Mini volunteer projects - an example itinerary only - please contact us for more information.

Day one

8am Pick up from your hotel in Cusco in taxi, we will take a public bus and then a combi to ollantaytambo in the sacred valley (approx 2 hours). You will be met by a taxi in Ollanta which will transport you up to palqaq, where you will leave your car (about 1 hour more).

11am start hiking to chaullacocha (2 hours)

1pm noon arrive chaullacocha.

Have lunch with family

2pm - 5pm

Assist the community with tree planting/ or painting of school (your choice) or possibly building toilets but I am not sure where the toilets will be at.

Participate in 'faena' (basically community work party)

6pm Camping in community

Day 2

8am

Assist the community with tree planting

10am farewell to community & departure

Taking a slightly different route that we came by, we descend through the valley of Patacancha. A steady 3 hours walking brings us to the town of Patacancha, a long-established textile community with strong ancient Quechua traditions. Late lunch in Patacancha.

From Patacancha we will take private transport to visit the ruins of Pumamarca, which was thought to have been built to protect the Sacred Valley. It also has interesting storage facilities. (please note pumamarca visit only if there is time) From here we will continue to the village of Ollantaytambo. (in total 5-6 hours trekking)

5pm arrive Ollantaytambo

We take a bus back to Cusco, arriving around 7pm.

If you are tree planting or painting I have no doubt that other members of the community will work with you:

Central to the community life is the idea of Ayni – described as:

The word “Ayni” does not have an equivalent in other languages. It means “today for you, tomorrow for me”, the idea that all work is shared and that each man benefits from helping others. Ayni encompasses all the relationships that exist among the Andean people as well as their relationship with Mother Earth, Pachamama. The system of Ayni is about reciprocity in relationships. Ayni was practiced in ancient times and continues to be an important part of the Andean culture.

A faena - the idea of community work is as follows: (this was the best explanation I could find quickly!

http://awendt06.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-first-faena.html

APUS PERU Adventure Travel Specialists - Email: apusperu@westnet.com.au

© A.Svenson 2005. The design, content and photographs (except where noted) are 100% original. The majority of our treks were designed by Apus Peru.