Communities we work with

Llachón 

Capachica

• Altitude: Between 3,800 and 4,000 m.a.s.l.
• Location: Capachica Peninsula, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, only two hours by land from Puno

The people of Llachón are Quechua and live from livestock, farming, and fishing. Families welcome visitors into their homes, offering warm, rustic, and safe rooms This is one of the pioneering projects and a model of good practices in community-based rural tourism.

It is an ideal starting point to explore the lake: white sand beaches, pre-Inca terraces, rocky formations along the shores, and colorful vegetation created by the lake’s unique microclimate make this a special place, perfect not only for rest but also for hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking.

• You can: take part in family activities, watch the sunset from Cerro Auqui Carus after a 1.5-hour hike, and enjoy demonstrations of weaving and traditional attire.
• How to visit: While exploring Lake Titicaca. From Llachón, you can reach classic destinations such as Taquile and Amantaní, or lesser-known ones like Ticonata Island, Ccotos, Escallani Beach, and Chifrón.
• Recommended for: Families, short hikes, travelers who prefer independent exploration (rather than organized activities), kayaking.

Luquina Chico

Titicaca

Location: Southeast of Puno, on the Chucuito Peninsula, about 45 minutes by boat from Puno’s port

Luquina Chico is a small Aymara community whose name comes from the Luqui, a native potato variety from the Altiplano. Fishing and agriculture are their main livelihoods, while tourism has become a valuable complement to diversify income.

Its strategic location offers breathtaking scenery and an exceptional viewpoint from which to witness unforgettable sunrises and sunsets over the sacred waters of Lake Titicaca. Since 2005, the community has been organized into an association that welcomes visitors for experiential and participatory tourism.

• How to visit: By land or boat, while visiting Lake Titicaca.
• You can: join agricultural work or other community activities, enjoy hikes, and go boating.
• Recommended for: Intercultural experiences, agricultural activities with locals, landscapes.

Atuncolla, Sillustani

Lake Umayo, Puno

In Atuncolla, several families have created an Experiential Tourism Association. The participating households have improved their homes to provide food and lodging for visitors interested in rural tourism.

The locals are descendants of the Qolla, who ruled the Qolla Kingdom in the Altiplano between 1200 BC and 1400 AD. The Qolla rose to prominence after the fall of the Tiwanaku culture in the 12th century, before being conquered by the Inca shortly after.

• How to visit: While in Puno or Titicaca, combined with the impressive chullpas of Sillustani—an archaeological complex that can be visited in half a day or a full day. Also possible en route to Juliaca airport.
• You can: enjoy lunch at a family restaurant, visit the community and local school, and take traditional reed boat rides on Lake Umayo.
• Recommended for: Off-the-beaten-path travelers, cultural and archaeological interest.

Communities of Piuray Lagoon, Chinchero District

Guardians of the Lagoon and ancestral textile heritage

• Location: Chinchero District, about one hour from Cusco city and the Sacred Valley
• Altitude: 3,700–3,800 m.a.s.l.

The communities of Tauca, Umasbamba, and Pongobamba, located around Piuray Lagoon in Chinchero (Cusco), combine the preservation of ancestral traditions with innovative community-based tourism. Led mainly by women’s associations, they welcome visitors to experience Andean life through weaving workshops, traditional farming, ancestral rituals, and local cuisine.

Framed by the stunning scenery of the Sacred Valley, with sweeping views of snowcapped apus (sacred mountains) dominating the horizon, these communities offer a deep connection with both nature and culture.

At the same time, they face a vital challenge: protecting Piuray Lagoon, Cusco’s main water source, increasingly threatened by urban expansion and the construction of the new Chinchero airport. In this context, community-based tourism not only strengthens cultural identity and local economies but also raises awareness about sustainability and the defense of water, land, and cultural diversity in the Andes.

You can: hike alongside llamas from the community, collect medicinal herbs, prepare a pachamanca (traditional Andean meal), take part in coca leaf readings, attend textile workshops, enjoy a bonfire at night, among other activities.

Misminay, Huilloc, and Viacha Communities

Sunrise among stars and mountains

Altitude: 

• Viacha Community: 3,950 m.a.s.l.
• Huilloc Community: 3,780 m.a.s.l.
• Misminay Community: 3,780 m.a.s.l.

To truly know a place is to understand its nature and history, but also its culture and its people. The communities of Misminay, Viacha, and Huilloc are part of a social project that invites visitors to immerse themselves in a side of Peru that traditional tourism rarely reveals. They offer experiential tourism in luxury glamping camps, in partnership with local families. More than just a place to sleep, it is a space to share and learn from Andean people while leaving no environmental footprint.

From your tent, enjoy sweeping views of vast farmland and majestic snowcapped peaks. At sunrise, when the sun rises over the mountains, the experience is unforgettable. María and Mario Mayhua, a warm and cheerful couple from Misminay, will show you the surroundings and delight you with traditional dishes. Francisca, Juan, and their three children will welcome you into their home, sharing their daily activities with joy and play. Julián and his children—Waldir, Noe, Josue, Flor de Cantu, and Rosa María—are proud heirs of a millennia-old culture, preserved with dignity and pride, and today ready to share with you.

Misminay has hosted renowned researchers such as anthropologist John Earls (specialist on Moray) and Gary Urton, who gathered key information here years ago to understand the Andean conception of the Milky Way. His studies of the llama constellation—part of the “dark constellations” tradition—were crucial in advancing Andean archaeoastronomy and cosmology.

• You can: sleep under the stars in a luxury tent, take part in workshops such as adobe making, the Chaski trail, textile demonstrations, or hike to nearby archaeological treasures such as Pisac, Moray, or Ollantaytambo.
• How to visit: On your journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, en route to Machu Picchu.
• Recommended for: Cultural explorers, outdoor enthusiasts, intercultural exchange, families, adventure, hiking.

Communities and villages of Calca

Ancestral gastronomy and the fruits of Pachamama

• Altitude: between 2,700 and 3,700 m.a.s.l.
• Lamay, Huchuy Qosqo, Huayllafara, Patabamba
• Traditions, Archaeology, and Gastronomy

Lamay

In Lamay, you have the opportunity to visit the homes of local families and experience their daily lives and work—an authentic glimpse into the rhythm of a typical valley town. Despite its growth, Lamay preserves the tranquility of agricultural life, where farming cycles continue to shape daily routines. Guinea pig raising, orchards, clay ovens, and the traditional preparation of chicha de jora are just some of the secrets you will discover as you walk through the streets and are welcomed into homes with warmth and hospitality.

In the heights above Lamay, you will find communities such as Huchuy Qosqo and Huayllafara.

Huchuy Qosqo Community

The family of Señora Natividad and her husband is among the few who still live in the highlands of Huchuy Qosqo, committed to preserving traditional high-altitude ways of life. They care for their crops and maintain biodiversity, continuing an ancestral Andean balance. For example, the different maize varieties displayed in their home represent a cultural achievement of centuries of domestication. Their proximity to the Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site and the breathtaking views of the valley make this a privileged place to visit.

Huayllafara Community

Agriculture and livestock are the main livelihoods. Here, living by the cycles of Pachamama is not only ancestral knowledge but also a way of survival. Locals will teach you about farming cycles, rituals offered to the Apus, and the deep ties between agriculture, music, and festivities.

The community also has an agricultural interpretation center, organized around the 12 months of the year, where traditional Andean tools are displayed alongside key crops such as maize, potatoes, beans, quinoa, and tarwi.

Patabamba Community

Patabamba boasts a natural viewpoint over the Sacred Valley, known as the “Balcony of the Sacred Valley.” Its traditional dishes include Sancc’u (a mix of grains with aromatic herbs, salt, and sugar) and cuy lawa (guinea pig soup). Drinks include chicha de jora and chicha blanca (made with quinoa, maize, and beans). The community maintains vibrant traditions such as Carnival (rooted in the ancestral Pukllay ritual), flower-gathering celebrations, and yunsa festivities around a decorated tree. They also specialize in pachamanca and natural dyeing.

• How to visit: During your Sacred Valley journey. From Patabamba, you can hike along a preserved Inca trail to Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site, or combine a visit to Huayllafara’s fields with a culinary workshop in Lamay.
• You can: learn about traditional tools and crops, explore Andean gastronomy, enjoy spectacular views of the valley, walk along preserved Inca trails, visit archaeological sites away from the crowds, and interact with local families.

Pisac Communities

Cradle and Diversity of Potato Crops

Amaru and Sacaca

Altitude: 3,700 m.a.s.l.,

The communities of Amaru and Sacaca offer panoramic views of the Urubamba Valley and surrounding mountains.

For years, their experiential tourism association has worked to preserve local culture and biodiversity. A portion of the income is reinvested into community projects, such as improving roads, based on collective decisions made in assembly.

• You can: enjoy a scenic hike between both communities (“Route of friendship”), taste native potato varieties and learn about cultivation methods, visit the impressive Pisac archaeological site, and take part in agricultural activities involving aromatic and dye plants.

• How to visit: During your trip to the Sacred Valley, visiting Pisac town or archaeological site.
• Recommended for: Cultural exchange, hiking, culinary interest, archaeology.

Family Projects of Organic Coffee and Cacao

La Convención, Route to Machu Picchu. Coffee, Cacao and Smiles. 

Huacayupana and Huayopata
Altitude: between 1,900 and 2,120 m.a.s.l.

Huacayupana and Huayopata are towns in the district of Huayopata, province of La Convención, on Cusco’s cloud forest edge (ceja de selva). This region is known for its natural beauty and agricultural diversity: coffee, cacao, coca, oranges, avocados, and more.

Arriving at Machu Picchu after meeting Julia or Alejandro is an entirely different experience. They carry profound knowledge of the land and water, rooted in their daily work cultivating exquisite coffee, cacao, and organic fruit trees. Their silences are as telling as their words, and their hospitality is priceless. All of this unfolds in a breathtaking setting, enhanced by natural hot springs surrounded by the majestic mountains of Machu Picchu. And to top it off—exceptional food awaits!

• How to visit: From Cusco or Ollantaytambo, on the way to Machu Picchu, via Abra Málaga and Santa Teresa.
• You can: learn about organic cacao and coffee cultivation, walk through plantations, stay in family homes, trek towards Aguas Calientes, admire the biodiversity of plants and birds, and share in your hosts’ wisdom of land and water.
• Recommended for: Culinary interest, coffee lovers, nature enthusiasts, hiking, outdoor travelers, families.

Ichimay Wari Association of Ayacucho Artisans

Artists in Exile

Ayacucho, in the central Andes of Peru, is home to one of the country’s richest and most elaborate artisan traditions—born from hybridization, cultural blending, resistance, and the incorporation of new motifs and materials over centuries.

In the 1980s, thousands of people from Ayacucho were forced to migrate to Lima, fleeing the political violence that devastated the region. Many artisans settled in Lurín, south of Lima, near the sacred temple of Pachacamac. Over the years, they rebuilt their artisan tradition and passed this knowledge on to new generations.

A group of artisans founded ICHIMAY WARI, where they offer workshops and community-based tourism experiences in Lurín. Each workshop specializes in a craft—whether ceramics, textiles, or retablos. Visitors have the chance to share the experiences of the artisan mentors and learn traditional techniques firsthand. Each encounter becomes a cultural exchange, allowing travelers to appreciate the artistry, skill, and syncretism of ancient and modern traditions.

• How to visit: During your stay in Lima and a visit to the impressive Pachacamac archaeological site—an ancient oracle of the Andean world—or on your way south toward Paracas or Nazca.
  
• You can: learn artisan techniques, hear the stories of the artisans, interact and participate in workshops, and enjoy a homemade lunch in a local home, gaining deeper insight into everyday life.
  
• Recommended for: Cultural exchange, interest in social projects, art, and traditional crafts.

Ica – El Carmen

The Heart of Afroperuvian Culture

Since their arrival during the colonial era, Africans brought to Peru profoundly shaped its culture, history, and even the creation of its republic. Taken from different parts of Africa under a slave-based system, this community built a legacy of resilience, creativity, and cultural wealth that lives on in music, dance, cuisine, and traditions.

El Carmen, a vibrant town located 200 km south of Lima, is the cradle of Afro-Peruvian culture. Here, music, dance, and gastronomy hold a central place, especially through the Ballumbrosio family—custodians of a powerful musical and dance tradition. They open their doors to visitors with demonstrations and workshops of cajón percussion and zapateo dance, offering not just performances but a chance to truly feel the heartbeat of Afro-Peruvian art.

• How to visit: On your journey to Paracas or Ica, combined with a visit to Lima.
• You can: visit an old hacienda, join music workshops, and savor outstanding local cuisine
• Recommended for: Interest in history, culture, music, and gastronomy.

Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno – Posada Amazonas

(In alliance with Rainforest Expeditions)

The Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno is an Indigenous people whose ancestral territory lies along the Tambopata River in the Madre de Dios region—one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. This lowland Amazon rainforest is home to endangered species such as the giant river otter, black caiman, macaw, and yellow-spotted river turtle. Today, threats include agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and deforestation.

Formed in 1974, after Peru passed the Native Communities Law (which granted Indigenous peoples the right to form communities and secure legal land titles), the Ese Eja joined other local Andean and riverine families to create the Native Community of Infierno.

Since 1996, Rainforest Expeditions and the community have formed a successful strategic alliance. The Ese Eja community owns Posada Amazonas Lodge, while Rainforest Expeditions supports its marketing and management. The partnership has generated significant profits and full-time employment, with annual earnings distributed among households—raising community income by about 25%.

Visiting Posada Amazonas offers a unique opportunity to experience Ese Eja culture while actively supporting the conservation of Indigenous lands and traditions.

• How to visit: While exploring the Tambopata National Reserve in the Amazon rainforest.
• You can: stay in the community-owned lodge, learn about Ese Eja worldview at the “A Day in the Life” interpretation center, and join guided excursions led mostly by community members themselves.
• Recommended for: Travelers seeking to combine nature and Indigenous culture, cultural explorers, and those interested in medicinal plants.

Muchik Peasant Community

Santa Catalina de Chongoyape, Chiclayo

The Santa Catalina de Chongoyape community is located about 1.5 hours from Chiclayo, within the dry forest of algarrobos in Chaparrí. In partnership with conservationist Heinz Plenge, the community created and manages Peru’s first private conservation area. Here, they protect endangered endemic species such as the spectacled bear and the white-winged guan.

• How to visit: While exploring northern Peru’s coast, staying at the community-run Chaparrí Eco-Lodge.
• You can: walk conservation trails that protect dry forest species, observe rare wildlife such as the white-winged guan and spectacled bear, and contribute directly to conservation efforts. Combine your stay with visits to Moche archaeological sites in Trujillo and Chiclayo.
• Recommended for: Interest in wildlife, archaeology, and hiking.