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Experience authentic Andean life with a 2-day Ausangate Homestay. Stay with a Quechua family. This experience includes short hikes, alpaca herding, cultural exchange to connect with Ausangate, Peru.

Highlights

• Immerse yourself in Quechua culture with a family-run homestay
• Enjoy home-cooked meals made with fresh, local ingredients
• Explore the 7 lagoons of Ausangate and enjoy stunning mountain views
• Participate in daily activities like weaving, cooking, and farming
• Relax in natural hot springs with views of the Ausangate mountains

Description

Begin your adventure with a pickup from your hotel in Cusco. Head south through the Sacred Valley of Cusco along the Interoceanic Highway, enjoying beautiful views of farming valleys, snow-capped mountains, and traditional Andean villages along the way. After approximately 3.5 hours of travel from Cusco, arrive at Casa Cóndor Ausangate (Pukarumi, 4,000 m / 13,123 ft), an authentic local homestay located in the heart of the Ausangate region. Upon arrival, be welcomed with a warm traditional herbal drink, then settle into your private room with mountain views. Next, visit the 7 lagoons of Ausangate. Continue to Huchuy Pukaqocha, located at the base of Mount Chaupiorqo, and explore several smaller lagoons such as China Otorongo Qocha, Chuño Qocha, and Orqo Otorongo Qocha, which, according to local legends, are the most mysterious and mystical in the region. Finally, reach the Blue Lagoon, the source of the Mapacho River, where you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery and have your lunch along the trail. After the hike, return to the village of Pacchanta, where you can optionally relax in the natural hot springs while enjoying magnificent views of Ausangate. Later, drive back to Casa Cóndor Ausangate, where you can rest in your cozy room and enjoy a warm drink upon arrival. In the evening, a delicious dinner will be served. On day 2, wake up in the heart of the Ausangate mountain, watch the sunrise, prepare a nutritious breakfast, then head to the cow farm to milk the cows; it’s a daily task for the local family. Move on to agricultural work harvesting potatoes, an ancestral activity in which you participate alongside the local family. This cultural exchange allows you to learn about the customs, community work, and respect for nature in the high-Andean communities of Peru. At noon, prepare lunch in an earth oven known as watia or pachamanka, made of stones, an ancestral technique for cooking potatoes and other field crops. Carefully build a mound of clods of earth and stones, which are then heated with fire until it reaches the ideal temperature. Once ready, the food is placed inside the oven and covered with earth to cook slowly. Enjoy a demonstration of traditional Andean weaving art with the family; using handspun alpaca wool, they create scarves, shawls, hats, and decorative textiles on a handcrafted loom, following techniques passed down thru generations. In the afternoon, return to Cusco.

Includes

Pickup from accommodation in Cusco's historic center Return to your accommodation (historic center of the city) Public transport Host First aid kit and oxygen supply 1 night in Casa Condor Ausangate

Important Information

• Offer vegetarian or vegan options Emphasize the authenticity of dishes prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients Private or shared rooms with clean beds, thick blankets, and bathrooms located outside the room Solar power or lanterns, hot water when available Safety: responsible host family and bilingual guide Directly supports local families Promotes community-based, sustainable tourism Minimizes environmental impact and respects the natural surroundings

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund