Raqchi Immersive Travel in Cusco

The town of Raqchi is 3550 meters above sea level and 120 km from Cusco; it does reach following the route to Juliaca and Puno. It belongs to the district of San Pedro, Province of Canchis, on the right bank of the Vilcanota River. The Raqchi community comprises eighty families dedicated to agriculture, ceramics, and experiential tourism. The project of experiential tourism emerged as a necessity. The tourist flow that arrived at the Inca group had a favorable impact on the community. Hence, the project and the archaeological visit are closely related.

The exciting thing is that this visit is enhanced by the guidance of the local youths, who describe the Inca remains from the perspective of the local villager, a historical participant.

The raquiños mostly have higher education; this feature, which strengthens self-esteem, has been crucial for enhancing traditional resources. Raqchi’s experience project aims to recover traditional clothing, pottery, food, and language.

The concept of Raqchi is to transform the community into a living museum where the visitor can penetrate authentic aspects of the Quechua culture. The families provide food to the visitor, with dishes of traditional gastronomy based on ingredients such as corn, potatoes, ollucos, beans, peas, tarwi, quinoa, and wheat, all produced in their plots.

During dinner, minor parties are created in which they sing and dance to the rhythm of the Asispayana and the Cashua, something unforgettable.

The Andean p of Raqchi organized a lovely walk to an extinct volcano called Kinsachata, one of its local apus. The walk is short, passing first by a viewpoint from where you get a magnificent view of the town and the temple. Then the wall is crossed, and among capulí trees, you reach the volcano’s crater in the middle of the singing of the mountain turtle doves. The potters always supply sand that gives the pieces a unique resistance and quality.

On their way back, the women invite the travelers to a delicious country lunch sprinkled with chicha or muña de mate.
Travelers can learn the process of making ceramic pieces in the village of Raqchi and even participate in it. Raqchi’s have been ceramists since time immemorial, and from there come the famous rachis, large deposits to store chicha.
Archaeological Complex of Raqchi

It dates from the XV century and is among the chroniclers’ most daring Inca constructions.

The temple to Viracocha is a masterpiece of stone and mud architecture. It is rectangular, 92 meters long by 25 meters wide. What impresses me most is a central wall 12 meters high, with a stone base and adobe body.

The bases of 22 cylindrical columns on the sides of the wall are appreciated; it also contains rooms for the Inca nobility. The Inca Trail of the Collasuyo cuts an imposing wall that surrounds Raqchi. Also, the Qolqas, or deposits of foods, should be emphasized, and a ceremonial altar should be attached to water sources. The Inca Trail crosses to the west of the monument.