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Overview
The Qero Nation is considered by many historians to be the last Inka community. The anthropologist, Oscar Nuñez del Prado, and the historians Efrain Morote and Mario Escobar, were the first to visit the Qero Nation in 1955, a date which has become synonymous with the discovery of the descendants of the Inkas. The Qeros had a high social status, so to be identified as Qero in the imperial Inka city of Cusco, meant that one would be treated with respect, reverence and invited to eat at someone’s home.
On this trip you will experience the Inka way of life and their ancestral customs. Both these customs and the names of the shamans or paqos, Pampamesayoq and Altomesayoq, have been preserved in the hierarchical structure according to Pachamama or Mother Earth, as well as in Qero techniques of cultivation and iconography.
Over the last few decades, historians and anthropologists have visited the Qero Nation, including Elian Karp, the former first lady of Peru, who took a special interest in learning more about the Qero Nation and showing the world the last known Inka community. We humbly invite you to follow her lead: adding the Qero Trek Tour to your Peruvian itinerary will immerse you in the last remnants of a 500-year-old culture.
Level: medium. People of all ages that have a good level of fitness can do this trek.
Day 1: Cusco - Paucartambo - Kallakancha
We will leave Cusco at 8:00 a.m. and take a bus to Paucartambo, stopping at the Chullpas de Ninamarca (an ancient Inka cemetery) along the way. At 1:00 p.m. we’ll have lunch and then walk to the town of Paucartambo to see the beautiful Carlos III Bridge.
Day 2: Kallakancha - Chuwa Chuwa
Around 7:00 a.m., after a nutritious breakfast, horses and llamas will help us on our trek to the village of Chuwa Chuwa, our campsite for the day. Over the day’s trek of around 8 hours, we will come across many waterfalls and the Huamancaca Mountain, as well as crossing the Pampakasa High Pass (4,300m). Here, you will be able to see condors circling majestically around Ausangate Mountain, the highest peak in the region.
Day 3: Chuwa Chuwa - Hatun Qero
We will leave Chuwa Chuwa at 7:30 a.m. and arrive at Hatun Qero after around 5 hours of trekking. Along the way, the surrounding landscape will enchant us with numerous waterfalls and a rapid change in vegetation from barren highlands to lush plains. After lunch, we’ll meet the varayocs or mayors of the Qero Nation and participate in ancient: Pago a la Pachamama – offering to Mother Earth, which involves giving thanks to the Inka Gods for the land and food they have provided.
Day 4: Hatun Qero -Tandaña
At 7:30 a.m., we will begin our trek to Tandaña, a village where women hand-knit Andean garments using traditional techniques inherited from the Inkas. While crossing the Huilka Kunka High Pass, we will see condors flying around Huamanripa Mountain (the God of the Qero Community).
Day 5: Tandaña - Kallakancha - Cusco
After breakfast, we will descend to Kallakancha for lunch, and then take the bus back to Cusco.
- Round trip, private transport from your hotel in Cusco to Kallakancha
- Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English)
- Meals during the excursion (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, vegetarian options are available)
- Cook and cooking equipment
- Coca tea is served every morning in your tent
- Boiled water after breakfast, to refill your water bottles (1 liter per person)
- Snacks each morning
- Hot drinks such as coca tea, black tea and coffee in the afternoon
- High quality camping equipment for 2 people. Mattresses, eating tent with table and chairs, bathroom tent)
- Horseman and mules, for all camping equipment and customer’s luggage
- Emergency horse for riding in case of illness or injury
- Duffle bag
- First-aid kit and oxygen bottle
- Sleeping bag (can be rented at our office)
- Trekking poles
- Travel Insurance – we strongly recommended that you purchase travel insurance for the duration of your trip
- Tips
- Backpack and daypack with rain cover
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothing for warm and cold climates e.g. lightweight pants, thermal layers
- Rain gear: jacket, poncho, pants
- Trekking shoes/boots
- Slippers or sandals (for showers and hot springs)
- Woolen or synthetic socks and a sweater
- Long and short-sleeved polos/T-Shirts
- Woolen hat
- Bathing suit for the hot springs
- Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses, insect repellent
- Personal medical kit and medication
- Toiletries and hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper
- Small towel
- Water bottle (recommended 1 liter)
- Trekking poles (can be rented from us)
- Headlamp with spare batteries (very important)
- Some snacks such as chocolate bars and dried fruit
- Camera and extra batteries
- Extra money for drinks, souvenirs, tips etc. (soles or dollars)
- Headlamp with spare batteries (very important)
- Camera and extra batteries
- Extra money for drinks, souvenirs, tips etc. (soles or dollars)
- 2 people USD$ 620.00 per person
- 3 people USD$ 580.00 per person
- 4 people USD$ 540.00 per person
- 5+ people USD$ 499.00 per person
- Sleeping Bag USD $20.00
- Pair of trekking poles USD $15.00
- Inflatable Mattress USD $20.00
- One-person tent USD $30.00