Peru Sacred Valley Andean Overnight

Duration: 1 Days (approx.)
Location: Ollantaytambo, Peru

Your trip begins in Ollantaytambo. From there you will enjoy a beautiful drive ascending nearly 1000 meters up the Patacancha Valley. Following the Patacancha River, you will pass small farms, Incan agricultural terraces, little-visited ruins, a colonial church, and stunning mountain views. Upon arrival in one of the upper Andean villages of Patacancha or Huilloc, Awamaki’s partner artisans will meet you and welcome you to their cooperative’s weaving center.



Descripción en Español abajo



The artisans will lead you in a sharing of Quechua culture and traditions, and a demonstration of the entire weaving process. They will show you how alpaca or sheep wool is spun into yarn by hand on the pushka, the traditional Andean drop spindle, and you can give it a try. They will explain how different local plants and materials are used in the dyeing process, and show you how they dye the yarn. They will demonstrate the warping of the traditional backstrap loom and the weaving process, including a discussion of the traditional pallay designs used in their villages. Finally, the artisans will teach you to weave a small bracelet on the backstrap loom in a one-on-one lesson.



After the demonstration, you will go to meet your homestay, settle in, and enjoy a nourishing, traditional home-cooked meal including soup and a main course.



After lunch, we will have a choice of a hike up to the glacial lakes or alpaca grazing lands above the community; a gentler walk through the village; or another bracelet weaving class, learning a more complicated pattern and weaving a headband or hatband. Throughout these activities, you will have an opportunity to hear from the artisans about how they learned to weave, and the meanings behind some of the traditional designs in their work. They will also share their knowledge about native and medicinal plants, and plants used for dyes.



After our afternoon activity,