The people of the Andes are the descendants of the Incas, and they still keep some wisdom from their ancestors along with other knowledge that is gradually becoming forgotten over the years.
After the Spanish invasion during the 16th century, and especially after the rebellion by the last Inca leader Tupac Amaru who was killed by the Spanish, some Incas were able to escape to high mountainous areas which the Spanish horses could not easily access. However, other Incas were forced to stay and ended up enslaved in mines.
In this way, the Andean people stuck together close to the snow-capped mountains and survived by helping each other, doing community work and turning the rocky lands into farms. Still today there are some Andean towns high in the mountains and each village differs from the other villages in the clothes that they wear that they make themselves, just as it was in the Inca period. As mentioned in True Mountain Travels
Which are the Andean Towns?
However, as all the Andean history has surrounded Peru since always, the Andean peoples have remained even in these times. There are native and Andean peoples both in the mountains and in the jungle
Among the oldest towns in Peru according to the Intercultural Resource Center are:
- Uro. – The Uros are a native people located in the bay of Puno, whose majority population has settled for centuries on huge reed rafts called “floating islands”, which sail on the waters of Lake Titicaca.
- Jaqaru. – The origins of the Jaqaru people are associated with the expansion of the Wari culture between 600 and 700, when the first settlers arrived in the Yauyos ravine, where most of the people live today, 5 hours from Lima.
- Aymara. – The Aymara people have traditionally been agricultural and livestock farmers. The communities of the Puno Altiplano and the inter-Andean valley of Moquegua are mostly dedicated to the cultivation of tubers, cereals and grains, as well as the raising of cattle, sheep and other small animals.
- Quechuas. – The Quechua people are a large and diverse group of long-standing Andean populations. Their common mother tongue is Quechua, in its different varieties. Among these groups are the Chopcca, the Chankas, the Huancas, the Huaylas, the Kanas, the Q’ero and the Cañaris
All this towns are located in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador
Besides the mencioned towns, in the Amazon, there are the Ashaninka, Awajún, Shipibo-Konibo, Shawi, Kukama Kukamiria, Yagua, Matsigenka, Achuar, Wampis, Yanesha, Asheninka, among others.
What mentions has had the Andean Towns
Recently the OMT, The World Tourism Organization announced its list of Best Tourism Villages 2023. The award recognizes villages that are leading the way in caring for rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values and culinary traditions. In this third edition, 54 villages from all regions were selected. In Latin America, five countries make up the list: Peru (5), Chile (3), Colombia (2), Argentina (1) and Ecuador (1).
Among the Peruvian Andean Towns, the OMT, announced that the towns of Chacas, Chavín de Huántar, Paucartambo, Pozuzo and Taquile were selected by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as the “World’s Best Tourism Villages” (BTV) in its 2023 edition.
It is worth mentioning that the towns of Chacas, Chavín de Huántar, Paucartambo, Pozuzo and Taquile were recognized as the “Best Tourist Towns in the World” after passing a strict evaluation that considered nine areas. This is the case of: Cultural and natural resources; Promotion and conservation of cultural resources; Economic sustainability; Social sustainability; Environmental sustainability; Tourism development and integration of the value chain; Tourism governance and prioritization; Infrastructure and connectivity; and Health and safety.
Among the particularities of the recognized Peruvian towns, we can mention:
1. CHACAS: Recognized for being an extraordinary town, full of history, nature and craft tradition, which keeps alive their customs.
2. CHAVÍN DE HUANTAR: It stands out for its patrimonial and cultural value.
3. PAUCARTAMBO: Known for the unique cultural syncretism between the Andean and Hispanic, represented in their dances and beliefs.
4. POZUZO: Known for being the only Austro-German colony in the country where a balance is maintained between the legacy of the settlers, nature, communities and biodiversity.
5. TAQUILE: Pioneers of textile art, it is a town that keeps alive its ancestral customs and traditions. It also stands out for its value
