This May we’re getting global and hitching a ride across the Peruvian Andes to meet and work alongside DIY aficionados just like you.  Travel always awakens our inner adventurer and taps into new wells of our creativity, so we want to invite you with us as we collectively expand our making horizons, exploring a hidden gem of the world where indigenous craft still thrives as a dynamic art form.

That being said, we've decided to host our very first Kollabora expedition which will take place in the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo, Cusco, a UNESCO world heritage site known as the “last living Incan city”.

The Deets:

Who: You; Us; 10 knitters from the Asociación Virgen de Carmento, a self-organized women’s association supporting low-income artisans in the outlying neighborhood of Rumira; Awamaki, our local NGO and non-profit partner; Indigenous weavers and spinners from the Andean highland communities of Huilloc and Patacancha.

Workshop will be maxed at 10 travellers.

What: A cross-cultural tour pairing you with a Rumira knitter to develop a Kollabora knit item using local, hand-spun alpaca yarn.  We trace the entire creation of your project through hands-on engagement: visiting alpaca farms high in the Andes to source fleece, learning to spin fleece into soft yarns, dyeing yarn skeins with native plant dyes alongside Quecha weavers, and studying the local backstrap loom.  You’ll live with one of Awamaki’s host families and eat delicious, hearty Peruvian meals (vegetarian options available), dine at the legendary El Albergue hotel to savor famous Peruvian-fusion cuisine, and visit local museums and Incan ruins.  Transport is provided by motos and a private convi van.  We’ll enjoy one night at a hotel in Cusco and explore the bustling markets and craft stalls there. And of course, our trip will be punctuated by a day at majestic Machu Picchu!

You’ll receive awesome knit kits containing everything you’ll need to get crafty with your artisan partners (yarn, needles, colored pencils, paper, drawing supplies, and a mini dictionary of Spanish knitting terminology), as well as chunky wool skeins to be hand-dyed by you. 

To support this collaborative exploration, Kollabora will be sharing projects of participant designs on our site!  We’ll showcase your work and circulate the ideas you’ve developed in partnership with Rumira artisans amongst Kollabora members. We’re also looking for participants who would be interested in guest blogging about their learnings after the trip.

How:  Our inaugural tour is designed for students, or those who seek a rustic, authentic experience off the beaten path.  To register, please join our Kollabora community and fill out this brief questionnaire.  Bonus points if you upload a personal project to your Kollabora page, so we can get to know you better.

When: May 25th – June 2st,  2013 (9 days).

Price: $1,799

The Fine Print: Price for trip includes all of the above, however does not cover international airfare to/from Cusco, visas, travel or health insurance, tips, and personal purchases. All meals are included through our homestay, except on arrival and departure days.

Download the full trip itinerary here!

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For more info, email Peru@kollabora.com