Experiential Tourism
Participating in comunal activities implies learning about the communal organizational system and assimilating ancestral techniques and customs, now being recovered. In Huaraz (Ancash), for example, the Llama Trek rescues the use of llamas as pack animals to cross the White Mountain Range and reach the old temple of Chavin. On the Titicaca Islands (Puno) and Cuzco's Sacred Valley communities, visitors participate in agricultural works that still use successful Inca irrigation and farming techniques such as terracing, besides participating in textile crafts and religious expressions. In Porcón (Cajamarca) and the Austro-German colonies of Pozuzo, Oxapampa and Villa Rica (Pasco), it is also very interesting to share forestry and farm working experiences.
Puno: Titicaca Islands (Taquile, AmantanÃ, Suasi and Anapia) and Llachón
Useful information:
- Puno Region. Titicaca lake islands, in the provinces of Puno and Huancane (3810 masl / 12500 fasl).
- Climate:Semi-dry and cold. Average temperature:24ºC (75º F) max and -7ºC (19º F) min.
- Date:From April to September.
- Transport:To the island, by lake:
- To Taquile and AmantanÃ: from Puno port, 40 km / 25 miles east of Puno.
- To Anapia (Wiñaymarca): from Punta Hermosa (Yunguyo), 151 km / 94 miles south of Puno.
- To Suasi: from CambrÃa, 157 km / 98 miles north of Puno.
- To Llachón: in Capachica peninsula, 70 km / 43 miles northeast of Puno, by land; and 30 km / 19 miles north of Puno port, by lake.
- AmantanÃ, has two beautiful archaeological sites (1000 B.C.) which dominate the island, where ancestral rituals for Mother Earth’s fertility are performed. Taquile, organized farmer and skillful weavers village, posses unique terraces and ceremonial centers for propitiatory rituals. The Anapia (Wiñaymarca) archipelago, with its 5 islands, is dedicated to farming and breeding of vicunas. In CambrÃa community, near Suasi island, it is possible to carry out farming activities. Llachón is a community of skillful and fine weavers and artisans, at the border of the lake, which offers the possibility of sharing the day to day work with visitors. In these islands, Aymara people receive visitors in their homes or accommodations, and make them participate in communal labor and share, between other things, the delicious huatia or boiled broad beans and potatoes with silverside fish.
Cusco: Sacred Valley Communities and Raqchi
Useful information:
- Cusco Region. Yucay, 67 km / 42 miles northeast. Maras, 53 km / 33 miles northeast, Ollantaytambo, 78 km / 48 miles northeast of Cusco and Raqchi, km 113 of the Cusco - Sicuani highway.
- Altitude: from 2850 to 3500 masl / 9350 to 11483 fasl.
- Climate:Mild and semi-dry. Average temperature: 14&ordC (57&ordF).
- Date:All year round..
- Transport:
- By plane: Daily flights from Lima to Cusco (1 h).
- By road: Lima - Cusco (through Arequipa), 1650 km / 1025 miles (24 h).
- There is public transportation from Cusco to various village of the Urubamba Valley and its surroundings.
- Pumahuanca, Urubamba and Yucay are communities with a high Andean crop production, which use the Inca terrace system ("andenes") and an advanced hydraulic technology. Maras has a spectacular group of more than 3000 salt mines, a product that has exchange value in Southandean villages. Ollantaytambo, Inca village, offers 7 trekking routes to archaeological sites, quarries, terracing and one of the Quechua textile production centers (Wílloc). Local families put visitors up, and they learn ancestral farming techniques and participate in farming activities, irrigation and salt collection, as well as in parties, hiking and Andean rituals.
