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Misminay, Maras and Moray Experiential Tourism
included
From
$
250.00 pp
The Misminay Peasant Community is located approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from the city of Cusco, 54 km away, at an altitude of 3,700 masl. On the way, we will visit the district of Maras, where we can enjoy the unique natural landscape of this Andean region, blessed with the largest canvas of stars in all of Cusco. Misminay is a community that keeps its ancestral customs alive, with families maintaining a close relationship with nature through agriculture, using traditional terrace farming techniques. The predominant language in Misminay is Quechua.
At 08:00 hrs, we will pick you up from your hotel (in the city center) and head toward the Misminay community, passing through picturesque mountain landscapes and agricultural fields. Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by the local hosts with music, dances, and muña tea. After a brief introduction by each host in their native language (Quechua), they will invite you to share in some of their daily activities such as farming, walking to the Moray viewpoint, and witnessing the respect they show to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus (spirits of the mountains). Then, you will enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by the Misminay families, made with local ingredients such as quinoa, Andean potatoes, corn, and local meats. After experiencing the living culture of Misminay, you will have free time to rest or explore the village. The tour concludes with a transfer back to Cusco or to the Ollantaytambo train station.
OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS TO BE HELD DURING 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. Participants will become familiar with these practices through hands-on experience during the following workshops:
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY:
In this session, depending on the season and the community’s agricultural calendar, we will experience agricultural activities such as planting, harvesting, or plowing the land using ancestral techniques and traditional Andean tools like the lampa, chaquitaclla, yunta, and oxen. We will also learn about the different types of crops they grow and will have the opportunity to taste some of them.
WALK TO MORAY VIEWPOINT
We will walk to the highest point of the community where we can enjoy the Maras’s balcony, offering a privileged and spectacular view of beautiful landscapes, including snow-capped peaks and the main Apus. From this vantage point, we will observe the impressive circular terraces of the Moray archaeological complex.
OPTIONAL: TEXTILE ACTIVITY
In this session, we will experience the ancestral process of making Andean textiles using sheep wool dyed with plants, minerals, and natural materials. This process follows the traditional “away” system and involves using homemade tools such as small wooden boards and animal bones. We will have the opportunity to learn about the traditional techniques used in preparing materials, extracting wool, and using natural dyes. This activity is carried out by women.
OPTIONAL:
A group tour means that it is open for other hikers to join.
2 Travelers: $ 0 per person
3 Travelers: $ 0 per person
4 Travelers: $ 0 per person
5 Travelers: $ 0 per person
6 Travelers: $ 0 per person
7 Travelers: $ 0 per person
8 more Travelers: $ 0 per person
Private tours are available and the price depends on the size of the group.
The tour includes activities such as guided visits to archaeological sites, interactions with the local community, artisanal workshops, and traditional culinary experiences.
During the tour, participants have the opportunity to interact with local residents, engage in everyday activities such as agriculture or crafts, and learn about their culture and way of life.
The tour has an approximate duration of half a day and includes visits to places such as the agricultural terraces of Moray, the town of Misminay and its surroundings, as well as scheduled activities with the local community.
During the experience, accommodation is provided in local family homes, providing participants with an authentic community living experience. The amenities are simple but comfortable.
No specific level of physical fitness is required, but some activities may involve moderate hiking. The activities are designed to be accessible to most participants, but it is important to be prepared for some outdoor activities and walking.
Available spaces are limited per day. There are 500 spaces available per day and this covers 250 spaces for tourists and 250 spaces for the agency’s staff such as: Cooks, guides, assistants, muleteers, etc.
Cusco, the imperial city is at an altitude of 3350 meters above sea level. so if you come from a much lower place or at sea level. The best and most recommended thing is to spend at least 2 to 3 days in Cusco before doing the Inca Trail, this is because on the route you will ascend to 4,223 meters above sea level. If you want to have an unforgettable experience, the most recommended thing is proper acclimatization so you can do the hike without any problems or altitude sickness.
The Inca Trail 4 days has a distance of 40 km which is divided day by day. The most complicated day is the second day as you ascend to the highest pass of the walk, this pass is called Warmiwañusca (dead woman’s pass) and is at 4223 meters above sea level.
Because it is a journey that requires a lot of maintenance and constant care as it is a historical legacy that is more than 500 years old, it is necessary, important and mandatory to hire an authorized travel agency to carry out this adventure. Keep in mind that not all agencies can operate it directly if they do not have the corresponding authorization. Currently, there are only 230 travel agencies that meet all the requirements, among them is the Inca Perú Travel team.
The Inca Trail is open 11 months a year, except for the month of February, which is closed for maintenance and because it is the month with the most rain in Cusco. Please note that December to March is the rainy season and this can sometimes close some days during this time, due to inconveniences, landslides, natural problems. It is important that after booking you are always in contact with your agency salesperson to be constantly updated.
The most recommended is from April to November. At this time it is the dry season, so you will not find much rain and you will fully enjoy the mountainous landscapes of the route.
For being an authorized local direct operator. We ask for 50% of the total amount of the tour, this can be done with a credit card, bank deposit or Western Union. Please note that for a prior reservation, our sellers will ask you for basic and important information such as: Copy of Passport or Identity Document (your identification must be valid and if it is expired, you can make the reservation but you must bring the two original passports to the control at the beginning of the walk), another document will also be the Student Card (if you have it), this so that the corresponding discounts can be applied.
No, unfortunately it is not possible to change the dates, it is important that when booking, you are very sure.
As a recommendation, we inform you that you only bring what is necessary, for example light clothing for the day since when doing the walk you will become warm and warm clothing for the higher altitude areas and at night. A 45 Liter backpack can be good, so you can comfortably carry your belongings. Of course you have the option of renting an extra porter for your own belongings. We have porters who carry 15Kg and it costs US$170 American Dollars for the entire trip and porters who carry up to 7Kg which costs US$85 American Dollars for the entire trip. Additionally, do not forget to bring your daily backpack, with everything you need such as: sweets, snacks, rain poncho, jacket, water, etc. You can also review the recommendations section.
The kitchen will be in charge of an expert chef who will prepare meals based on fish, meat, chicken, salads and other Andean products. While breakfast is prepared based on hot drinks (coffee, mates, chocolate, tea), milk, breads, pancakes, jams, eggs, among others. All products are select of good quality and purchased directly from local farmers or markets.
If you have any allergies, dietary restrictions be sure to inform us by email or other means once you have completed your reservation so we can take all necessary precautions. If you are vegetarian/vegan you must also let us know and we can adapt the meals.
Walking poles are really important for this hike since they will help you a lot to avoid problems with your knees and to have a little more strength when ascending or descending. Please note that there are stair ascents and also stair descents so we recommend that you bring a pair of walking sticks.
Yes, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag, the most recommended are -10°c bags. Regarding the mat, it is in the price of the tour, however, at the beginning of the walk the guide will give you one and you have to carry it throughout the journey.
Our guides have been trained to respond to emergencies and use first aid equipment appropriately. And above all to manage the group in difficult situations. Therefore, in the event of an accident, you will be attended to by the guide and a member of the team will see the safest and fastest way to leave the Inca trail to transfer you to a medical center. We will be with you at all times of your recovery.
We will travel on the Inca Trail with the first aid kit and oxygen.
No, it is advisable to be in good physical condition to carry out the walk since you will climb maximum heights of 4000 meters above sea level. Before taking the service you must be honest about your health condition or concern. You are responsible for thinking and deciding whether or not a tour is right for you.
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.
