COMMUNITY-BASED RURAL TOURISM AND HOME-BASED TOURISM - Q'ESWACHAKA

Project objectives:

• End poverty in all its forms.Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all people regardless of age.Ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education; promote lifelong learning opportunities for people.Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work.Develop sustainable, reliable and quality infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being.

• Community-based Rural Tourism is any tourism activity that takes place in rural areas, in a planned and sustainable manner, based on the participation of local inhabitants organized for the benefit of the community. This project focuses on the "Development of a competitive and sustainable tourism offer", as a strategy for the fight against poverty. Therefore, we want to encourage the inhabitants to maintain their traditions, customs and their original way of life. The project "Casa Habitante" aims to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants through experienced tourism and handicrafts, where the inhabitants will participate in these activities.

• Community-based rural tourism is part of the UN-2000 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the UN-2016 Sustainable Development Goals, which include:

• End poverty in all its forms.Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all people regardless of age.Ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education; promote lifelong learning opportunities for people.Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work.Develop sustainable, reliable and quality infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being.

Activities with families

• Walk to the bridgeOffering to the Pachamama (Mother Earth)Workshop on recreation of natural fibers of the bridgeWorkshop on typical local cuisinePresentation of typical clothing and crafts

• The Patronage of Machu Picchu has encouraged this activity in the communities that carry out the celebration of the Inca Bridge of Q'eswachaka, having since 2015 the lodging service in the inhabitant's house. What it includes:

Q'eswachaka Inca Bridge Celebration

"The Spaniards, upon their arrival to the territory of the Tawantinsuyo, were astonished and surprised to find themselves in front of a vast network of Inca roads and within them the quality and variety of the bridges. Special mention should be made of the hanging bridges made of vegetable fiber or straw that caused not only admiration but also recognition of the technology used. This admiration made chroniclers and travelers describe with enthusiasm the Inca work of the hanging bridges of straw. The admirable thing is that the tradition has maintained this millenary technology together with its rituals and the system of community work that makes it possible for us to have the honor of witnessing it, the validity of the intangible culture of the Incas after more than 500 years. The Inca Bridge is located in the Inca Trail. The Inca Bridge is located in the rural community of Huinchiri, in the district of Quehue, province of Canas, Cusco Region.

First day

This day begins with the offering in the middle of a ceremony in favor of the Apu (Sacred Mountain) Quinsallallawi. Meanwhile, the four communities collect in advance the main material qoya ichu. It is in this activity that the Andean woman actively participates, who is in charge of weaving the first rope or qheswa. In the afternoon, the males, divided into two groups, meet on both sides of the bridge and extend the ropes or queswas from end to end that are braided by the chakaruhac (Inca engineer) to build the qheswaska or large braid.

Second day

This day begins by untying the old ropes that are tied to stone nails, which will re-tie the new braids. Once finished, they will begin to pull the ropes from one end to the other. Twisting the ropes takes time, as does tying the wires. Finally, the four thick ropes, which serve as the base, and the two railings or handrails are placed.

Third day

This day concludes with the assembly of the handrails and the surface of the bridge, which will be used for crossing. Once finished, the bridge is opened to the rhythm of music and typical dances of the area.

Festivity

The festival of the relaunching of the Q'eswachaka Bridge takes place every year in June, lasts three days of hard work and concludes on the fourth day with a beautiful festival of indigenous dances performed by the inhabitants of the four communities. Renovating Q'eswachaka involves physically replacing the superstructure, revaluing and demonstrating that there are still many traditions, techniques and ceremonies that have survived the years and shows that our culture is alive.