Southeast of Cusco, at 4200 meters above sea level and at the foot of Ausangate (the fifth highest mountain in Peru), is the community of Pacchanta. This community is known for being experienced alpaca fiber weavers and is also dedicated to the breeding of alpacas and local tuber crops, of which they are part of their livelihood.
The community of Pacchanta is a typical village of the Andean highlands, it opens the doors to anyone who wants to know and experience the activities and customs of the Andes; they demonstrate how, with the alpaca fiber, they make clothes and carpets that before spinning, they dye the wool with natural dyes, they also use the alpaca fiber for the manufacture of ropes or bags that local workers use.
Also, they carry out different agricultural activities of sowing and harvesting and they accept the participation and help of the visitors, of this or any other activity that they are carrying out. Apart from the daily activities, they also give space in their houses to sleep and thus experience how the people of the Andes live, making them worthy representatives of the high Andean culture.
To go to Pacchanta, you can go on your own or you can hire the service of tour operators. At Eric Adventures, we offer a 3 day / 2 nights program in the Pacchanta community:
ITINERARY
The night before the tour, meeting with the guide where the details for the following days will be provided.
DAY 01 – CUSCO / TINKI / PACCHANTA
We leave Cusco around 07:00hrs in our transport that will take us to Tinki. On the way we will have a spectacular view over the mountain range and its snowy peaks. After three hours of travel, we will arrive to Tinki, where we will start our trek to the native community of «Pacchanta». Along the way, the silence and the sound of the wind will help us discover the landscape, the flora and fauna of the place, and we will see numerous alpacas that will appear with the bottom of the glaciers.
We will arrive to Pacchanta for lunch and we will meet the family that will give us their home to stay. After lunch, we will share with the community and learn the art of traditional weaving, we can also share traditional agricultural work, sowing, hilling, harvesting or any activity that is spontaneously taking place on the day of our visit.
In the afternoon, we will bathe in the hot springs, overlooking the majestic Ausangate Snowy. We will have dinner and spend the night in the family home.
DAY 2: PACCHANTA / AUSANGATE / PACCHANTA
Early in the morning, we will have our delicious breakfast and then we will start our hike among the high Andean landscapes until we arrive at the Ausangate viewpoint, near the snowy ones. We will enjoy our spectacular surroundings, and then we will return to Pacchanta. Overnight in family house.
DAY 3: PACCHANTA – LAGUNAS – PACCHANTA – CUSCO
After breakfast, we will visit the beautiful lagoons of different shades very close to the Nevado de Ausangate. After the tour, we will return to Pacchanta to take our way back, arriving in Cusco at the end of the afternoon.
During your stay in the community, we will discover the magic of the snow-capped mountains and the warmth of its inhabitants, who will proudly and happily share with you their life and traditions.
Contact us and live with Eric Adventures the best experience in the Andean communities of Peru.
Your participation as a visitor will directly benefit the people who interact with you in the daily tasks; and indirectly, it will be motivating the conservation of the environment, its native biodiversity in flora and fauna and the recovery of traditional arts and techniques, which reinforces the identity of the peoples and offers different alternatives for sustainable development.
