Learning in the Andes 3 days

Cod. Viaje: ALZZ
  • Empieza: Cuzco (Peru)
  • Termina: Cuzco (Peru)
  • Nivel: Estandar
  • Servicios en: English
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Rural tourism in Patabamba! Patabamba is a community sheltered by the Peruvian Andes and very famous thanks to its weaving products and its warm people. Here, we have the opportunity of sharing 3 days of our lives with the locals and watch their weaving and dyeing, help them to herd their sheep, with their agricultural work and have the chance to visit the impressive «Balcón» in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Length of this trip: 3 days/2 nights              Trip code: ALZZ-BES

Starting point: Cuzco (Peru)                             Finishing point: Cuzco (Peru)

Trip Information

Trip information:

Difficult level: 2/6

Trip style: Rural tourism

Service level: Basic

Group size: Min. 4 – Max. 16

Recommended departures: Year-round

Trip planner:

  • Day 1: Transfer to the community of Patabamba. Rural tourism: flower picking and weaving and dyeing demonstrations, using sheep wool. (L, D)
  • Day 2: We will help the families herding their sheep y will visit the impressive «Balcón» in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. (B, L, D)
  • Day 3: Help the locals in their agricultural tasks, typical of an Andean community. (B, L)

Itinerary

Detailed itinerary:

Day 1: Flower picking, weaving and dyeing with the community

This adventure begins with a bus transfer to the Andean community of Patabamba (3951 m). In Patabamba, the locals and their families will be waiting to give us the welcome. Here the group will split two by two and each pair will «live» with a family that will provide them with meals and a room especially prepared for them. This community is well-known for the quality of its weaving, its dyeing with natural colours and its design, which has the quality of telling the history of the community. Once we are settled, our families will take us to pick some flowers and plants they use to dye the wool; later on, they will teach us the whole process of weaving and dyeing. After dinner, we shall have a little party where we can learn some local dance steps and maybe wear their colourful dresses.

Meals included: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Herd the sheep and visit to the «Balcón» in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

After a pleasant night, free from the noise of the city, our day begins with going along the locals to herd the sheep. We will have the chance to observe their peculiar habit of serving food the shepherd in charge of the animal al day long. Later on, we take a short trip to a natural balcony in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, at an average altitude of 600 meters above the rest of the valley, where the view is simply impressive. From there it’s possible to see the towns of Calca, Lamay, Colla and Pisac, as well as the snow-capped peaks of Veronica, Pitusiray and Sawasiray. In the afternoon, we will help our families to get the sheep together and bring them back home.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Agricultural work

We will spend the day with the locals of Patabamba, helping them with their day-to-day agricultural activities (harvesting, sowing, irrigating, ploughing and weeding). This will be a unique experience and a chance to learn how men in the Andes subsist with their land. In the afternoon we say goodbye to our families and return to Cuzco.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Highlights of the trip:

  • Community of Patabamba
  • Rural tourism
  • Balcón» in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Included

Included:

  • Professional guide:
    • Spanish and English
  • Llama driver
  • Llamas for the trekking (Day 2)
  • Meals:
    • Breakfast (2), lunch (3) and dinner (2)
  • Transport:
    • Private transport Cuzco – Patabamba – Cuzco
  • Lodging:
    • Home staying with a community familiy, 2 nights (double basis)

Not Included:

  • Local and international flights
  • International airport taxes
  • Visas
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Extra activities during the free time
  • Transfer for those extra activities
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips
  • Personal use items
  • Lodging before and after the tour, if it applies

You should bring along:

  • Hiking boots
  • Poncho and windbreaker
  • Bottle of water, torch, hat, sun lotion, sunglasses
  • Warm and light clothes
  • Two extra pairs of socks
  • Snacks

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