Homestay in the Willoq/ Ollantaytambo Community 6 Days / 5 Nights
Itinerary:
Day 1: Cusco
Reception at the airport in Cusco and transfer to your
hotel. In the afternoon we will do a guided tour of the
city of Cusco and its surrounding areas. Visiting the
Cathedral, you can see that the Spanish construction was
built directly on top of the older Inca building which
was previously the palace of Wiracocha. Inside, there
are around 400 paintings on linen which were given by
the Cusco School, works done with gold leaf and even
carved wooden pieces embossed with silver.
We will then visit the Q’oricancha temple, which was
once, during the Inca times, a sanctuary for praying to
all of the many Gods. Its walls were once lined with
gold before the Spanish conquistadores ransacked the
city.
Just outside of the city, we will visit the
archaeological ruins of Saqsaywaman, Q´enqo, Pucapucara
and Tambomachay. All important sites in beautiful
locations.
Day 2: The Sacred Valley of the Incas
To start the tour, sometime between 11am and noon, we
will be at the typical marketplace in Pisaq, which is an
extremely typical and beautiful pueblo in the Sacred
Valley that maintains a 80% of its constructions divided
into four residential sets with ample agricultural
terraces. We will be able to purchase typical crafts or
we can just watch as they barter amongst them for goods
and products.
Moving on to the next stop, we will then have a typical
lunch in Urubamba, which is considered to be the main
pueblo in the Sacred Valley. Afterwards will be the main
stop of the tour, Ollantaytambo, which has a rich
history with an interesting story that your guide will
tell you all about. They are known for strictly
maintaining the ways of their ancestors and can even be
seen wearing their traditional red garb.
Finally, during the return to Cusco, we will stop one
more time in the pueblo of Chincheros, which is another
very typical pueblo that maintains their customs and
traditions. They are also very well known for their
beautiful typical textiles. After touring Chincheros, we
will return to Ollantaytambo to spend the night at a
hostel.
Day 3: Ollantaytambo – Pumamarka – Willoq
After breakfast, we will begin our long walk towards the
last enclosure of Pumamarka. It will take us about 2
hours from that point to get to our final destination
for the day at the community of Willoq, where we will
spend the night.
Day 4: Willoq
Today will be spent entirely with the local village
people doing their every day tasks, like preparing the
land for crops or harvesting. We will also help with the
preparation of the foods throughout the day and so we
will have a chance to see how a Pachamanca is made. That
is when they heat hot stones with flames and then bury
meats and potatoes underneath the ground with the stones
to cook over the hours. Will enjoy the meals along with
the villagers.
Day 5: Willoq
For our last day with the community, we will try and
enjoy it to the maximum. We will visit with them as they
weave their typical crafts and they will show us how it
is done so that we can try it for ourselves. In the
afternoon, we will have to say our goodbyes so that we
can begin to make our way back to Cusco to spend the
night.
Day 6: Cusco
Transfer from your hotel in Cusco to the airport.
Included:
Roundtrip transportation
Tourist ticket, needed for entrances on the City Tour
and the Sacred Valley Tour
Guided tour in either Spanish, English or Portuguese
