TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL. HELP MORE
When you travel without searching for the highest-class hotels or luxury tours but to connect more with local cultures, this could really help little communities overcome the severe consequences of the covid-19 crisis.
The first week of february I traveled to Puno, at the south of Perú with my dance group in order to perform our beloved caporales, a typical dance from the Altiplano, to celebrate the Festivity of the Candelaria Virgin.
Besides all the excitement for this huge event it was also the first time I was going to the Andes part of my country since 2016 when I went to Arequipa for a Tourism Congress. So, after being acclimatized during the first day we took the second day as a day-off in order to hang around touristically. We went to Sillustani, an archeological site known for being the largest pre-inca cemetery, highlighting its big chullpas where the bodies were buried inside of them along with their belongings such as ceramics, foods or other objects. This is because these habitants used to believe in the afterlife so once they reborn they'll be prepared to face the new life.
After that, and after a well-deserved lunch at a local market located at the dock, we took a tour to finally go to the must-visit point of Puno: The Uros Floating Islands. It took a really nice and relaxing trip through lake Titicaca, the highest in the world.
As the people living there belong to the aymara culture, the guide taught us two specific words to greet them in order to feel much closer despite our cultural differences.
Then, since the moment you get out of the boat they're smiling and waving hands at you. Plus, it's incredible what an amazing work they did in building the soil with a lot of layers of totora in order to support the houses and the people, I mean, I personally felt something really soft in the soil, like if I jumped really hard I could break it, seriously.
Anyways, they first talk in aymara and then follow up in your language to explain how they get to build all of this as well as some other traditions Shortly after that they take you inside their houses to show you the infrastructure. Even they invite you to try on their typical clothing so you can feel part of them at least for few minutes!
It's also incredible how they live fully from tourism, it's actually because of visitors that they can keep their native languages, tradition and heritage alive, as well as to transfer it to future generations. Also, when you buy the handcrafts they do you're giving them some income to get their own food and other primary goods from the city.
Years ago, they went into a deep training process about services and the importance of tourism in their economy. That's why they developed such a nice attitude nowadays.
Sadly, as the mother and daughter who are in the picture above with me, the only time they get a great influx of visitors is during the month of february due to the Candelaria festivity, then the rest of the year it is very low. And so, since this covid-19 crisis is happening they're struggling so hard about getting food to nourish themselves as tourism has been temporarily cancelled.
By sharing this post, we believe you're helping us to promote their heritage so more people can be motivated to visit native communities once travel is available again ♥
Thank you for reading.
Let's keep daydreaming and staying safe ♥
.
Kusikuy Travel Team
The first week of february I traveled to Puno, at the south of Perú with my dance group in order to perform our beloved caporales, a typical dance from the Altiplano, to celebrate the Festivity of the Candelaria Virgin.
Besides all the excitement for this huge event it was also the first time I was going to the Andes part of my country since 2016 when I went to Arequipa for a Tourism Congress. So, after being acclimatized during the first day we took the second day as a day-off in order to hang around touristically. We went to Sillustani, an archeological site known for being the largest pre-inca cemetery, highlighting its big chullpas where the bodies were buried inside of them along with their belongings such as ceramics, foods or other objects. This is because these habitants used to believe in the afterlife so once they reborn they'll be prepared to face the new life.
Between all of these chullpas, there's one called "The Lizard", due to its ressemblance with the animal. However it's sad that it is actually half destroyed due to what the huaqueros did to it.
A huaquero is a person who digs into and destroys ruins or tombs in order to get some personal - economical benefit from the objets he finds.
This is how the "lizard chullpa" remains today.
After that, and after a well-deserved lunch at a local market located at the dock, we took a tour to finally go to the must-visit point of Puno: The Uros Floating Islands. It took a really nice and relaxing trip through lake Titicaca, the highest in the world.
As the people living there belong to the aymara culture, the guide taught us two specific words to greet them in order to feel much closer despite our cultural differences.
You say "Kamisaraki" as a way to say "Hello!", and then use "Waliki" as a reply, so that means "Good, and you?".
Then, since the moment you get out of the boat they're smiling and waving hands at you. Plus, it's incredible what an amazing work they did in building the soil with a lot of layers of totora in order to support the houses and the people, I mean, I personally felt something really soft in the soil, like if I jumped really hard I could break it, seriously.
Anyways, they first talk in aymara and then follow up in your language to explain how they get to build all of this as well as some other traditions Shortly after that they take you inside their houses to show you the infrastructure. Even they invite you to try on their typical clothing so you can feel part of them at least for few minutes!
It's also incredible how they live fully from tourism, it's actually because of visitors that they can keep their native languages, tradition and heritage alive, as well as to transfer it to future generations. Also, when you buy the handcrafts they do you're giving them some income to get their own food and other primary goods from the city.
Years ago, they went into a deep training process about services and the importance of tourism in their economy. That's why they developed such a nice attitude nowadays.
Sadly, as the mother and daughter who are in the picture above with me, the only time they get a great influx of visitors is during the month of february due to the Candelaria festivity, then the rest of the year it is very low. And so, since this covid-19 crisis is happening they're struggling so hard about getting food to nourish themselves as tourism has been temporarily cancelled.
By sharing this post, we believe you're helping us to promote their heritage so more people can be motivated to visit native communities once travel is available again ♥
Thank you for reading.
Let's keep daydreaming and staying safe ♥
.
Kusikuy Travel Team
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