Quishuarani - The 2 day encounter with the Andean shepherd

You will be a close witness to the amazing bond they have with their llamas and alpacas and discover why these animals always had such a primory status in the Andean rural society.

This experience is offered to you by the Andean village of Quishuarani in coorporation with Centro Bartolome de las casas. The community of Quishuarani is located at 105 km from the city of Cusco, at 3800 meters high, in the heart of the Andean mountain range. This community is part of the district of Lares and the province of Calca.

Quishuarani is a traditional village that will fascinate you by the immense wealth of its history, its spectacular landscapes and their preserved and surprising natural surroundings.

Situated at the foot of the snow-covered Qolque Cruz mountain, the community of Quishuarani has high Andean lagoons and species of birds in danger of extinction like Moqotìo or the Cóndor.

Walking on the route of the shepherds, we will follow the steps of these first retailers of the Andean territory. They will take us back to times when people used the barter system, exchanging goods instead of buying and selling them. Until not so long ago, caravans of llamas loaded with diverse products would cross the Andes for days and weeks, following these numerous roads that go back as far as pre-Incas time. These caravans would follow these trails to reach local areas where they would then be able to exchange coca leaves, maize, potatoes and meat. However, these old retailers have seen themselves seriously affected by the increasing importance of the market economy. So far, they have only been able to participate to this new dynamic in unfavorable conditions.

It is precisely with the shepherds that you will be able to enter into a world of immense deserts and peaceful spaces: thanks to their acute perception of animal behavioral codes, it is possible for them to know the necessities of the animal. You will be able to discover a life evolving around the breeding of alpacas.

We offer you a chance to follow the shepherds and listen to their stories, walking side by side along the ancient paths, accompanying them in their daily work or entering their houses, siting around the fire of traditional qoncha (a kind of wood stove) and allowing you to be swept away by their memories and legends. An experience rich in emotions that will get you closer to understanding the Andean world.