Llama Pack Project
2 Days
Visiting: Peru
Tour Overview
Home to 54 native Quechua speaking families dedicated to agriculture and animal pasturing, Canca-Cancha is a community of Peruvian llama breeders nestled in beautiful mountains at 3,954 metres above sea level.
These families all have rich cultural backgrounds that are on the verge of disappearing as most are forced to work in cities away from their hometowns to be able to provide for their community.
With family owned llamas only being used once or twice a year, mostly to transport potato seeds, taking part in this conservation project provides an opportunity for them to use their llamas throughout the year and encourages sustainable business within the community.
Join the Llama Pack Project and enjoy breath-taking surroundings as you trek ancestral trail routes. Take in the awe inspiring views of glaciers and be welcomed into the highland homes of the local Chana Chana people.
This is your opportunity to be an active part of a Llama customs conservation project that works to recover the traditional uses and breeding of carrier llamas as a tool for sustainable rural development, as well as conservation of mountain ecosystems, generating long-term sustainable development within neighbouring communities in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Distance: Approx. 14km
Altitude: 2,700 - 3,950 m
Itinerary
Day 1 - Sacred Valley
This morning you will be met at 8.00am at the Charán Bridge in the town of Huaran (approx. 2hrs from Cusco). It is from here that your adventure begins, as you take local transport on unpaved roads towards Saywapata, the start point of your trek. You will meet members of the Llama Pack Project, and their Llamas, at approx. 8.30am and after a short introduction about the work of the Llama Pack Project, you will prepare the llamas and start your trek.
Set off at an easy pace and take in the beautiful landscape and bio-diversity that surrounds you as you scale the moderate incline. Enjoy rest stops and a picnic brunch along the way before continuing on for the town of Cancha Cancha (approx. 2hrs).
Located in the beautiful mountains at 3,954 metres above sea level, Cancha Cancha divides the Sacred Valley in two and offers spectacular views of the Chicon and Sirihuani glaciers to the east and the imposing Colquecruz glacier to the west. You will have some time here to mingle with the locals and wander the streets of the quaint town.
This afternoon, enjoy a snack of sweet cookies and warm tea while you prepare your camping gear. Dinner will be served this evening, before you rest in preparation for tomorrows activities. (Brunch,D)
Overnight camping in tent
Day 2 - Return To Huaran
After an early breakfast you will have time to explore Cancha Cancha as it awakens and witness the locals go about their daily life. Spend some time mingling and chatting to the friendly locals before setting off mid morning on your hike.
Enjoy spectacular views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas as you trek, do a spot of bird watching as you pass through wonderful forests of native trees and bushes such as Queñuas, Alisos and Chachacomos, and marvel at the striking rock formations along the way.
Upon your arrival back to the town of Huaran, enjoy a refreshing drink as you bid farewell to your new friends, of both human and Llama kind! (B)
What's Included
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Hotel pick up from the Sacred valley
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1 nights accommodation
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2 Breakfasts, 1 Dinners
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Assistant guide
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English/Spanish speaking local guide
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Llama guide
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Pack Llamas
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Camping fee
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Dining tent, tables, stools and picnic blankets
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Camping fee
What's Not Included
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International and domestic flights
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Visas
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Sleeping bag and tent
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All services, meals other than those indicated above
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Travel and medical insurance
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Any changes to the proposed and confirmed program.
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All items of a personal nature e.g. drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips
Check out our Q&As
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes. Focusing on providing authentic experiences where ever you are in the world, Crooked Compass has access to a vast array of accommodation styles. From boutique properties in larger cities to local guest houses and home stays within small villages. Crooked Compass ensures that local authenticity flows through your accommodation throughout your tour without compromising standard.
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What sort of transportation is used for your tours?
Transportation utilised on a Crooked Compass escorted small group tour is a combination of a private air conditioned vehicle and local transport where appropriate. This may include a local bus ride, use of the cities metro system, a domestic flight to another city or overnight train ride.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Crooked Compass strives to be a leader in sustainable tourism. Crooked Compass is firmly committed to the principles of ethical travel. Our comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Practices policy summarises our commitments and actions. Although the very basis of our ground operations lends itself to the ethos of sustainable tourism, this policy re-iterates our commitment to: Use locally owned hotels Use locally owned ground agents Use local guides and drivers Promote community tourism projects from homestays to craft shops Support charities that work within the destinations that we travel to Carbon offset our travels
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Who runs your tours and are they experts in their fields?
Crooked Compass works with the worlds best operators who are specialists in their country, region and cities providing you with in depth local knowledge. We use local guides who live and breathe the areas they work in, making sure you experience their region, their way. We believe it is far better to have a local guide who knows a lot about a little than a text book trained Western tour guide who knows a little about a lot. Using local guides also ensures that money stays within local communities and supports the regions we visit.
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What can I expect from a Crooked Compass tour that I wouldn't get from travelling with an alternative company?
Crooked Compass provides a sensory way to understand the world – we help you live like a local, eat like a local, do what the locals do and seek the faces behind the places whilst discovering untouched lands and natural beauty. Crooked Compass tours delve deep into the heart and soul of a destination ensuring you get out of your journey all you intended and much, much more. Our intriguing itineraries have been created by travellers for travellers. Steering travellers to follow a different path, Crooked Compass’ itineraries allow you to experience the world’s most fascinating destinations in ways you never dreamed possible. It brings to life those ‘bucket list’ experiences you have yearned to do and separates the travellers from the tourists. Crooked Compass tours are culturally rich, reward travellers with unexpected encounters and uncommon rendezvous, creating truly unique, authentic travel experiences.
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Who do your tours cater for?
Crooked Compass escorted small group tours cater for those who are well travelled seeking the what’s next and what’s new. Our travellers are curious minded soft adventurers who want to uncover something more than the mainstream tourist trail. Crooked Compass tours draw travellers with an interest in sustainable tourism and conservation for the areas they visit. A Crooked Compass traveller is someone who is seeking something fresh and unique, who has a yearning for authenticity and discovery, with an appreciation for cultures, tradition and the natural world. We call them Cultural Purists.
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I am concerned about my impact on travelling through untouched regions. Can I offset?
Yes. All travellers on Crooked Compass tours have the option to offset their part of their tour’s carbon footprint by donating $4AUD (tax-deductible) at time of booking. 100% of these funds are donated to Greenfleet, an environmental non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting our climate by restoring our forests. By partnering with Greenfleet, we are confident that our carbon offset program provides genuine and lasting environmental benefits. Your offset donation funds plant trees and restore permanent native forests in Australia and New Zealand. As they grow, these forests provide many community and environmental benefits by absorbing carbon emissions, protecting our unique biodiversity, restoring habitat for native wildlife, preventing soil salinity and erosion, improving water quality and much more. If you’d like to find out more and offset the rest of your carbon emissions, visit www.greenfleet.org.au
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Cancellation Policy
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Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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