Quebrada de Humahuaca: rural tourism and deeper experiences

The fragrance of the tortillas escapes from the clay oven of the Finca Las Flores. Among the arid mountains of
Puna JujeñaKevin Flores prepares a mbad of empanadas while his sister Yanina undertakes spinning tasks in the ancestral pushka tool used for this trade. A flock of llamas waits in the corral for pasture time. "I'm used to it here.When I go to town to visit my children, I miss my little flames.But I live alone, that's why I like to receive visitors and share my days. ", explains her mother, Flora Calpanchay, with a drawn smile. as soon as a group of tourists arrives home, 5 kilometers from the town of El Moreno, Tumbaya Department,

Jujuy

(11 km south of the national road 52).

Travelers contacted
Peoples of origin, a social enterprise that intends to incorporate local communities into the tourism industry to provide an intercultural experience in Quebrada de Humahuaca and its surroundings.

A grain of crack is woven in Flora's hands, which arouses the attention with which she will entertain the guests. The temperature is overwhelming. However, inside the walls of adobe, you feel an enveloping freshness.

Inés Sanguinetti is one of six people who participated in the four-day activities designed to improve the culture and worldview of indigenous peoples. "I am convinced that this experience will be transformative, both for me and for the entrepreneurs, which is why I was excited to be part of it," he said.

At the moment when the shadow is hidden, the tourists accompany Flora to walk along the flames until they get lost in the desert landscape.

Maria Cherñajovsky – the fashion designer known as Maria Cher – has also joined the experience. The image after lunch becomes a profession where ancestral knowledge is linked to avant-garde urban design. Flora and her daughter present her with natural dyes that they sell in the Puna network – which includes the Puna knitting organizations – and the nylon molds made by the ponchos. On a sheet of paper, Maria draws patterns as a suggestion for her future products.

This project helps local entrepreneurs in various aspects, such as generating sources of work and resources; in the transmission of ancestral values ​​and helps to prevent them from leaving their lands to migrate to the city.

The members of the society are four members of the original cities: Rene Calpanchay – originally Atacameño -, Clemente Flores and Celestina Ávalos – originally Coya – and Balbín Aguaysol – Diaguita Calchaqui-; and four urban professionals: Jorge Gronda – doctor of Jujeño -, Diego Noriega -santiagueño, founder of Alamaula-, Pablo Simón Casarino – Bolivian entrepreneur, Pablo Saubidet – president, president of iPlan-.

"The platform points to a new model of community-based development, community entrepreneurs offer immersive and participative experiences, and our trading partners have the technological knowledge to achieve a better positioning of our company on the market." he explains. René Calpanchay.

Various participatory experiences

The project includes a total of 22 experiences ranging from weaving (US $ 750 per person) to lunch at the mountain (US $ 2,000), a raid on leather work (US $ 700), a pottery workshop (US $ 1,600), a ceremony of Andean Fires with dinner and ancestral songs ($ 2600), nocturnal walks ($ 750), tea ceremony ($ 500), etc.

The entrepreneurs – about 30 – are connected in a circuit by the Quebrada. Tourists can choose to hire a particular excursion or packages including transfers, accommodation, gastronomy, badistance to travelers, etc. for the number of days each traveler wants.

"According to the place where the experience takes place, we work with hotels in the area, among them the Espacio Purmamarca in Purmamarca, the Posada El Capricho in Seclantás and the Posada AguaySol in Amaicha del Sol. His own account ", explains René Calpanchay.

Celestina Ávalos is another host entrepreneur. A variety of ceramic bowls with natural herbs perches on a table in your home in Tumbaya City. "Muña Muña is the grbad of love, said my grandmother.Richard Rica is helpful in case of a stomach ache," he says, while guests take what they say. they want to drink in infusion. Following the instructions of the hostess, Maria is responsible for kneading the yeast for bread and Ines' donuts. "It reminds me of my grandmother leaning over the counter humming a song that she then paused to gently cut the apples off the mix," he says.

When Celestina talks about her job, her eyes shine: "Why am I doing this? Because conveying my love for cooking and what my grandmothers have taught me makes me feel that I will always be alive, what is not shared dies with one, "he says.

In this sense, this tourist company offers the exchange of an authentic experience through a value built through the cultural wealth of those who carry the heritage of their ancestors on Earth.

In addition, the business network is made up of other local entrepreneurs who collaborate directly or indirectly with the project. The ingredients used at the Celestina tea ceremony are produced by different local producers.

"Through Original Peoples, I received a visit from a woman from France with whom we have woven so many links that she ended up staying twenty days at home," adds Celestina, who , in addition to being a cook, is a mother, a farmer, a fighter, a leader and a defender of the rights of indigenous peoples and the lands of the community that he represents.

Kevin has also experienced a transformation by joining this company. He began studying to become a chef and became the first member of the family to finish his career.

"I was an activist from the Susques community until I realized that to think about evolving we need to generate new entrepreneurs and work together on an equal footing, for the same purpose because we all belong to this house called World.In these lands, you lift a stone and I found an authentic experience.Today, travelers from all over the world are looking to live this type of meeting ", explains René Calpanchay.

"These types of experimental projects are a global trend and
Argentina is no exception. At the national level, there are already about 70 peasant and indigenous initiatives, "says Ramiro Ragno, a reference in the Argentine Community Rural Tourism Network.

Contact

[email protected] and comercial @ original villages.com, by phone, 11 1562688000; www.pueblosoriginales.com