A journey to discover the Andean villages and their traditions, customs, beliefs and costumes. The villagers will allow us to experience unforgettable moments as they do their daily work in each place in the region of Cusco, and at the same time, make sure we get to know attractive cultural, religious and natural places.
Our driver will pick us up from the hotel to bring us to the starting point of our hike. On our way, we will enjoy a panoramic view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and to take advantage of our trip, we will visit an archeological site called Pisaq (3,400 m), which was of major importance in the epoch of the Incas: terraces, fountains, ceremonial community centers, astronomic observatories,and a cemetery. This city is built between the high peaks of the Urubamba mountain chain. And from this point, the Incas reigned and controlled the Sacred Valley. Afterwards, we will bring a visit to the handicraft market of Pisaq, where you can appreciate different works of art offered by its inhabitants, and bargain a deal. Pisaq is especially famous for its silver jewelry.
As we continue our trip, we will have a picknick lunch prepared by our professional Chef, after which we will be heading for Lares.On our way,we will pass by small Andean villages until we arrive at Lares (3,100 m), where we will spend the night with a local Homestay family. Before dinner, we may like to enjoy the thermal baths, then have dinner and relax.
After breakfast, we will meet with our team of llama carriers and lamas that will transport our personal luggage (up to 5 kg per person). There will also be another porter accompanying us with an emergency horse in case there may be any mishaps. Now, our walk to the village of Rosaspata begins through a valley with a slope uphill that has a view as far as the Lares valley river, until we arrive at the village of Rosaspata, where we have planned to have a picknick lunch prepared by our professional Chef. Then, we will continue to ascend to the remote village of Andino, where we arrive at our local Homestay family. In the afternoon, we will have a demonstration of organic patatoes the families are cultivating. There are over 300 varieties of potatoes cultivated in the area, for consumption as well as for sustenance. After the demonstration we will have dinner.
Many of the houses we will see in the small village of Ccochayoq are constructed with stones and have thatched roofs. The people of this village produce beautifully colored textiles. Tomorrow we will learn more about the weaving techniques and we will be able to admire some of their high quality ponchos, chullos (woolen hats) and other garments. Afterwards, we will climb up to the highest point, the Cuypan pass (4,550 m) from where you can enjoy the Tirijuay nevada, lama’s grazing, lakes, birds (the puna bird) and a natural landscape. On our way, picknick lunch is prepared by our Chef, after which we will arrive at the village of Challhuaqocha, where we will stay with local Homestay families. In the evening, just before dinner, we will have a meeting with the children of the region, who will sing songs in Quechua and Spanish fo rus, and tell us stories. And we can teach them to color, draw, count numbers and say some basic words in English. After that we will have dinner together with the children.
After breakfast, we have to say goodbye to the children to start a little ascent to the pass or top from where we can have a beautiful view of the natural landscape, to descend to the village of Patacancha where the Homestay family is waiting fo rus with an ancestral Pachamanka dish. This is very typical Peruvian food that is cooked on stones on a fire with Alpaca meat, chicken, potatoes, sweet potatoes and vegetables. In the afternoon we will have a textile workshop and dinner.
After breakfast, we have to say goodbye to the team of porters and our Homestay family, to take a local minibus to the small village of Pallata from where we will walk up to the archeological site of Pumamarka. After our visit, we walk down to the valley of Ollantaytambo. On our way, we will have a picknick lunch. Then, we will visit the beautiful archeogical site of Ollantaytambo, which was of reat importance in the time of the Incas. At night, we will board the train to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night in a 3*** hotel.
In the early morning we will leave the hotel to take a bus to Machu Picchu, the Magical City of the Incas, which is considered a jewel of Inca architecture with agricultural terraces, neighbourhoods, squares, streets, an astronomic observatory etc. Constructed upon the slopes of the mountain, in the middle of nature, it is considered one of the miracles of today’s world. UNESCO has recognized it as a part of the common Natural and Cultural Heritage of Mankind, as it was an important religious, political and administrative center in the epoch of the Inca. The altitude is about 2450 m. After exploring this Magical City, you may like to explore the mountain of Huaynapicchu. From the top of this mountain you can enjoy an impressing overview of the entire City of Machupicchu. It is advised to make reservations months in advance, so please do not hesitate to contact us, if you like to include Huaynapicchu. We will return to Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy, where our driver is waiting to take us back to the hotel in Cusco.
If you would like bring some gifts for the children of the Andean communities we are staying with, it would be much appreciated. You could bring for example, coloring books, coloring pencils or some small toys. Small children’s gifts are also for sale in Cusco; feel free to ask your guide.
Prices and discounts
A mínimum group size would be 2 persons. The bigger the group, the lower our cost per person: please, find our prices and discounts below!
Prices and discounts
A mínimum group size would be 2 persons. The bigger the group, the lower our cost per person: please, find our prices and discounts below!
Reserve here