Potato Park full day tour

Visiting the Potato Park is the best way to experience tourism in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will learn how the cultivation of Andean products is done, especially the potato. you will see the different types of potatoes. after that you will enjoy the delicious gastronomy and all the nature that the Andes of Cusco have to offer. Therefore, we recommend you to enjoy this adventure without worries and leave everything in our hands!

• Departures: Every day.
• Duration: One day (8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
• Maximum altitude: Paru Paru Community (4,400 masl).
• Trip style: Short hikes and travel by tourist transport.
• Difficulty level: Easy.
• Type of trip: Cultural/Natural.
• Service: Private.
• Location: Calca

SHORT ITINERARY

Cusco - Pisac - Potato Park - Quinsacocha Lagoon - Cusco

• Pick up from your hotel.
• Transfer in private transport to Pisac town.
• We will continue on route to Paru Paru, a community that is part of the Potato Park.
• We will have a warm welcome from the community.
• Visit the Potato Park.
• We will taste a lunch that contains Andean products.
• Visit to the Quinsacocha Lagoon.
• Return to Cusco in private transportation. 

Note: The times indicated are referential.

Day 1: Cusco - Pisac - Potato Park - Quinsacocha Lagoon - Cusco

We will start this tour, at the agreed time, from our meeting point. We will travel by private transportation to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. On the way we will be able to appreciate the colorful landscapes that nature offers us and the extensive cultivated areas that are bathed by the Vilcanota River. We will pass by the Pisac town and continue on the road for 40 minutes more until we reach our first destination, the community of Paru Paru (4,400 masl), in the Potato Park. In this place we will begin to notice the wonders that the Andes of Cusco have for us.

The inhabitants of the communities will give us a warm welcome and we will begin to live the experience of learning more about their culture and tradition. Then they will teach us the process of potato cultivation, being this tuber one of the most appreciated Andean crops in Peru and the world, considering that in this place there are more than a thousand varieties of potatoes, very floury and with a delicious flavor. We will also see their textiles, handicrafts and ceramics. 

In order to appreciate these products even more, we will have a typical lunch offered by the locals themselves, where the main protagonist will be the potato. After tasting these delicious dishes, we will head to the Quinsacocha Lagoon (4,400 meters above sea level). On the way we will be able to appreciate the mountains, colorful vegetation and enchanting landscapes, until we reach this mirror of water, where you will feel how your energy is renewed. Something very typical of the Andean lagoons of Cusco.

During this trip, we will also be able to observe alpacas, llamas, sheep and much more wildlife. After having enjoyed the experience of experiential tourism, we will return in our private transportation to the city of Cusco.

Note: The times indicated are for reference only.

OPTIONAL

We leave you these options that you can add to the Potato Park Tour.

PRIVATE SERVICE:

• Add a show of musicians.
• Preparation of the tradiconal dish (Pachamanca). The communities cook this dish that is made in a handmade stone oven inside the earth. You can participate in the preparation and also taste this dish.
• Exhibition of textile art in the community of Chawaytiri.
• Potato Park Tour - 2 days. Overnight stay in one of the community houses.

For more information about these options, please contact us. We will be happy to customize your trip: 

HIGHLIGHTS

RURAL COMMUNITY TOURISM IN THE POTATO PARK

Experiential tourism in the Sacred Valley of the Incas is one of the best experiences you can have on your trip to Cusco. Since the communities in this area of the sacred valley keep alive many of the customs and traditions that have been inherited from parents to children since the time of the Incas. Something that can be seen tangibly in their clothing, cuisine and way of life.

QUINSACOCHA LAKE – Potato Park At Sacred Valley

Also called "Quinsacocha" or "Kinsa Qocha". It is located in the community of Paru Paru, in the Pisac district. It is a natural scenery, full of charm for its multicolored Andean landscapes. On the way to this water mirror, you can find llamas and alpacas grazing. It is a favorite destination for visitors because of the positive energy that emanates from the place.

ANDEAN PRODUCTS

In the Potato Park, you can find an estimated 1,300 varieties of this product, a highly appreciated Andean tuber, since the time of the Incas. It stands out throughout Peru for its floury texture and delicious flavor. Likewise, the Sacred Valley, being a fertile land, makes possible the production of corn, oca, olluco, quinoa, vegetables, tarwi and others.

INCLUDED:

• Pick up service from your hotel.
• Transfer in private tourist transportation: Cusco - Potato Park - Cusco.
• Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English).
• 1 typical lunch.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Entrance fee to the Potato Park. 
• Tips.
• Travel insurance.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What should we bring for our trip?

In our Potato Park Tour, we can find varied climates for that reason we recommend you to bring:

General:

• Passport or Identification Document.
• Comfortable walking shoes.
• Light backpack to carry personal belongings. 
• Cell phone/camera.
• Personal snacks.
• Personal medication.

For the cold or rain:

• Warm clothing.
• Waterproof clothing/rain poncho.

For the sun:

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses.
• Hat.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Here are some recommendations to consider before your tour to the Potato Park:

• Doing experiential rural tourism in the Potato Park is one of the best options to learn about the traditions and customs maintained by the communities of Cusco.
• Before your tour to Machu Picchu or the Humantay Lake. This is a tour that you can do in the first days of your visit to the city.
• Most of the tour will be done in our private transportation. Therefore, the hikes will be short and you will not need to have previous physical preparation.
• Unlike other tours, this trip can be done all year round. Although you should take precautions during the rainy season from November to March.
• It is a tour that is recommended for children and adults. Because the degree of difficulty is minimal.

Private service: the price depend of the number of people.