Earth-Oven Lunch Package
- Duration: 6 Hours (approx.)
- Location: Ollantaytambo
- Product code: EOL
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, the oldest colonial church in the Sacred Valley, 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.
An Awamaki representative will accompany you on the whole
tour to support and facilitate your visit, and translate any discussion or
questions you may have for your hosts.
Throughout the demonstration, you will be able to see the
process of making the earth oven lunch. Community members will dig a hole,
build a fire, and cover it with rocks. After the rocks are heated, they will
pack marinated, wrapped chicken pieces among the rocks, alongside sweet
potatoes, plantains, aba broad beans, and a variety of Andean potatoes and native
tubers. After the demonstration and weaving lesson, we will watch the
uncovering of the hot food and share the Pachamanca lunch, accompanied by a savory pepper sauce.
After lunch, you have the opportunity to purchase textiles directly from the women who
hosted you for your tour.
After the private market, we will head back down the mountain
to Ollantaytambo and make one final stop at the Awamaki store, where you can
see the work of all Awamaki’s partner womens’ cooperatives, including the
artisan’s textiles made into contemporary accessories.
Itinerary
- Picturesque drive from Ollantaytambo to a rural Quechua
community in the Patacancha Valley (Patacancha or Huilloc) - A warm welcome from members of our women’s artisan cooperative upon
arrival at their weaving center, including traditional loose-leaf tea. - Demonstration and discussion of Andean backstrap weaving as it
relates to Andean culture and history - Demonstration and explanation of the traditional weaving process,
led by the artisans - One-on-one weaving lesson taught by the artisans
- Earth oven Pachamanca lunch
- Opportunity to buy the artisans’ handmade textiles
- Return to Ollantaytambo
Sustainable and
respectful tourism
Quechua women’s cooperatives. We aim to allow women artisans to host tourism
on their own terms, in a way that is beneficial and sustainable for their village. We will
ask you to respect guidelines around photography that we have created together
with the artisans. Included in your tour price is fair and generous compensation for
your hosts, regardless of whether they sell a weaving during your tour. Thank you for
being part of this work!
Logistical
Information:
There may be other visitors in your tour group. However, most of our tours are
very small, between 2 and 6 people.
Things to Bring:
- Water and refillable water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable shoes
- Warm layer
- Rain jacket (just in case!)
- A small snack, optional
- Bills in soles if you plan to purchase from the artisans. Please note: This will be one of the best shopping opportunities of your trip. Most of the markets just do not offer the variety and quality of weavings that you will see on this visit. The artisans are not able to accept credit cards. The main feedback we get from our travelers is that they wish they had brought more cash to shop from the artisans. Typical spending per traveler ranges from 100 to 1000+ soles.
Special requests:
We can accommodate most special requests. We can accommodate all dietaryrestrictions. Please note special requests or dietary restrictions in the “special
instructions” section when you book. We will contact you if we are unable to
accommodate your request.
Solo travellers:
If you are traveling alone and would like to book a tour, book for two people and then at check-out use discount code: SoloTravelerDT for 10% off.
Descripción en Español:
Viaje a uno de los pueblos rurales quechuas en las altas montañas de los Andes y conéctese con líderes artesanas. Las mujeres compartirán su herencia en textil, una lección de tejido personalizada, un mercado privado y un extraordinario almuerzo horneado en piedras calientes.
Itinerario
- Viaje pintoresco desde Ollantaytambo a una comunidad rural quechua en el valle de Patacancha (Patacancha o Huilloc)
- Una cálida bienvenida de los miembros de nuestra cooperativa de mujeres artesanas al llegar a su centro de tejido.
- Demostración y presentacion sobre el tejido de cintura andino en relación con la cultura y la historia andinas
- Demostración y explicación del proceso de tejido tradicional, a cargo de las artesanas.
- Lección de tejido uno a uno impartida por las artesanas.
- Almuerzo Pachamanca en horno de tierra
- Oportunidad de comprar los textiles hechos a mano de las artesanas.
- Regreso a Ollantaytambo
