Cusco's Potato King

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Summary
Experience Details
What You’ll Experience
Where to Meet
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Duration
6 hours
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Number of Guests
1 - 2 guests
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Language
English, Spanish
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Other
Private Experience
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Digital Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Join Julio Hancco, Cusco's Potato King, and explore 350+ potato varieties in their native land. Visit Ancasmarca's archaeological site and uncover tales akin to Noah's Ark. Booked 7 days ahead.

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For each guest that attends this experience, byFood will donate
10 meals

Experience Details

You will meet Julio Hancco known to be The Potato King. Peru was the birthplace of potatoes. You can find over 3,000 varieties of native tubers. Julio has dedicated his life to preserving over 350 varieties. With him you will learn the amazing work that goes behind a delicious native potato chip. On the way to Julio's house we will stop in the archaeological site of Ancasmarca and discover how the tale of that place resembles the Noah's Ark story. Since this experience takes you off the grid -there is no internet connection nor phone signal in the community we will visit- we'll need extra time to arrange it so please book at least seven days in advance. This experience is great for curious and adventurer travelers.

Sample Menu

MAIN
Trout with potatoes and salad

What You Get

Roundtrip transportation between Calca and Pampa Corral, farm visit with the Hancco family
Lunch
Snacks
Personal Expenses

Good To Know

  • Please kindly indicate it to the special requirements at the time of booking if you have dietary requirements.  
  • Is not recommended for handicapped travelers because there will be a mountain hike.
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers

What You’ll Experience

Journey with us through thousands of years of agricultural brilliance, as we explore the rich history of the potato, or "papas," a treasured heritage of the Andean people, domesticated over 8,000 years ago. The Andes, home to over 3,000 varieties of tubers, showcase a diversity far beyond the standard "white" potato most people are familiar with today. Our goal is for you to experience this area’s most meaningful crop in unique settings while connecting with the people behind it. The tour will start at the Andean Alliance office in Calca. Here we’ll learn more about their projects and try some of their coffee. Next we’ll head up the Lares Valley, stopping at Ancasmarca to have a snack and stretch our legs, and then continuing on to Pampa Corral to the home of Julio Hancco. Julio shares his passion for protecting potato biodiversity and shows us his day-to-day from planting to harvesting and of course, eating potatoes. We’ll enjoy a fresh mountain lunch prepared by his wife Rosa before heading back to Calca. Because this amazing experience takes you off the grid and away from civilization, we'll need extra time to arrange it. Please book at least seven days in advance.

Start Time

Start Time / Opening Hours
21/08/2025 - 31/12/2025
MONDAY
-
THURSDAY
09:30 - 15:30
FRIDAY
09:00 - 15:30
SATURDAY
09:30 - 15:30
SUNDAY
09:00 - 15:30

Meeting & Pickup

Meeting Point

The Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development/ Alianza Andina, Prolongación Ucayali, Calca Cuzco, Peru, PE, 08121

Open in Google Maps
Prol. Ucayali No. 417, Calca 08121 - From the Municipality of Calca head 30m west toward Av. Espinar and turn left onto Av. Espinar and walk 50 meters then turn right walk 90m toward Prol. Ucayali and turn right onto Prol. Ucayali. Walk another 130m and you will find the The Andean Alliance .
End Point

This experience ends at the meeting point.

Cancellation Policy

All bookings are final. Once the host confirms the experience, cancellations by the guest will incur a 100% charge.

from  $160.76 
Book Now
Please note that the time is in Peru Standard Time.
All bookings are final. Cancellations by the guest will incur a 100% charge.
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Adult
(13 - 80)
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(4 - 12)
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Earliest available date: August 21, 2025
from  $160.76  per guest
Book Now
Please note that the time is in Peru Standard Time.
All bookings are final. Cancellations by the guest will incur a 100% charge.
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For each guest that attends this experience, byFood will donate
10 meals