We will pick you up from your hotel at the agreed time to begin a full-day cultural experience that combines the archaeological grandeur of Ollantaytambo with the ancestral traditions of the Patacancha community.
The first stop will be the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex, one of the best-preserved Inca sites in the Sacred Valley. Accompanied by a specialized guide, you will explore its impressive agricultural terraces, temples, and ceremonial structures, while learning about the strategic and spiritual importance this center held during the Inca Empire. You will also walk through the town’s cobblestone streets, where water channels and original constructions remain part of daily life.
Afterward, you will travel up to the community of Patacancha, where a local family will welcome you into their home to share the preparation of a traditional pachamanca. This ancestral cooking method brings together meat, tubers, and other ingredients underground, using stones heated red-hot. You will observe the process up close and participate in one of its most meaningful stages: sealing the earth oven. Once the ingredients and hot stones are in place, you will help cover the preparation with leaves, blankets, and soil to retain the heat and allow for slow, natural cooking.
While the pachamanca is cooking, you will take part in a bracelet-making workshop using alpaca fiber that has been pre-dyed with natural pigments from local plants. Guided by the host family, you will learn about the cultural value of the designs and Andean textile traditions while creating your own bracelet with materials prepared in advance for the activity. Patacancha is known for preserving textile practices passed down through generations.
As an alternative, you may participate in an Andean offering of gratitude to Pachamama, respectfully shared with the host family.
When the pachamanca is uncovered, the aromas of food cooked beneath the earth will welcome you to a family lunch framed by mountain landscapes. Each dish reflects centuries of Andean knowledge, local hospitality, and respect for the land.
More than a culinary tour, this is a sensory and human experience that connects you with the essence of the Peruvian Andes. At the end of the experience, we will transfer you back to your hotel.
