QUILLABAMBA (rainforest)

Quillabamba

3 Days · 3 Nights

Quillabamba means “the place of the moon” in Quechua. From the highlands of the Andes, we travel into the lush rainforest of Cusco, where the unique Chuncho Cacao grows in close relationship with the communities who preserve its knowledge at more than 1,000 meters above sea level.

This marks the beginning of an intimate encounter with the origins of cacao and its people. We enter the lands of the Matsigenka Nation to connect with Sariguemineki - cacao in Matsigenka.

Your experience includes:

• Guided visit to organic cacao plantations in the Cusco rainforest, within Matsigenka territory.
• A holistic exploration of Chuncho cacao, from tree to pod to ceremony. Discover its genetics, diversity, sensory qualities, cultural significance of this native cacao of Cusco. 
• Sensory exploration and cacao ceremony, experiencing this remarkable cacao through taste, aroma, body, culture, and connection to its place of origin. Pilgrimage to the Illapani waterfall and traditional offering, connecting with waters of the region.
• Sustainable chocolate-making and cacao-derived products with José Luis, an internationally recognized cacao producer and Cacao of Excellence award winner.
• Explore responsible practices for transforming cacao while honoring its origin and value.
• Stay 3 days at a beautiful ecological hotel surrounded by rainforest and waterfalls.

This is an opportunity to experience cacao where it begins, in the landscape, biodiversity, and communities that give it life.