Immerse yourself in the Andean culture with its vivid colours and traditions to fall in love and understand life above 4000 m.
Live a unique and unforgettable experience with Sergio and his family!
The inhabitants of Patacancha form an ethnic group that has preserved Inca traditions. Visiting them is an essential experience to understand the traditional lifestyle of the High Andes, rich in traditions and ancestral culture.
We will meet local people who have recognized how valuable their traditions are and are more than willing to share them, with the kindness and joy typical of Peruvian Andean culture.
This place offers landscapes that mix mountain nature of incredible beauty, glaciers and lagoons, architectural elements such as terraces, Inca canals and houses made of mud with roofs of tiles or ichu (Andean straw).
Activities
Our native guide Sergio de Patacancha and his family, together with Andrea, a multilingual cultural interpreter and translator, will accompany you on this day full of emotions!
We offer you to fully immerse yourself in a new world, changing your life for a day and opening yourself to new experiences, including:
Horseback riding in the Andes, among streams, alpacas and high Andean lagoons
Presentation and workshop on hand-woven textiles, mainly alpaca: you will gain experience and try with your own hands all the phases of creating an alpaca product, from cutting, spinning, weaving, dyeing!
Try the typical warm and comfortable clothing
Lagoon trout fishing
Andean Alpaca ceremony
Typical lunch, pachamanca with local family products.
Feel the warmth of sharing with a family open to teaching you, showing you and telling you about their traditions and also curious to know about you!
Locacion
Located about 40 minutes by car from Ollantaytambo, nestled in the Andes mountain range at approximately 4,030 meters above sea level, the native village of Patacancha offers an immersion in Andean tradition and landscapes.
Patacancha inhabitants interact with visitors, promoting integration and mutual respect in a community environment. Experiential tourism in Patacancha not only enriches visitors, but also strengthens the cultural identity of its inhabitants, promoting meaningful and respectful exchange.
This iconic site is highly recommended for travelers who wish to establish a deeper connection and understanding with the Inca culture and its last descendants!
Textile art, a heritage treasure
Culturally recognized for their iconic works in textile art, the expressions of Patacancha are a true heritage treasure. The clothing of this community is characterized by its striking orange, red and black colors, which reflect its rich cultural heritage.
Textile art in Patacancha is a tradition that is passed down from mother to daughter and from generation to generation. This cultural heritage is not only reflected in the technique, but also in the deep connection with nature and in the symbols that represent the community's worldview.
The list of textile works is extensive and includes:
Blanket or lliclla
Poncho
Vest
Bags or chuspas
Hat or chullo
In these jewels, visitors can find high-quality pieces that retain the aroma of authenticity. You can also create your own bracelet using traditional techniques!
Natural colors
The textile artists of Patacancha extract color ink from local plants, from which they also make a soap that they use to wash fabrics.
This use of natural resources not only highlights the sustainability of the art, but also gives each piece a unique character.
Symbols
Each motif that comes to life on the artist's loom has a symbolic meaning that has persisted for centuries and even millennia. These symbols are not just decorative, they tell stories and represent important aspects of the community's culture, worldview and history.
Program customization
At the request of our traveling friends, it is possible to make changes to the following program. For example, you can add:
More difficult trekking
Night at Sergio's and his family's house (small lodge), with a night campfire to admire the stars at 4000 meters.
Trekking or horseback riding to the Lares Pass or to the Yanahuara lagoons (it is necessary to spend the night in Patacancha before the trek)
Contact us! After prior coordination with the traveler, we will take care of creating and personalizing the itinerary according to your tastes.
Detailed Program
7am departure from Ollantaytambo: meeting with Andrea in the square of Ollantaytambo and departure to Patacancha in private transport, approximately 40 min.
Welcome! 8-9am: Welcome to Patacancha! After a small and cheerful welcome ceremony by Sergio's family, we will dress in the traditional warm and comfortable clothing (poncho, skirt, shawl, hat) and we will be offered a small snack.
9 -10.30am: Hike to the 3 lagoons. Together with Sergio and his family we will walk and ride horses through the valley of the PukaQocha stream, admiring the fantastic Andean landscapes between glaciers, lagoons, alpacas and typical houses. Optionally, trout fishing.
10.30-12m Alpaca ceremony: Sergio's family, descendants of the Incas, will participate in a traditional ceremony, with music and dance, to thank their alpacas for giving them their wool, meat and company.
12-13:00 Return to base camp
1-2pm Typical lunch: Pachamanca! Foods such as potatoes, meats or cereals, typical of the area and prepared by the same family, are cooked with intense steam produced by the heat of incandescent stones inside a hole dug in the ground.
2-4pm Demonstration and workshop of typical alpaca and sheep textile crafts: you will experience and try with your own hands all the phases of creating an alpaca product, from cutting, spinning, weaving, coloring!
4-4.30pm Return to Ollantaytambo by private transport, but not before saying a warm goodbye and thanking Sergio and his family for hosting us!
Before departure, products of incredible quality and meaning, made from alpacas and handmade by the women of the community, will be on sale.
P.S.: Remember that by buying directly from the manufacturer you support small businesses and women's associations in Patacancha, in addition to saving on the final price offered by Peruvian and foreign markets!
Important informations
The town of Patacancha is located at more than 4000 meters above sea level. It is recommended to spend a few days in Cusco before the experience, to get used to the thin air (or altitude sickness), which can cause breathing difficulties, headaches and vomiting among the most common symptoms.
What to bring?
It is recommended to bring:
sunglasses
water bottle
cash
sunscreen
hat
comfortable clothes for the day
alcohol gel
camera!
fleece jacket and a thick winter jacket just in case.
coca leaves for altitude sickness
Included
Private transportation from Ollantaytambo round trip.
lunch with pachamanca
everything specified in the detailed program
native guide (Sergio) and multilingual interpreter (Andrea: English, French, Italian, Spanish)
Not included
tips and extras
drinks except those offered with meals.
local crafts (except the one you will create in the laboratory)
