Inca Túpac Yupanqui school, Ausaray village

Ausaray, located at 3,700m, is an extremely cold region in which the people of this area are not only subjected to inclement weather, but are also isolated within the area due to the complexity of access. It is located 40 minutes’ drive to Ccatca, without the benefit of electricity, and also with the economic challenges that afflict this small community.

• Language: Quechua
• Town: Hacienda Ausaray
• District: Ccatca
• Province: Quispicanchi

Alpaca Expeditions, fulfilling its primary objective of supporting our remote communities by reinvesting in them, we proposed to offer a full day tour to the destinations of Andahuaylillas, Piquillaqta and Pisaq, together with an expert guide speaking to them in their native Quechua language. This also allowed the opportunity never before afforded them, to have these experiences which are so much a part of their native culture and heritage, but never before made available to them due to their economic and geographical limitations.

San Pedro Church – Andahuaylillas / 9:00am

This is the main church in the city Homonima, whose altar and pulpit, in the Baroque style, are both made of wood in keeping with the artistic style of the time of its construction. Inside of the church, the Ausaray children learned the importance of the Baroque style in their history and the majesty of the art of the temple itself.

Piquillaqta / 11:00 am

As part of the enormous cultural wealth that Cusco holds, known mostly for its Incan past and its’ emblematic heritage of Machu Picchu, Piquillacta stands out as one of the best-preserved pre-Inca citadels in Peru.
The children of the “Inca Tupac Yupanqui” school were most impressed by what was a Wari city within its archaeological structure, learning about its’ past role as an administrative, economic, religious and political center.

Pisaq / 2:30 pm

Pisaq is the archaeological site where the science of agriculture and ceremony were practiced, intertwining these with the realities of daily life, this group of children enjoyed and identified with the history that preceded them and they were able to relive the unique value of their cultural heritage.
The children of Inka Tupac Yupanqui elementary school felt very grateful for the opportunity to expand their horizons by going to places so far from home and normally out of the reach of possibility for them. They were so pleased by the tour, and their sweet smiles grace the many photos we took and took with them not only the memories that we shared, but also an experience of a lifetime for many of them.

“The teaching that leaves its mark is not that which is done from head to head, but from heart to heart. Howard g. Hendricks