The Last Secret of the Ayllus

REVIEW

Between the beauty landscape of the principal Apus of Cusco and the mountain chains of Urubamba and Vilcabamba, in the surrounding of the Inca’s Sacred Valley this hike is unique for its easy climb, is near the Machu Picchu Ruins and his conservative natural resources, the beauty landscapes, valleys and pampas.

You will see the world from the Andean’s perspective, discovering one Peruvians left in their cosmovision and harmonious relationship with their environment.

The Ayllu territory was compound by fields with different ecological particularities that allows to all the population of the near ayllus to be independents and get different native products.

We will cross different ecological levels, In the levels of the valley, we will go throw the corn and diverse native cereals fields of the area. In the high levels , we will bread all the Andean aroma, present in the Inca’s Sacred Valley and its communities. In addition, we will able to see local flora and fauna – Andean Polilepys forest, Chachacomo forest, and another native trees, the Ichu or native grass that works for the roofs of the houses and feed the animals, its Andean fauna – Andean gooses or Huallatas, deer and if we are lucky, we can see the flight of the Andean messenger, the Hanan Pacha’s totem. Spiritual Andean world, the Condor, bringing his messages that tells what will happens.

Even so, we will have a variable weather, very cool (nights) or warm (days) in the higher levels and hot in the lower parts. The levels begins at 2800 m.s.n.m ( 9040 fts.) to reach the 4350 m.s.n.m. (14000 fts.) in the higher pass. The land is dry with big pampas, soft hills and particular creeks.

In the other side, the Ayllus inhabit this location since pre Inca timesm they left us ruins that has been occupied by Incas after them, Pachamama Temple, Ccorimarca, Inty Punku, Choquetacarpu, Inca Quarry, The Cachiccata Chullpas, … - will be present in the hike and will help us to understand more about the Andean World evolution.

Finally, this area is able to find Natural and Cultural resources almost intact, we will understand the way of the harmonious live in the ayllus with their surroundings, their Ayni, mit’a, and minka, the mutual respect between tutelary Apus and Andean man.

Local guides, arrieros and cookers will come with us like the llamas that going to carry our baggage.

All this will able us to discover The Last Secret of the Ayllus.

ITINERARY.

Day 1: Cusco – Ccorimarka

8H00 AM: Leaving Ollantaytambo to the community of Pachar (10 mn) where we will take a way cut to Rafcca – approximately 1h30 hours by bus, in this section we will visit the PACHAMAMA TEMPLE where our guide will explain us the essence of the Andean religion and its tutelary gods, so on we are able to enjoy a valley where the Incas keep present through all the legacy that left in their cultivated terraces, Inka tumbs and the river Huarocondo that is a tributary of the Sacred Vilcanota River.

From Rafcca, is the hike with the team (guide, arrieros, cokers) and the animals (Llamas, horses, mules) to go with all the group during the hike, an a half hour from Rafcca is lunch in the Soccma Community where we are able to visit and share moments with the local families. After lunch, we will climb up to the PEROLNIYOQ WATER FALLS, impressive for its size and beauty – approximately 3 hours hiking, There we will appreciate cultivate Inca’s terraces after following an irrigational channel, we will get CCORIMARCA Ruins, that was a big Collca or food storage and Tambo or lodge were soldiers and travelers could stay, there is our first camp.

Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes by bus / 4 hours hiking

Altitude: 2800 to 3700 m.s.n.m. (9040 to 12000 fts.)

Day 2: Ccorimarka – Chancachuco

8h00AM: After a good breakfast, we will climb up to the MIRADOR DE CHANCACHUCO, Chancachuco pass, the higher point in the trip – 4350 m.s.n.m (14000 fts.) and the hardest part in the hike but the landscape beauty around us is an reward for the effort. We will see Apus and the Urubamba and Vilcabamba Chains, the huge snow peaks like The Veronica (5682 m.s.n.m 18000 fts), the Ausangate (6348 m.s.n.m 21000 fts) the Pachatusan (4842 m.s.n.m 16000 fts), the Salcantay (6271 m.s.n.m 20250 fts.), the Chinchero’s fields and the Maras salt mines.

Lunch beside two bauty lakes call MAMACOCHAS, rich in biodiversity like Andean gooses (Guallatas), Mountain Caracaras (Ankas), Andean Flicker (high altitude woodpecker) after lunch, we will change the landscape, the path going to be easier and hiking down to the second camp site in the CHANCACHUCO PAMPA at 3900 m.s.n.m. (12600 fts)

Time: 6 hiking hours

Altitude: 3700 – 4350 – 3900 m.s.n.m. (12000 – 14000 – 12600 fts)

Day 3: Chancachuco – las Chullpas Camp Site (Cachicata)

8H00AM: After breakfast, we will hike with an different perspective from the other days, walking by Valleys and canyons, watching mountain chains and interesting Inca ruins with excellent geographical and historical settings. After four hours, we will get INTY PUNKU or Sun Gate, where the excellent view of the Sacred Valley is available all the time and we are able to find the PACCARECTAMPU PIRAMID, one of the last secret of the Ayllus and the wider in the world, there will be our offering to the Pachamama and Local Apus – Andean ceremony practiced by the old Peruvian to be communicated with the mountain spirits. During this hike we will see INKA CHANNELS. After to hike down we will visit the CHOQUETACARPU ruins where lunch will be waiting for us.

In the afternoon, we will visit the INKAS QUARRY and the CCACHICATA CHULLPAS, until get our last overnight place in LAS CHULLPAS camp site, our camp gets different services like hot showers, toilets, Dinning room, kitchen and two bungalows if you want this choice, At night the locals will show us their traditional music with the company of our hike staff.

Time: 7 hiking hours

Altitude: 3900 – 4000 – 2790 m.s.n.m. (12600 – 13000 – 9200 fts)

Day 4: Departure from Cachiccata to Machu Picchu

Before breakfast, we will be able to visit the Cachicata community until the transfer time, after the good bye breakfast with the staff, we will take a bus to the Ollantaytambo train station where we will take the train to visit Machu Picchu or continue our trip to another destination.

INCLUDED:

• Personal Meals (3 lunch, 3 dinner, 3 breakfast, 3 teas, 3 snack, boiled water for canteens)
• Transportation: Ollantaytambo – Raffca and Cacchicata - Ollantaytambo
• Staff: Bilingual guide in Spanish and request language asked before. Arrieros and professional cocker.
• Animals: Llamas, mules and horses
• Over night: In camp sites , last night with hot showers, toilets, dinning room.
• Garbage is carried to Cusco

IS NOT INCLUDED.

• Sleeping bags
• Drinks
• Tips to the guide and members

TO CONCIDER

• Equipment (double tents, kitchen and dining tent, toilet tent, tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, pads)
• First aid kit and oxygen balloon.
• The llamas are available with a group of 5 or more.

COST AND PAY CONDITIONS

• From 3 to 5 persons $ 339 US Dollars.
• From 6 to 10 persons $ 312 US Dollars.
• From 11 to 15 persons $ 302 US Dollars.
• For the pay conditions, please communicate with the Atalaya office.