Cusco — our first scouting trip

Cusco from the rooftops!

For those of you who are following our Pioneer submission, we are Dastaan — a subscription box that seeks to provide you with a taste of the your next travel destination. Each box will contain something unique from the area to stimulate each one of your senses to paint a picture of what it would be like to go there. Our test box is going to be for Peru and this is our journey!

When people conjure up images of Peru, they usually think of llamas, colourful textiles, ladies with their petticoats and glossy braids, Macchu Picchu (and other Incan ruins). These are all images of Andean culture of Quechua speaking people living in and around Cusco, the imperial capital of the once-vast Incan empire.

So why not start with one of the most iconic destinations in the country? At 3,399m/11,152ft above sea level, Cusco is the launchpad for most adventures to Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) and the surrounding area.

Let’s start with some fun facts that I learned from my friend Gabi, who is from Cusco.

1. Tupac Shakur, the legendary rapper and most recently incarnated as a 3D version of himself at Coachella, was actually named after Túpac Amaru II, the fearless leader of an Andean uprising against the Spanish in the 18th century. He was from the Cusco area and is an icon of the struggle for indigenous rights.
2. Quechua is perhaps most commonly known for backpackers around the world as the brand of choice for outdoorsy French tourists. But more importantly, it refers to the ethnic groups and the family of languages spoken by the Andean community around Cusco but its range extends into Bolivia, Ecuador and to a significantly lesser extent, Colombia, Chile and Argentina. Quechua in Quechua is actually Rumasimi. Yet another lovely part of the colonial hangover.
3. Jerky, the staple of roadtrippers and CrossFitters on paleo, actually comes from the Rumasimi word, charki, meaning dried flesh. You’re welcome.

Some other items I found at the markets in and around Cusco!

I first came here more than a decade ago and despite the drastic increase in tourism, Cusco still holds its charms. The Andean culture is incredibly rich weaving together centuries of tradition. The textiles they create weaves a story that encompasses an entire lifestyle and tradition — llamas are reared, sheared and their wool is woven into beautiful, colourful textiles. The design of the textiles reflect the graphical and geometric style of their Incan ancestors. Andean music is ethereal and folksy at the same time .

I’ve assembled a collection of items that tell the story of this rich heritage and things that form the basis of our inspiration for our test box. The plan is for each item to come with a little description and its cultural significance.

Sample of what we think would be fun to have in

1. See — Rich Textiles

The textiles form such a huge part of the visual impact of the experience in Cusco. The box itself would have elements of the geometric designs of the local textiles. We also really liked the coaster since they actually have a functional purpose as well!

2. Touch — Llama Wool

These baby fluffy llamas that I found in the markets were just too cute to resist! Not to mention that they are super soft. I mean how could we not include one of these delightful icons of the Andes! Llamas are an integral part of the traditional way of life — though sometimes nowadays, they are also used to entertain tourists. They are important pack animals at these altitudes and incredibly social animals to boot.

3. Hear — Pan Flute

The variations on the pan flute is a ubiquitous part of the ethereal folk music of the Andes. Picture condors flying in the mountain-scape — that’s what it sounds like. Not to mention they would be fun for the recipient to receive a version and start playing with it.

The story of my life in Cusco — damn altitude!

4. Smell — Palo Santo

Indigenous to the region and something that fascinated the Spanish when they arrived. They were believed to have mystical properties, getting rid of la mala energía and sanctify your household. Besides, it has a unique “love it or hate it” smell, so like most experiences of traveling abroad — you’ll find some things you like and some things you’ll probably are going to say “no gracias, but glad I tried it”.

5. Taste — Salt from the salt terraces of Maras

Maras salt terraces at sunset.

Peruvian food is known worldwide for its unique taste and just plain deliciousness. It’s hard to export the culinary experiences (I mean Lima has the three of the top 50 best restaurants in the world) but equally chichi and unique is the pink salt from the terraces of Maras. Each “block” belongs to a local family and the water comes directly from underground sources. Impress your date/family/friends at your next dinner extravaganza!

So that’s it for this week — stay tuned for next week! Please leave your comments below on what you think about what we found so far — would be great to hear from you.