FAQ RUTA INKA 2016
• What is Ruta Inka?
Different indigenous communities have recognized Ruta Inka as its Cultural Embassy towards the World due to its mission of calling altruistic participants who, even after the expedition, continue representing indigenous people’s interests and increasing the international awareness on these ancestral cultures. For the best performance of this responsibility, Ruta Inka develops an active learning method for participants to directly learn from the indigenous wisdom which is not usually taught in the academic spheres.
This ensures that participants can complement their academic education, not only by learning the conqueror’s history but also discovering the conquered one. In any case, young people coming from different countries and continents may have their own ideas about what is Ruta Inka for them. Some called us "a University for Life", others "the Laboratory of Dreams". If you want to get your own definition, your best bet is to participate in our next expedition and discover it by yourself.
• How many expeditions has Ruta Inka organized?
Ruta Inka was born on 21 June 2000, since then we have organized 12 expeditions with more than 1,000 participants from all over the World. Not all of them have been the same, most of them were a success and in others we experienced some difficulties (excessively long itineraries, insufficient budget due to very low fees and so on). But every expedition has been a great ‘school for life’ and we have made a great progress learning from previous experiences and always focusing on the areas to be improved.
• What is different this year from previous editions?
The main difference is that this year there will be four simultaneous expeditions that will be inaugurated on June 21 in the four administrative regions of the ancient Tahuantinsuyo, and finishing in Machu Pichu (Cusco, Peru) to celebrate together the Pachamama Day on August 1. The Collasuyo expedition will start in the Salar de Uyuni, with the support of the Bolivian Armed Forces. The Chinchaysuyo expedition will begin in the Middle of the World (Quito - Ecuador) under the coordination of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana and accompanyed by Ecuador TV. The Contisuyo expedition will start in the Region of Arica Parinacota (Northern Chile), under the coordination of the Association of Municipalities of Tarapaca and Arica Parinacota. And the Antisuyo expedition, will start its journey in the city of Rio Branco (State of Acre – Brazilian Amazon).
• What are the admission criteria for this new expedition?
The admission criteria are set out in our Selection Basis. Those interested can fill in the Pre-screening Form. If they are preselected, then we continue to the accreditation process and we will require from them a Cover Letter, a Letter of Recommendation and their personal information (CV, copy of passport…). Monographs can be submitted after candidates being selected, given that they will be reviewed by a committee of our sponsors and different representatives for a possible publication and/or award. What is important is that applicants submit proposals for the success of the expedition. All participants should contribute with their artistic, literary, academic or logistical skills bringing support to the expedition to make it a success and a memory for a lifetime.
• What are the admission criteria for former participants?
We will take into account the candidate’s personal engagement with Ruta Inka’s objectives. Candidates will expose their valuable contributions made for the benefit of the expedition since their participation, and prove their links with the organization and its values (disseminating the call for applications, assisting the coordination team to achieve the objectives…). For this group there is no age limit.
• Do we admit participants over the age limit?
In the case of artists, journalists, academics and United Nations bodies and international organizations professionals, the maximum age of participation is 50 years. For students the age limit is 26 years old. There might be exceptions if they submit truly valuable contribution proposals, and if in addition to current requirements, the applicant is recommended by a former participant of our trust.
• There will be an academic program to meet by the participants?
We have always had the objective of developing our expeditions with the characteristics of an itinerant academy of ancestral wisdom. Some years our itinerary has been very extensive and it has made it difficult to coordinate all activities to detail, especially workshops and other academic actions. In this new stage, there is a better coordination and interaction with local governments’ efforts since each expedition is led by different countries’ authorities that are adopting the appropriate measures to ensure an impeccable development and to successfully culminate under its coordination in Machu Picchu on the 1st August. In addition, we won’t accept applicants with very low registration fees proposals (only exceptionally) to be able to admit professors, journalists, artists or other professionals experienced in indigenous issues.
• How much is the participation fee?
Applicants shall include a reasonable fee proposal considering 42 days of meals and transport and 41 nights of accommodation in their application forms. The funds will be managed in a transparent and reliable way under the organization’s criteria. What we seek is that solidarity and generosity of those who have more resources to enable the participation of low-income candidates with an outstanding profile, especially those from indigenous origin.
• Is there a minimum fee for participation?
We will exceptionally accept a minimum fee of US$ 550 (this includes the expedition’s counselors, outstanding students and young leaders, and low-income participants). Journalists can pay a lower fee or even receive free admission if they are accredited by their respective media and committed to cover the expedition.
In the remaining cases and as a general rule, we gently evaluate the circumstances case-by-case to make each participation viable, provided enough resources to develop the expedition under decent and fair conditions and not being obliged to cancel any activities or visits due to the lack of budget. Unfortunately, transport represents the highest cost and carriers tend to raise their rates in high season, which coincides with the completion of the expedition.
• How much is the participation fee?
We will exceptionally accept a minimum fee of US$ 550 (this includes the expedition’s counselors, outstanding students and young leaders, and low-income participants). Journalists can pay a lower fee or even receive free admission if they are accredited by their respective media and committed to cover the expedition.
In the remaining cases and as a general rule, we gently evaluate the circumstances case-by-case to make each participation viable, provided enough resources to develop the expedition under decent and fair conditions and not being obliged to cancel any activities or visits due to the lack of budget. Unfortunately, transport represents the highest cost and carriers tend to raise their rates in high season, which coincides with the completion of the expedition.
• Which airports do we recommend for arrival and return?
We recommended participants to arrive before the 20 June, since 21 June is a sacred day and ceremonies begin at the sunrise. Participants of the Chinchaysuyo expedition (starting from Ecuador) should be ready to start from Quito, the ones participating in the Collasuyo expedition (starting from Bolivia) should be in Uyuni on the night of 20 June and must take into account that this town is 12 hours away by road from La Paz, so please be aware of that to get to the meeting point on time; those involved in the expedition of Contisuyo, must be in Arica (border town with Peru), on the night of 20 June, the closest airports are Chacalluta of Arica, or Tacna airport (Peru) an hour away to Arica by road. Finally, participants of the Antisuyo expedition must arrive at the city of Rio Branco, they can get there taking the Interoceanic road from Cusco or São Paulo, or directly flying to Rio Branco International Airport (It is pertinent to note that we are waiting for the final confirmation of Governor Tião Viana's support, since various officials of the Government of Acre have expressed their willingness to support us, but we are still lacking the written support of the Governor of Acre (to be confirmed in the coming weeks). The four expeditions will close on August 1, so participants can book their return tickets from August 3, leaving from Cusco Airport.
• Is it possible to participate for a period shorter than the 42 days of the expedition?
We will facilitate students who cannot attend the whole expedition to attend just a part of it in which case their participation fees will be proportionally reduced. In the case of artists, journalists, professors and United Nations bodies and international organizations professionals, they can participate for a shorter period. Artists are expected to be present at the Pachamama/Mother Earth festival on August 1 in Machu Picchu.
• What has been planned for this year’s itinerary?
Following its inauguration in Salar de Uyuni and before heading back to Bolivia through Tarija, the Collasuyo expedition will visit Quebrada de Humahuaca (Argentina), and then continue to Potosi, Sucre, Cochabamba, Oruro, La Paz, to finally enter in Peru through Puno and culminating the journey in Cusco, Machu Picchu. After visiting several ancient villages in the Chilean Regions of Tarapaca and Arica Parinacota, the Contisuyo expedition, will enter Peru from Tacna, continuing to Moquegua, Arequipa (Colca Canyon), Ica (Nazca Lines), Ayacucho (Pampa Galeras), Apurimac and Choquequirao to finally arrive at Cusco and visit Machu Picchu. The Chinchaysuyo expedition after its inauguration in the Middle of the World - Quito, will visit several towns in the provinces of Pichincha, Imbabura, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Morona Santiago, Cañar, Azuay, El Oro and Loja, entering Peru on July 11 to visit the regions of Piura, Lambayeque, Cajamarca, La Libertad, Ancash, Huanuco, Pasco, Junin, Ayacucho, Apurimac and Cusco. As soon as we have confirmation of the Governor of Acre, we will establish the final itinerary of the Antisuyo expedition, our plan is to visit the indigenous peoples of the State of Acre, entering Peru by the Region of Madre de Dios to discover the Lake Titicaca and then visit the Manu National Park at Paucartambo province. After visiting some of the best locations of the Cusco province we will conclude the expedition celebrating the Pachamama Day together with the rest of the groups at the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, one the seven wonders of the modern world.
• Do we need to learn Ruta Inka’s songs?
When Groups arrive to the different municipalities, participants should not behave as mere spectators, just receiving the facilities that they offer to us, instead of that, we are expected to contribute and promote a rich cultural exchange of knowledge and experiences by presenting theatrical performances, musicals, conferences or/and dance presentations. In this context, it might be a good idea to sing Ruta Inka’s songs, profiting the opportunity to thank the artists who created them with the aim of promoting the Ruta Inka’s goals.
It seems that we will be accompanied by several artists so we will be able to dazzle the locals and show them that there is much talent in our groups. We will also promote learning the Hymn of Cusco in Quechua, the language of the Incas. As mentioned before, participants are expected to put forth their greatest effort and show a genuine interest in local cultures, and Quechua language; the ones standing out in doing so, will enjoy preferential access to the lost city of Machu Picchu (admission is very restricted due to the amount of tourists because we will arrive in the peak season).
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