It's now been a month since I've arrived in Peru, and think it's time to share a little more information about what it is that I'm actually doing here in Lima (not Huancayo, but more on that later). I've begun my work with GEA on a rural community tourism project called "Caminando con el Apu Pariacaca" (walking with the Apu Pariacaca). As I've mentioned before, this project is an attempt to promote community operated tourism in the Nor Yauyos Cochas reserve, located in the central highlands of Peru. GEA is attempting to support the populations of three villages within the reserve, Canchayllo, Tanta, and San Lorenzo de Quinti, as they each endeavor to develop and manage their own rural community tourism operations. GEA's project has been assisting communities with the commercialization of their unique tourism 'product', a task which includes website development and marketing, and with the implementation of community-run systems of tourism management. Ideally, when the project ends in May, each community will be fully equipped with the necessary capacity to sustain their own community tourism operations.
So far, my role has been to gather information to be used in the project's website, and to assist in the management of social media marketing outlets, including facebook, twitter, and youtube. The work has been fairly slow so far, but will likely pick up once I begin the task of translating promotional material. Due to the nature of my work, it was decided that I should stay in Lima for a few months before moving to Huancayo. I will therefore continue to work at GEA's headquarters here in Lima until November, at the earliest. My supervisor Silvia and I are currently in conversation about my future role in the organization, and I may be moving to the reserve in November to work directly with community members on a commercialization project, though this is not yet confirmed due to funding issues.
A week or two ago, I got the chance to travel to the reserve with my coworkers and a group of local journalists. The purpose of this trip was to raise awareness in Lima and throughout Peru of the amazing natural and cultural experience that is the Nor Yauyos Cochas reserve. Here are some highlights:
A week or two ago, I got the chance to travel to the reserve with my coworkers and a group of local journalists. The purpose of this trip was to raise awareness in Lima and throughout Peru of the amazing natural and cultural experience that is the Nor Yauyos Cochas reserve. Here are some highlights:
The trip began in the village of Canchayllo.
We visited a nearby forest of puyos. Puyos (the big spiky plants) are an endangered species, despite the fact that they can live for over 100 years.
Riding horses back into town for lunch
Trucha, or trout, a gastronomic specialty of the Peruvian highlands.
From Canchayllo, we headed over the mountains and across the reserve toward the village of Tanta.
These vicuñas, which are believed to be the wild ancestors of the Alpaca, were a common sighting throughout the trip.
As we approached Tanta, we were greeted with this first sight of the Nevado Apu Pariacaca. In Incan and preIncan mythology, this mountain was the physical manifestation of the Apu Pariacaca, the God of water and rain.
When we finally arrived in Tanta, the local community tourism organization had prepared a traditional dance to greet us with.
Afterwards, the villagers took us to a hill overlooking the Apu Pariacaca, where they performed a demonstration of an ancient ritual used to honour the Apu.
Finally, we arrived at Lake Piticocha, across from the nevado. Here, journalist took pictures while villagers told stories and recited poems about the ancient Apu Pariacaca.
My coworkers, Silvia (right) and Gisela (left), enjoying a photo with a member of Tanta's community tourism organization.
And that was the trip. Thanks for reading.
Dan
