Skip to main content

Quechua of the Andes

The Quechua are the original mountain highlands dwellers. Their traditions and beliefs have survives Inca domination, Spanish conquests, and the beginning influences of modern technology. Throughout the region, Quechua is the first language spoken and traditional costumes are still woven on backstrap looms and worn at the markets. Many Quechua make their living by farming maize and coca in the valleys or potatoes and quinoa in the higher altitudes, while other families herd llamas and alpacas on the cold windy Puna.

Walk through the narrow, coobbled streets of any village and you'll spot Quechua men by the large, patterned, fringed ponchos draped over their shoulders, their heads topped by matching tasseled cloths beneath big, cone-shape, felt hats. Knee-length pants are held uo with a wide, woven belt that often has a local motif - such as the famous mountain train. Despite the cold, men usually wear rubber sandals, often fashioned from old tires.

Quechua women´s attire is equally bright, with modern knit sweaters and a flouncing, patterned skirt over several petticoats (added for both warmth and puff). Instead of a poncho, women wear an aguayo, a length of saronglike fabric that can be tied into a sling for carrying a baby or market goods, or wrapped around their shoulders for warmth. Hats for the women differ from village to village; some wear black-felt caps with neon fringe and elaborate patterns of sequins and beads, whereas others wear a plain brown-felt derby. Women also wear rubber sandals for walking and working in the fields, but often go barefoot at home.

The Morochuco are a unique group of formely nomadic Quechua who live near Ayacucho on the Pampas de Cangallo. They have light skin and blue eyes, and , unlike other Quechua, many Morochuco men wear beards. Cattle breeding and horse training are the main occupations. Renowned for their fearlessness and strenght, the Morochuco fought for Peru´s independence on horseback with Simón Bolívar, and local lore has it that they are the descendents of the army of Diego de Almagro, a Spanish hero killed by Pizarro.

The Morochuco are first-rate horseback riders-women and children included-who use their swiftness and agility to round up bulls on the highland pampas. Women ride in long skirts and petticoats, whereas men don thick wool tights and dark ponchos. Both men and women wear chullos, a wool hat with ear flaps, beneath a felt hat tied under the chin with a red sash.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Inca Trail Permits and Alternative treks to Machu Picchu

Inca Trail Do I need to book it in advance ? The  Inca Trail Tours ,  Alternative treks to Machu Picchu has departures 100% guaranteed, but Machu Picchu and Inca Trail permits, train tickets, local flights, hotels and entrances to Huayna Picchu Mountain are subjet to availability! For that reason, we HIGHLY recommend booking it well in advance to ensure you receive exactly what you want!! No More Permits for the Inca Trail - Now What? Couldn't get a permit for the Inca Trail? Come back next year! No, there is always an alternative for the Inca Trail that you can do. They're called the alternative Inca Trails, and while it may sound like these hikes aren't as exciting as the classic Inca Trail, that's not true. If you really want to go on the Inca Trail, you should stick to the classic Inca Trail. It's always worth waiting if the permits don't work out this year. For anyone who just wants to get to Machu Picchu and have a great trekking experience, there are...

Discovering Cusco and its Treasures

Cusco is not just a city, it is a doorway to the past of the Inca Empire and one of the most amazing regions of Peru. This corner of the Andes, named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO , keeps within its stone streets, grand landscapes, and old temples, the living heart of one of the most important cultures in pre-Columbian history. In this blog, we invite you to discover the treasures of Cusco , exploring from the mysterious city of Machu Picchu to the towns that still keep the Inca heritage in their daily traditions. We also travel through the colorful markets, the old festivals like Inti Raymi , the unique tastes of its food, and the archaeological sites that can be visited nearby. Every place, every corner of Cusco, tells a story: that of the greatness of a civilization, the fight against the conquest, and the mixing of cultures that today shapes a unique identity. Here, history is not read in books, it is breathed in the air, felt in the ground, and heard in the voices of its peopl...

Machu Picchu Peru: The city above the clouds

Machu Picchu , the impressive ruined city of the Incas in Peru, is definitely worth a visit! The city, which is located at an altitude of 2,430 meters on a mountain, is visited by millions of visitors every year, but what is so fascinating about the world-famous ruin? Pictures can capture moments, and give impressions of an environment. But the actual magic, the historic atmosphere of a place can only be experienced live. Machu Picchu is one of those places where you've seen hundreds of pictures and yet nothing comes close to the real experience of the centuries-old city of the Incas. Machu Picchu in Peru is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and one of South America's top tourist attractions. Up to 2,000 people visit this attraction in Peru every day. I will now tell you what the ruined city in the middle of the mountains is all about and how you can plan a day trip here on your journey. History and Architecture In the 15th century, the Inca - a South American tribe fro...