INTRODUCTION
COMMUNITY TOURISM AND POTATO PARK
Community tourism, the Potato Park is surprising because it is a biocultural territory dedicated to the conservation of the cultural heritage of the Communities also to the conservation of different varieties of native potato species since they cultivate more than 1,300 varieties of native potatoes and they store it in a bank of Community seeds. The fertility of the land in the Communities means that tubers are also cultivated such as; The goose and olluco, corn, quinoa, cereals, vegetables, broad beans, tarwi among other Andean products, therefore, we will also experience the fallow (yapuy) with the chaquitaclla and the process of potato cultivation (Sembrío, Aporque, and harvest ), in terms of fauna we can observe llamas, alpacas, sheep, cattle, deer, and some species of birds.
When we arrive at the Community of Paru Paru we will have a friendly reception with songs and dance, typical of the Community. Next, we will begin to enjoy the experiences of Community Tourism, customs, and daily activities of the inhabitants of the Potato Park.
ACTIVITIES THAT WE WILL CARRY OUT IN THE POTATO PARK
In the Potato Park, we will be part of the potato cultivation, there are two types of potato sowing, the maway potato, and the puna potato, the maway potato is sown in the dry season (June, July, and August) to start harvest from the month of January, which is considered as the new potato of each year, and needs irrigation due to the fact that there is no rain, on the other hand, the puna potato is sown in the months with the presence of rain ( October and November), in the hills or punas where there is no irrigation system because it is watered by rain and does not need irrigation.
In our experience of Community Tourism in the Potato Park, we will also witness the elaboration of its ceramics, crafts workshops, textiles, customs, and ancestral traditions that the communities of the Potato Park keep alive. For the dyeing process of their wool, they use dyes or dyes from different natural plants, for the green color use the ch’illca, for the yellow color the quiswar flowers, for the red color the cochineal (a parasite that lives in the nopales and tunas) that also, we will be witnessing and learning the entire spinning process that they carry out using their ancestral techniques.
In the Potato Park, we can also visit the interpretation center on the conservation and sustainable use of native medicinal plants and observe the beautiful landscape, mountains, cultivated fields, and beautiful lagoons of Puma Qocha, Azul Qocha, and Kinsa Qocha that is located in the Community of Paru Paru at 4400 meters above sea level. And it is surrounded by a natural landscape and a combination of mountains which makes our stay exciting.
THE RITUAL OF POTATO WATAY IN THE POTATO PARK
The inhabitants of the Potato Park maintain the ancestral customs in force, for that reason every year the ritual of Papa Watay is carried out. This ritual is performed in honor of the potato since the inhabitants live very grateful to the Pachamama. Try to tie the spirit of the potato to the Pachamama with ropes, on the side they smoke incense, dung and place a cross decorated with flowers and coca on each pile of potatoes, in order to have a good harvest during the year and prevent this trip to distant places or to the Hanan pacha (heavenly world), as this would cause damage to the potato crop or would generate low potato production during the year. It is normally held the night before the corpus, although the exact date varies according to the agricultural calendar of the families.
If you want to know more about this wonderful experience of Community Tourism in the Potato Park, do not hesitate to visit our blog X TRAVEL PERÚ Here.
OVERVIEW
COMMUNITY TOURISM IN THE POTATO PARK
WHAT WILL WE DO IN THE POTATO PARK?
At 8:00 in the morning we will pass by your Hotel with our private tourist transport to pick you up. Then we will go to the Community of Paru Paru which is at 4000 meters above sea level. Approximately 60 minutes from the City of Cusco, where the local families are waiting for us, during the trip we will observe the natural landscape, mountains native to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and some Communities, upon reaching the Community of Paru Paru they will welcome us with joy. dance, ancestral music and they will dress us in their typical costumes.
Then we will have an interpretation of the Potato Park, and we will know the cultivation system, conservation work, storage and distribution of the varieties of native potatoes, continuing with the tour, we will have a tour of the lagoons of Kinsa Qocha, Puma Qocha and Azul Qocha where we will also observe a wide panorama of the Andean landscape, we will taste our delicious lunch with typical products of the Community, after lunch we go to the Community of Sacaca, where we will visit the interpretation center on the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants natives in the Potato Park, finally, we will be returning to the City of Cusco, we leave you at your Hotel, end of our services.
ITINERARY
COMMUNITY TOURISM IN THE POTATO PARK
- 8:00 in the morning, I pick up from your Hotel, and then go on our tourist transport to the Community of Paru Paru which is at 4000 meters above sea level. approximately 60 minutes from the city of Cusco.
- When we arrive at the Community of Paru Paru, they will give us a great welcome with music and the sound of pututu (Q’epa), then they will dress us in their typical clothes.
- Then we will have an interpretation of the Potato Park, and we will know the cultivation system, conservation, storage and distribution of native potato varieties.
- Next, we will have a tour of the Kinsa Qocha, Puma Qocha and Azul Qocha lagoons.
- Then, we will have a lunch prepared with typical products of the area.
- After lunch, we will go to the community of Sacaca, and we will visit the interpretation center on the conservation and sustainable use of native medicinal plants in the Potato Park.
- In the afternoon we return to the city of Cusco.
- Finally, we leave you at your Hotel, end of our services.
INCLUDED / NOT INCLUDED
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY TOURISM TOUR IN THE POTATO PARK?
- First tourist transport, round trip.
- Professional Tourist Guide, especially with language skills.
- As well as first aid kit, with medicines such as pills, bandage, gauze, cotton, etc.
- Traditional lunch, based on native products of the area such as potatoes, quinoa, smoothies, etc.
- Finally, first aid service, such as stomach pains, fractures, etc.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY TOURISM TOUR IN THE POTATO PARK?
- Extra drinks, be it water, soda or fruit.
- As well as additional expenses such as tips, snack, purchase of souvenirs.
- Finally chinstrap and face shield, because they are for personal use.
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE COMMUNITY TOURISM
- Chinstrap (mandatory), because it is important to avoid contagion of covid-19
- Hat or cap, since the sun is intense at noon.
- Camera, so you can take pictures during the tour.
- Sunblock, in case the sun is intense.
- Rain poncho, in case of rain.
- Trekking shoes, since we will have a walk to the Kinsa Qocha, Azul Qocha and Puma Qocha lagoons.
- Bring your personal documents, because it is essential to identify us.
- Extra money in soles, since there may be a souvenir for you to buy or other additional expenses.
PRICE
The price depends on the number of participants and other preferences. Please inquire about a personalized price.
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