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Umasbamba Andean Spirit on the Shores of the Sacred Lagoon
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$270.00 pp
The Misminay Farming Community is located approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from the city of Cusco, at a distance of 54 km and an altitude of 3,700 meters above sea level. On the way, we will visit the district of Maras, where we can enjoy the unique natural landscape of this Andean area, fortunate to have the largest canvas of stars in all of Cusco. Misminay is a community that preserves its ancestral customs, with families maintaining a strong connection to nature through agriculture, using traditional terrace farming techniques. The predominant language in Misminay is Quechua.
At 8:00 a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel (in the city center) and head towards the Misminay community, passing through picturesque mountain landscapes and agricultural fields. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the local hosts with a warm welcome, accompanied by music, dances, and a cup of muña tea. After a brief introduction by each host in their language (Quechua), you will be invited to participate in some of their daily activities, such as agriculture, a walk to the Moray viewpoint, and the respect they show to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus (spirit of the mountains). You will then enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by the families of Misminay, using local ingredients such as quinoa, Andean potatoes, corn, and local meats.
After experiencing the living culture of Misminay, we will head to the Maras Salt Mines to learn about the salt extraction process carried out by the local people from the native village of Maras.
The tour ends with a transfer back to Cusco or to the Ollantaytambo train station.
OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE EXPERIENTIAL TOUR: To showcase the cultural wealth passed down from generation to generation, carefully preserved by the local people, and to share the work techniques that are part of their ancestral knowledge. The aim is to provide an immersive experience in each of the processes through the following workshops:
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY
In this session, depending on the season and the agricultural calendar of the community, we will have the opportunity to observe and participate in some agricultural activities, whether it be planting, harvesting, or plowing the land using ancestral techniques and traditional Andean tools such as the lampa, chaquitaclla, yoke, and oxen. We will also be introduced to the different types of crops they cultivate, followed by a tasting of some of them.
WALK TO THE MORAY VIEWPOINT
We will ascend to the highest part of the community, where we can enjoy a privileged and spectacular view from the Maras’s balcony, overlooking beautiful landscapes such as snow-capped peaks and the main Apus. From this vantage point, we can observe the impressive circular terraces of the Moray archaeological site.
OPTIONAL: TEXTILE ACTIVITY
In this session, we will experience the ancestral process of making Andean textiles from sheep wool dyed with plants, minerals, and natural materials, using the traditional ‘away’ method with homemade tools such as small wooden boards and animal bones. We will have the opportunity to learn the traditional techniques used in preparing materials, extracting wool, and using natural dyes. This activity is carried out by women.
THE MARAS SALT MINES
It is a small brine spring worked with very basic methods by a fraction of the population from Maras and Pichingoto. These archaeological remains reveal that this resource was known and used during the pre-Hispanic era, and may have been one of the many sources of salt for the Inca population. The technique for extracting salt is very similar to that used for over nine hundred years or more. Over these centuries, this technology has been preserved; it is a true feat of hydraulic engineering, albeit on a small scale, as the pools are relatively small and constructed like terraces on one side of the ravine. Extraction is seasonal, taking place only during the dry season from May to November or early December, and the ownership of the pools is primarily inherited.
RECOMMENDED: Please provide us with your travel insurance details before your arrival in Peru.
OPTIONAL:
Group Tour Pricing
Price per person: 250.00 USD
Private Tour Pricing
For details on our private tour prices, contact us at [email protected] or reach us via WhatsApp: +51 963 213 482.
The tour includes activities such as guided visits to archaeological sites, interactions with the local community, artisanal workshops, and traditional culinary experiences.
Yes, it is recommended to make a reservation in advance, especially if you want to participate in specific activities or stay in one of the community’s homes.
Visitors can spend time with the families, learn about their way of life, participate in daily activities, and enjoy a traditional meal prepared by them.
From the Misminay viewpoint, you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the circular terraces of Moray, the majestic Sacred Valley of the Incas, and the snow-capped peaks of the Urubamba mountain range, including the imposing snow-capped Veronica peak.
The best time to enjoy the view is in the morning or at sunset, when the soft light enhances the Andean landscapes and offers a unique and memorable visual experience.
Moray is an archaeological site with circular terraces that the Incas used as an agricultural laboratory to experiment with crops at different altitudes and microclimates.
The Maras Salt Mines consist of thousands of salt evaporation pools that have been used since pre-Incan times to extract salt. The salty water comes from an underground spring and evaporates in the pools, leaving behind salt crystals.
Yes, visitors can purchase various types of salt directly at the Maras Salt Mines, including the famous pink salt, which is rich in minerals.
The best time to visit is during the dry season, from May to September, when the weather is more stable and the views are spectacular. However, the sites are accessible year-round.
We are Inca Perú Travel certified tour operator, we offer tours to different destinations in Peru, as well as cultural experiences, adventure tours, gastronomic tourism and our most recent experiential and community tourism tours.
