The revolt of Túpac Amaru II

Born José Gabriel Condorcanqui in 1742, he was the great-grandson of the last Inca emperor Túpac Amaru. Like his great-grandfather before him, he was destined to resist the Spanish occupation, and, like his great-grandfather before him, was destined to meet the same fate.

July 29, 2009 | Commentary/Opinion, Modern Peru

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The Chuño – Dehydrated Potato of the Andes

The Chuño (or tunta) has fed families in Peru’s altiplano for more than seven thousand years. Today, with the growth in popularity of Novoandina food, the humble chuño has been thrust to the forefront of Peru’s gastronomic scene.

September 1, 2008 | Peruvian Food

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Quechua

It is often considered to be the language of the Incas, invented by them and spread across the Andes. The truth is that this family of languages is much older, far more diverse and far more interesting than you imagined.

August 21, 2008 | Modern Peru

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Qoyllur Rit’i

An event which attracts over 10,000 people each year, mostly local Quechua and Aymara people, Qoyllur Rit’i is a Catholic tradition wholly invented by the indigenous in the 18th Century. This religious experience, rather than being violently imposed on them from Europe, belongs completely to them and is gaining popularity among outsiders.

June 23, 2008 | Cusco Guide, Modern Peru

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Chullpas of Sillustani

At the shores of Lake Umayo, a small lake not 20km from Lake Titicaca, still stand the ancient funerary towers of Sillustani. Thought to be built by Aymara-speaking people called the Colla, they could show the origin of Inca architecture – a westward movement and evolution of Tiahuanaco technology. Whatever the case, the chullpas as they are known, stand out beautifully on the landscape of Puno’s bleak antiplano.

October 27, 2006 | Archaeology, Puno & Titicaca Guide

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The Yavarí

The oldest ship on the highest navigable lake in the world, the Yavarí floats on the waters of Titicaca as it has done for nearly 150 years.

Built in England in 1862, it comprises of 2,766 pieces that arrive in Arica – then southern Peru – to begin the long journey by hundreds of mules to Lake Titicaca to be reassembled.

The Yavarí was discovered in a state of disrepair over a decade ago by a British woman from a family with a maritime background named Meriel Larken. On learning the ship’s history she founded The YAVARI Project and charity to restore it. Work is still under way but progressing.

October 26, 2006 | Modern Peru, Puno & Titicaca Guide

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Puno

Puno is a rather bleak former mining city that hugs the shores of Lake Titicaca. It is believed that from here, Manco Cápac – the first Inca king and direct descendent of the Sun – rose from the lake with his sister to found the Inca Empire.
The people here are both Aymara and Quechua, the Aymaras concentrated mostly to the south and east and Quechuas to the north and west.

October 26, 2006 | Music, Puno & Titicaca Guide

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