Inca Roots: Farming, Ruins & Huatia

Walk in the footsteps of the Incas and connect with the living culture of the Andes.

This immersive half-day experience takes you from the heart of Cusco to a nearby rural community, where you’ll visit sacred ruins, walk an ancient Incan trail, and work side-by-side with local Quechua farmers. Learn traditional farming methods still used today and share a rustic, nourishing meal cooked in a pre-Hispanic huatia oven — a window into Peru’s rich past and vibrant present.

Participate in farming techniques from the Incas

Experience the soul of the Andes beyond the tourist trail.

Your journey begins at 8:30 AM with a short 15-minute drive from Cusco’s center into the surrounding highlands. Upon arrival, your guide will lead you on a short hike to the Devil’s Balcony (Balcón del Diablo) — an atmospheric natural cave and ceremonial site with stunning views. From there, follow the recently restored Incan trail of Ñustapakana, surrounded by open fields and mountain air.

A short walk brings you to the local farming community, where Quechua-speaking families still cultivate the land using tools and techniques passed down for generations — including the Chaki Taklla, the traditional Incan foot plough. Depending on the season, you’ll join in hands-on agricultural work such as:

Ploughing fields with oxen or foot plough
Planting or harvesting Andean crops like corn and potatoes
Making adobe bricks
Preparing and building a huatia — a pre-Hispanic earthen oven still used in the highlands

Once the huatia is built and the food is cooking, take time to connect with the farmers. Hear stories of their upbringing, traditions, and the deep connection they have to Pachamama (Mother Earth). When the food is ready, enjoy a rustic, satisfying meal of native potatoes, oca, and seasonal vegetables grown in the very soil you’ve worked — served with Chicha, a fermented corn drink still made by hand.

By joining this experience, you’re doing more than learning about the past — you’re helping preserve it. Your participation provides meaningful income to local families and helps sustain traditional agricultural practices in an ever-changing world. These customs are at risk of disappearing as younger generations migrate to cities and modern pressures alter rural life. Your visit affirms the value of this cultural heritage and contributes to its survival for generations to come.

After the meal, you’ll walk back along the Incan trail to your waiting transport, returning to Cusco by 1:30 PM.

What’s Included:

Round-trip transport from Cusco
Bilingual local guide
Hands-on farming activity with local community
Traditional huatia meal and drink

What to Bring:

Sun protection (hat, sunscreen)
Jacket or layers (weather can change quickly)
Refillable water bottle
Comfortable walking shoes

Schedule:

8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

📍 Moderate hike: 2–4 km depending on field location

Price

$70 per person - 2 participants

$65 per person - 3 participants

$60 per person - 4 participants or more

The Positive Impact

Your participation in our experiences directly supports local Quechua-speaking families who continue to live and farm in the traditional Andean way. In a rapidly changing world, these practices — passed down for centuries — are at risk of disappearing.By joining us, you’re helping preserve ancestral knowledge, provide meaningful income to rural communities, and encourage younger generations to remain on the land. It’s travel that connects, sustains, and gives back.