Follow on Google News News By Tag Industry News News By Location Country(s) Industry News
Follow on Google News |  Holiday Llama Trek in Peru Offers Rare Glimpse of Sacred Rites of Ancient PeopleThe Lares Valley, also known as ‘The Last Place of Inca Survivors,’ is a less-traveled path through the Sacred Valley. To make the trek with llamas is to follow in the steps of a great civilization in a way that leaves minimal impact on the land.
By: Widness & Wiggins PR 
Traditional trekking in Peru with llamas as porters The Lares Llama Trek that concludes with a visit to Machu Picchu is regularly priced before the discount at $4,225 per person for a group size of two to four participants, or $3,592 for five to eight people. http://www.llamaexpeditions.com/ “The Lares Valley, also known as ‘The Last Place of Inca Survivors,’ is a less-traveled path through the Sacred Valley,” explains Llama Expeditions founder Diane Valenti. “To make the trek with llamas, the camel-like beasts of burden of the Incas, is to follow in the steps of a great civilization in a way that leaves minimal impact on the land.” The small group trip will demonstrate how using llamas for pack animals supports and honors the traditional way of life of the indigenous people of the Andes. “They create less wear and tear on the trail. Llamas have soft feet like cats, so they have less of an impact on the trail than horses and mules,” says Valenti. The trip begins in Lima on Christmas Day before moving to colonial Cusco and nearby Inca ruins. On New Year’s Eve surrounded by Inca homes in Ollantaytambo there’s a traditional celebration planned. On New Year’s Day guests will explore Machu Picchu before returning to Lima the next day. The New Year's Eve celebration dinner is a traditional dinner of guinea pig (cuy), trout ceviche, lechon (suckling pig) and vegetables with a vegetarian option of Rocoto Relleno (stuffed peppers). There will also be a special ceremony with a local shaman to make traditional offerings to the new year. As Valenti explains it, “In the cosmology of the Andes, all life is perceived as one grand, infinite ceremony. Because physical survival is so hard in the high mountains, life is experienced as a true gift to be lived, not a problem to be solved. The Pago a la Tierra (Payment to the Earth) ceremony involves the Andean practice of making offerings to the mountains (apus), Mother Earth (Pachamama), and other spirits of nature in reciprocity, reverence, and thanksgiving.” Among other activities during the trek there will be a visit to Kausay Wasi Clinic in Coya in the Sacred Valley. The clinic caters to the Quechua people living in the Andes. Doctors speak Quechua and the clinic offers a wide range of services from surgery to dentistry. Here guests will assist in delivering medical supplies. See: http://www.kausaywasi.org/ Llama Expeditions offers a range of guided tours through Peru, from sightseeing to multi-day hikes along the Inca Trail. In addition to taking in the stunning scenery and experiencing true adventure, these tours also allow travelers to make a personal connection to the country and its people. “The company fills the spot between responsible tourism and voluntourism,” About Llama Expeditions Entrepreneur and outdoorswoman Diane Valenti hatched the idea for her company in 2008 over a home-cooked chicken dinner at close to 14,000 feet in the Peruvian Andes. She has been able to apply her over 20 years as a business consultant working with clients such as Genentech, Nike, and Starbucks Coffee Company to her enterprise that goes beyond just ordinary tourism. Llama Expeditions tours offer full cultural immersion giving guests the opportunity to see how Peruvians live—to talk with them about their dreams and accomplishments and to learn about the challenges they face. Interactions with nonprofit and grassroots organizations are also woven into the itinerary when possible giving participants the chance to experience the difference gifts of healthy food, school supplies, clothing, or sunglasses can make in the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. Llama Expeditions is a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association and the International Ecotourism Society. For more information email info@llamaexpeditions.com or call (415) 553-7731. For photos and/or more information on Llama Expeditions, please contact: Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / sara@widnesspr.com Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / dave@travelnewssource.com Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/ Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ End
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Account Phone Number