The program combines a typical Sacred Valley tour with five days of focused textile instruction set in the idyllic town of Ollantaytambo, known as the only “living Inca city” remaining in Peru. Safeguarded by a breathtaking complex of ruins and hillside farming terraces, Ollantaytambo is an excellently preserved example of Inca architecture and urban planning. The central plaza and straight narrow streets follow a purely pre-Colombian architectural layout and style. Local inhabitants of the town are often direct descendents of their Inca ancestors.
Using traditional methods in a time-honored place, immerse yourself in the ancient Andean practice of weaving on the backstrap loom, try spinning with the phuska, or Andean drop spindle, and spend one night and two days in the remote, high-altitude indigenous community of Patacancha. At 12,600ft (4,2000m) you will learn how to hand-dye locally sourced animal fibers with pigments derived from native plants and insects. Develop new skills while you create memories for a lifetime!
Throughout the 10 day workshop-tour we will examine the Andean weaving tradition in its present context: how the modern economy, tourism and consumerism in Peru have affected indigenous weavers and the practice of weaving. As a group we will discuss the contemporary revival of the weaving tradition through cooperative programs, fair trade and sustainable tourism initiatives. If interested, participants can also visit our volunteer programs and learn about upcoming opportunities.
The workshop begins and ends in Cusco, where we will take in historical and cultural sites, sample the regional gastronomy, tour the eclectic San Pedro market and spend an afternoon in the Inca ruins of Saqsaywaman. Individuals will be given a ‘boleto turistico’ which allows entry to several Cusco museums, and will have free time to explore the institutions of their choice.
The core of the program takes place in Ollantaytambo where participants will be hosted by a homestay family. Our homestay families are mostly middle-class Ollantinos who work in the local economy as artisans, teachers, drivers, chefs, etc. Awamaki’s homestay program is one of our most successful endeavors, allowing visitors and locals to connect in a meaningful way through intercultural and linguistic exchange, while providing families with a direct and sustainable income from tourism.
The tour also takes in the ruins and bustling artisanal market of Pisaq, the Ollantaytambo fortress and a ‘free day’ in which the adventurous can choose between a downhill mountain bike trip from the atypical archaeological ruins of Moray to the salt mines in Maras, or a visit to the deservedly famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
The itinerary incorporates optional recreational activities such as stargazing, knitting club, and soccer games, all of which provide opportunities to make new friends and learn new skills. Alternatively, individuals may choose to go on hikes, improve their Spanish by spending time with their homestay families, take time to relax, or explore independently.
All proceeds from the Cultural Immersion Program will go towards the Awamaki Weaving Project, a fair trade initiative that supports an association of Quechua women weavers from isolated, rural communities in the Patacancha valley in the Cusco region of Peru. Currently, Awamaki is working in collaboration with Synergo Arts, an NGO that has designed an ergonomic weaving bench to be used by backstrap weavers to alleviate chronic back pain and increase productivity. Through sales of this tour, Awamaki hopes to implement the bench in our weaving communities in the year 2013.