Tierra De Los Yachaqs, Peru

Introduction to Tierra de los Yachaqs

Live one of the best experiences in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in one of the communities that make up the Tierra de los Yachaqs surrounded by unique landscapes, trails and beautiful flora and fauna of the Peruvian Andes. 

There are six ayllus (communities), located in the districts of Pisac, Lamay and Coya, in the Province of Calca. The locals share wisdom bequeathed to them by their ancestors, with tradition, history and culture that is reflected in each of their daily activities such as agriculture, livestock, crafts, ceremonies and rituals. 

An Association called La Tierra de los Yachaqs, ensures the equitable distribution of the benefits generated by the quality services provided by community tourism and is managed by the locals. This in turn helps to improve their income, quality of life and revalues many of the local customs and traditions.

The local people are very friendly and hospitable; the communities here are related to each other. The communities that make up the area are: Amaru, Huayllafara, Janac Chuquibamba, Chumpe, Huchuy Qosqo and Patabamba that belong to the Quechua culture. La Tierra de los Yachaqs has many lodging houses and several community style restaurants. La Tierra de los Yachaq is made up of 71 active members who provide different services and have been receiving visitors since 2011 in its six communities. The homes of the members are made of adobe (earth with straw), a unique mud brick material from the Peruvian Andes.  As you would expect, hiking and trekking are popular activities in this area, visitors can chose between 4 different hikes.

The main activity here is agriculture and the main source of income is the production of potatoes, corn, beans, and quinoa, among other products. Another of the activities is to make backstrap loom weavings using alpaca and sheep wool with the typical iconography of each community. There is also a textile center to visit in the area.

Cultural Information

The communities of La Tierra de los Yachaqs have customs, traditions and clothing that differentiate them and make them unique in the Cusco region. The Amaru community of the Yachaqs has clothing which is predominantly red in colour. They still preserve the ancestral techniques of the Incas, such as dyeing alpaca and sheep wool with plants, flowers and insects to obtain different colours. They make a variety of products such as blankets, wallets, purses, bags and other useful souvenirs.

In the community of Huayllafara, the ancestral techniques for growing potatoes, beans, wheat, barley, and other products are still used, using traditional tools such as the chaquitaclla. There is also a center of interpretation of the Andean agricultural calendar. 

In the community of Janac Chuquibamba locals still maintain the traditional music and rituals to the Apus, this community still maintains the Varayoc (person who represents the community). The hike is accompanied by music and local guides who are from the same community. The community of Chumpe maintains its clothing where the color black and red is predominant. The Montera or Hat is unique to the region, adorned with different colored ribbons containing designs which differentiate it from other nearby communities.

The community of Patabamba, located on the left bank of the Urubamba River, keeps its culture alive with its bright red and black clothing. This community continues to use ancestral roads to move to different areas of the community as well as the archaeological center of Huchuy Qosqo.

The community of Huchuy Qosqo maintains its traditional cuisine; you can see how they make the Pachamanca and stews based on local products, made by the cheerful and warm people.

Top tips for your stay in Tierra de los Yachaqs

Visitors should bring warm clothing, a hat, sunscreen, camera and a desire to learn about the Quechua culture.  Be sure to take in one or more of the suggested activities or tours within the communities to make your trip even more memorable.