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Peru: Q'eros Cultural Trek
Traditional Customs and Mores of the High Andean World
Repertory Trip: No Future Dates Set
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | TBA |
|---|---|
| Length: | 13 days |
| Arrive: | Cusco, Peru |
| Depart: | Cusco, Peru |
| Lodging: | 6 nights camping, 6 nights hotels |
| Meals: | All meals included except 2 lunches and 3 dinners |
| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures |
| Trip Level: |
6-day trek on moderate to steep trails, 4-6 hours a day, altitudes between 13,000-15,827 feet
explain
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Highlights
- Meet the Q’eros people, whose connection to the earth and spirit world is unique in the Andes
- Trek through mountain valleys dotted with herds of alpacas and llamas
- Enjoy spectacular views of Ausangate, “Spirit Mountain” of the Andean people
Holly is a gem and highly dedicated to the Q'eros communities she is linked to. She is very familiar with the areas visited and was thus able to allow for unique experiences.Michele M.—Corte Madera, CA
Choosing the Right Trip
We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References
We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.
Email Area ManagerRepertory Trip
This is one of our special Repertory Trips offered every two to five years. Future dates have not been set for this trip, but you can see the “Itinerary at a Glance” and the “Full Trip Brochure” below (there may be small changes to the itinerary for the future departures, and prices will be finalized closer to departure). Contact us to receive early notification of the trip dates. These special trips fill very quickly once the exact dates are set!
Join us for a fascinating trek in the land of the Q’eros, a historically isolated mountain people of Peru who speak only the traditional Inca language of Quechua and steadfastly preserve local customs that many Andean communities no longer maintain. With veteran Trip Leader Holly Wissler, who has cultivated many close relationships with the families in Q’eros during her years of pre-and post-doctoral study in ethnomusicology, we enter their remote world and enjoy in-depth cultural exchanges and profound glimpses into their intriguing traditional lifestyle. As we trek from valley to valley we will get to know some of her close comadres and compadres and have opportunities to engage in various village activities, including a spiritual offering to the Apus (mountain gods) in the home of a ritual specialist. Views on trek range from glacial peaks and jagged cliffs to large herds of llamas and alpacas roaming open valleys, to a spectacular view where four river valleys meet and form the large Q’eros River that drops dramatically to the Amazon cloud forest below. Our last pass on trek offers a magnificent view of glaciated Ausangate, believed to be the most powerful mountain deity in the southeastern region of Peru.
Itinerary at a Glance
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
Days 1-4
Cusco / Pisac / Ollantaytambo
After exploring the ancient Incan capital of Cusco and the nearby fortress of Saqsayhuaman, we head to the Urubamba Valley. Here we visit Pisac, a temple ruin clinging to a mountain spur, enjoy a live performance by a family of musicians who research and revive indigenous musical styles of the Andes, and visit Pisac’s colorful market. In Ollantaytambo, we hike among the ruins of the major Inca fortress where rebel Manco Inca and his men held out against Pizarro’s forces in one of the only battles the Spaniards lost, and explore the exquisite traditional town below the ruins, a living Inca village that retains the stonework, narrow streets, and family courtyards of its original Inca plan. Our hikes also include one up the Patacancha Valley to the seldom-visited ruins of Pumamarca and another to Kachikata, whose quarries supplied the huge stone blocks for nearby Inca sites.
Days 5-11
Trekking in Hatun Q’eros
Our drive to the mountains brings us through Andean highland settlements and up to high passes with spectacular views. Setting off from the community of Cheqtayk’uchu, we trek over high mountain passes to the hamlets of the Q’eros people, who live alongside their herds of llamas and alpacas in separate village hamlets dispersed over four river valleys at about 14,000 feet. This larger community is known as Hatun Q’eros. Lower down, in the middle zone, qeshwa, they cultivate many varieties of potatoes, the mainstay of their diet, and they grow corn and squash in the monte (cloud forest). While on trek we visit homes where we have a chance to see local traditions, including “Machu Fiestay,” the celebration for the male llamas that brought up the corn harvest in late July, enjoy meeting a local schoolteacher who is implementing Q’eros tradition and knowledge combined with the state curriculum in Spanish, and witness an Andean offering to the Apus (mountain gods) for the safety and well being of our journey. As we cross the last pass of our trek, we have fantastic views of sacred Ausangate (20,945'), a snow-capped giant that is central to the beliefs of the Quechua people. Return to Cusco by vehicle on Day 11.
Days 12-13
Cusco
After a free day in Cusco to visit nearby Inca ruins or shop for handicrafts, we depart on homeward-bound flights.
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
What the Trip is Like
This trip is Level 5+, Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. Most hiking is between 11,200 and 15,000 feet, and the maximum elevation reached is about 15,827 feet, on the crossing of the Wallpa K’unka pass. Most campsites are at elevations between 13,000-14,259 feet. For the most part, you can hike at your own speed; the group will spread out along the trail during our 4-5 hours of daily hiking. Trail conditions can be primitive, and there is a good bit of up-and-down (often 2,000- to 3,000-foot gain or loss in elevation per day). We are up in the high Andes, and mountain weather is always fickle, so there will be days when it may be cold. The days can also be brilliantly sunny but nights are always cold at these altitudes. We recommend that you make a special effort to get in top physical condition for the trip. The most important factor in deriving the maximum enjoyment from your trip is a spirit of adventure.