Patabamba (Peru)

Do you want to learn more about the ancestral Andean traditions and meet the local population? Go to the village of Patabamba, at an altitude of 3,800m on one of the balconies of the Sacred Valley.

I have fond memories of my visit to the village of Andean weavers. We reached Patabamba from Cusco. Once we had arrived in the community of around 200 families, we learned more about the weaving trade that the inhabitants of Patabamba practise. This traditional expertise has been passed from mother to daughter for generations. Our guide explained that women use llama and lamb's wool for their weaving and that the bright colours of the fabrics are obtained from plants and flowers.

In spite of the language barrier (the inhabitants of Patabamba speak Quechua), we felt part of this Andean community. The welcome was warming, inhabitants were smiling. An authentic encounter at the heart of the Andes!