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I have always considered myself lucky for the different places I have lived and the different people I have met along the way. I was born in the hustling bustling city of Seoul, South Korea, lived among the endless green pastures of Wisconsin for a year, lived in an apartment in Toronto, Canada for three years, and finally settled with the cows and trees in a small Connecticut town called Mansfield by the grand age of nine.
Sometimes, when you’re doing volunteer work or and internship, especially in a place like Cusco, you think you might not have time for everything, but you do!
There are a lot of popular places you can visit while in Cusco, such as the Salt Mines of Maras, the Sacred Valley, Rainbown Mountain, and many more. But if you’re a volunteer that’s looking for a more authentic experience in a remote Andean community, then this is the place.
Pacchanta, the last town you see before you head for the Ausangate trek but it is worth visiting for those who don’t have time for the the full trek. It is a very small community located near the base of the Ausangate glacier. If you cannot take a week from your volunteer project, then you can spend a weekend there, hike throug the seven lakes that the area is famous for and even enjoy some hot springs.
Do you want to know how to get there? Keep reading!
Note: This article was published in 2019, travel methods and costs may have changed since then. If you want to visit Pacchanta we recommend speaking with a member of the Proyecto Peru team for up to date travel advice.