Some places touch you immediately—through their peace, their energy, and the palpable dedication of the people who work there. One such place is the Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary, located about an hour outside of Cusco in the Peruvian Andes.

In March of this year, the Kakao Mischa team had the opportunity to visit this special project in person. Since this year, we have been supporting the sanctuary with our Kakao Mischa Impact Fund. It was all the more beautiful to experience the impact of this support directly on site.

A peaceful place full of respect and care 🙏

From the moment we arrived, it was clear: Cochahuasi is not a zoo. It is a refuge for animals rescued from difficult living conditions, where they are cared for with great patience, respect, and love. During a tour of the grounds, we gained deep insights into the team's work and the animals' stories.

We especially remember the peaceful afternoon spent with the parrots and tortoises that live here in protected areas. Everything feels thoughtful, calm, and focused on the well-being of the animals. 🥰

Condors above our heads – a magical moment

An absolute highlight was the condors that flew majestically over our heads. In Andean culture, condors have a special significance: they are considered sacred animals and a connection between the world of humans and the spiritual world (Hanan Pacha). Experiencing this moment live was deeply moving, powerful, and humbling all at once.

Concrete impact: What the Kakao Mischa Impact Fund made possible 🙌

Thanks to the support from our Impact Fund, important measures were implemented in 2025:

🐢 Improvement of the enclosures for tortoises and Andean geese (huallatas)

🌉 Renovation of the bridge element in the condor enclosure

🌽 Purchase of feed to help support the animals through the beginning of the off-season

These seemingly small things make an enormous difference in the daily life of the sanctuary for the safety, health, and quality of life of the animals.

Our Service-Fee Annie with the parrots

Encounters that connect

A special thanks goes to Dante, our local contact, who made this visit possible for us. Through people like him, genuine connections are formed between projects, cultures, and shared values. We are grateful for this exchange and for an afternoon that will stay with us for a long time.

If you would like to learn more about the sanctuary, you can find further information here: 👉 https://www.cochahuasi.net/

What is the Kakao Mischa Impact Fund?

With the Kakao Mischa Impact Fund, a portion of every order goes directly into social and ecological projects along our supply chain and beyond. Our goal is to take responsibility and support where real change happens—transparently, long-term, and with heart.

👉 Learn more about our Impact Fund and the projects we support here:

https://kakaomischa.de/blogs/kakao-mischa-impact-fund

Thank you for being part of this journey with your cacao. 💛