ITINERARY:

The visitors depart from the Amaru community in a car early in the morning, passing by the community’s primary school or Osq’ollopampa Sector at an altitude of 3,858 meters above sea level, until they reach the starting point of the hike, Cerro Taq’e Orqo at an altitude of 3,900 meters above sea level. During the route, visitors will appreciate traditional crops, where ancestral tools such as chaquitaclla, taclla, cuti, among others, are used. Among the plants that are most observed are the mashwas, which are used to prepare ocopas, jams, nectar, as well as tulluma for coughs and bronchi, ticray warmi, occa, lisas, and many native flowers with medicinal and edible properties, whose crops are rotated in the terrain. Traditional grazing of ovine and Andean camelid livestock will also be seen along the route.

Afterward, visitors will rest at the Yanamayo Sector at 3,951 meters above sea level as the first point, and then continue with the hike to the resting place of the Cuncayuc Rumi Sector, which seemed like a Pucjio or spring water from the subsurface. It is believed that its waters come from the Totoracocha lagoon, as its flow depends on the ups and downs of the waters of this lagoon, which decreases in the dry season.

Cuncayuc Rumi viewpoint: The visitors will continue the hike until they reach the Cuncayuc Rumi viewpoint, where they will see six communities: Amaru, Chawaytire, Paru Paru, Pampallacta, Perca, Cuyu Grande, Saccaca. From there, they will also see the Apu Huanacaure, a sacred mountain for the locals.

Colla C’asa Pass: Around mid-morning, the visitors will arrive at the Colla C’asa Pass at 4,340 meters above sea level, crossing the Totora Cocha Lagoon; being in the puna floor surrounded by ichu or straw, livestock, and natural grazing. In the rocky areas of the mountains, vizcachas can be seen, and in the lagoons, birds such as Andean huallatas, alkamaris or querechos, jacac’os, ducks, among others.

Totora Cocha Lagoon: The visitors will appreciate this lagoon, along with its Andean complement (female and male) or Andean duality. Later, they will continue the hike until they reach Muyu Tauca.

Muyu Tauca: or Apacheta, which is a set of stones that also serves to define the boundary. On the way towards the horizon, the Patabamba community and the path to Huchuy Qosqo can be seen, until reaching the Chalhuacocha lagoon. There, visitors will have two options:

Option 1:

Climb up to the viewpoint at the high part of the lagoon at 4,400 meters above sea level (for those who can still walk and climb, which takes about 15 extra minutes) to appreciate the beautiful Orcon Maruay and Chincan Marhuay lagoons (Andean duality) and then return to the trail to continue the hike.

Option 2:

Continue straight towards the shores of the Orcon Maruay and Chincan Marhuay lagoons at 4,322 meters above sea level.

Then, the visitors will continue walking until they reach the Yanamayo viewpoint (4,142 meters above sea level), a large rock from where part of the Sacred Valley can be seen. Wiracochay Pass: Rocky area at 4,056 meters above sea level, where two roads diverge, one is a detour to Samana and the other, which leads visitors to their destination, the Huayllafara community. Later, the visitors will arrive at the Huayllafara canyon viewpoint, where they will see the Huayllafara canyon, which finally also ends in the town of Lamay. Finally, they will arrive at Huayllafara, a rich canyon for agriculture, where many customs and traditions are still maintained.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Visitors should bring:

• Hiking shoes
• Warm clothing for the night and light clothing for the day
• Hiking stick
• Flashlight
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Rain poncho (during rainy season)
• Camera

ADDITIONAL AND OPTIONAL SERVICES:

1. Family lodgings in rural houses – Includes overnight stay and breakfast: $ 16.00
2. Dinner: $ 12.00
3. Transportation from Cusco/Sacred Valley to the communities:                                                                                                                                                      * Consult price according to number of passengers
4. Visit to the Pisac Community Museum – Free admission

EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT AMARU:

• Lodging: 50 beds
• Altitude: 3,700 meters above sea level
• Visiting season: All year round
• Distance: Cusco – Pisac: 30km (35 minutes by car)                                                                                                                                                                                                        Pisac – Amaru: 12km (25 minutes by car)

EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT HUAYLLAFARA:

• Lodging: 16 beds
• Altitude: 3,600 meters above sea level
• Visiting season: April to November
• Distance: Cusco – Lamay: 38km (50 minutes by car)

Lamay – Huayllafara: 8km (25 minutes by car)