefully arranged kintus of friendship and thanks, that our Colibri Journeyers often consider among their most authentic Peruvian experiences.

You!

With every journey our Colibri community network ripples farther out across the continents... Each individual who has decided to trust us with their travels, and immerse themselves in the rich and heart-warming culture of Cusco, has returned home full of enthusiasm and praise for this extraordinary place and our unique way of moving thru it with humbleness and respect. We go far beyond the typical superficial tourist transactions and are learning to relate to people and place in a way that values the true treasures of this land and uplifts the people who live here. Positive impacts on communities and the Earth are our goal, not financial profit or corporate growth. If these values resonate with you and you are interested in joining us, please get in touch. And many thanks to all of our participants who continue to share inspiration with others- I'm so proud of you for being brave enough to join us, and so grateful for all the ways you continue to support this vision!

What People Are Saying

Get on board! This is a tour not to be missed. Laurie's cultural sensitivity and connections with local people combine with the magical beauty of the landscape, crafts, food and music make for an authentic and deeply inspirational journey. I doubt this incredible experience could be found anywhere else.

-Corrina Cohen, Orleans CA

I had an experience of a lifetime being in the Andes with Laurie!! Her connections and sensitivity to the local people and their customs, her fluency in Spanish and some Quetchua, and her superb organizing skills made for a smooth, joyful trip. Laurie put the itinerary together very creatively and thoughtfully, and yet was flexible and sensitive to our needs when plans needed to change. It was such a deeply rich and gratifying experience!! I can say with certainty that my experience was richer than I could have ever hoped for!

-Libba Adams, Pittsboro NC

Laurie’s tales of the people, sites, music, and food of Peru always left us with a longing to experience a similar adventure. Then, good fortune behold, she decided to offer a guided tour of some of her favorite places in the Sacred Valley. We had no hesitation to sign up, as we suspected this to be one of those lifetime experiences, and, indeed it has been.

-Max and Nena Creasy, Somes Bar CA