In this tour, we will take you to one of the communities in the Lamay Mountains, where you will learn about local life and customs, as well as contribute to the sustainable development of the community.
To start this Andean communities tour, we will pick you up in Cusco and we will meet with the rest of the group at our headquarters in Lamay, from where you will be taken to the community. Here, the locals will be waiting for you, looking forward to sharing their customs and traditions with you.
Depending on the specific needs of the day, you will be helping out with an agricultural task. A lot can be learned about the different varieties of native plants and crops and the traditional tools and techniques used here. After this activity, you will have a typical lunch, based on the products that the community produces. (If you are interested in learning more about sustainable ways of retrieving food in Peru, you might want to have a look at our blog about Sustainable Gastronomy).
In the afternoon, the women of the community will share with you the whole process of textile art, a very important tradition in their family dynamics. They are more than happy to talk to you about their role in the community. Then, it is time to say goodbye and we will take you back to Lamay, from where you can go back to your hotel or your next destination.
This day spent in an Andean community is a unique experience that allows you to spontaneously connect with an authentic group of people. Interacting with them, you will feel their willingness and interest to connect with you. Therefore, not only you can discover their traditional culture, but they can learn something from you as well. If such interactive tours with rural communities appeal to you, feel free to have a look at our similar tours in other parts of Peru, such as the short immersion in the Andean community of Vicos or a visit to two different communities of Manu in the jungle.
Please note: On certain dates, this tour might be unavailable if you book less than two weeks before. Should that be the case, don’t worry! We’ll find a solution together; either changing the date, opening a new group, or showing you another similar tour that will be available that day.
Price Includes
This experience is very authentic. With our concept, we try to revolutionize the way of visiting peasant communities, by making sure that the protagonists are both the local residents and the visitors. It is a great opportunity for real and genuine interaction, exchange, information sharing and good energy on both sides.
Additionally, we care a lot about the ingredients used when offering a meal to visitors. Priority is given to the use of local supplies, which helps reduce carbon footprint and contribute to the local economy. At the same time, the chosen ingredients are healthy and nutritious foods, which is beneficial for you and the community.
Last but not least, this type of activity of course also contributes economically to our partner communities.
I was born in Lima, I studied tourism and hotel management at San Martin de Porres University, and I have been living in Cusco for 25 years. My motivation is to preserve the environment and foster sustainable development of the local communities through tourism and other activities coherent with the destination. Together with the communities, I am learning more and more about sustainability. The truth is, the locals often know a lot more about it than we do.
After so many years of seeing how tourism has had a negative impact, I think there is only one way to maintain our activity: adopting an inclusive way of thinking and educating the traveler that the destination belongs to the people who inhabit it.
This tour is a group tour of maximum 12 people, so you might be sharing this adventure with other travelers.
Lamay has the typical Andean climate; when there’s sun it’s warm, when there’s no sun it’s cold. The rainy season is from December to April but occasional rains can occur anytime throughout the year. From May to August night temperatures might go below freezing point.
Find more info about climates in Peru in our blog “Best Time to Travel to Peru“.
No problem, tell us your conditions and we will make a menu tailored to your needs.
Yes, but out of respect, always ask before.
General questions
For questions about booking a tour, prices, preparation for your trip, health and safety or other themes, please check our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you can’t find your question & answer, email us and we’ll add it!
