Choquecancha

Apr 12

A short walk above town takes you to this viewpoint and cross, where one of our friends was kind enough to model for me.

I visited Choquecancha as part of a trip with Mountain Lodges of Peru, though this day was hosted by Kind Human Travel.

Choquecancha village square — Choquecancha’s plaza has Inca ruins, a 16th century church and the school and health clinic.

Choquecancha is truly remote for people visiting the Sacred Valley, but not remote by Andean terms. The village has a road, and a paved one at that, which many villages in the area do not.

women weavers in Choquecancha — The highlight of any trip to Choquecancha is meeting the villagers and learning about their art.

shopping in Choquecancha — Shopping in Choquecancha

The quality of the weaving you’ll find in Choquecancha far surpasses most of what you’ll see in markets in Cusco. Here, Silvia Pisci of Kind Human Travel shows a travel agent from Brazil the quality of the weavings.

textile artist in Choquecancha — With the artist

I bought this weaving from Señora Leonarda, who used black wool from her black sheep. Some of the white sheep’s wool she left white and some she dyed with cochineal, a cactus parasite whose body is 80% carmine.

buying art in Choquecancha — Scarves, bags and more

I bought this green bag from Señora María (below) for a mere s/40 soles (about $11 USD), less than half what it would cost in Cusco.

Buying art from the source

The thing about buying textile art in Choquecancha, is that you’re buying directly from the woman who raised the sheep and alpacas, sheared the wool, spun it into yarn, dyed and wove it into a unique piece of art. They use natural plants and minerals to dye yarn and every visit includes a demonstration of how the dying process works.

Maria in Choquecancha — Señora María

María’s charisma is the link between the villagers and the international travelers who come to Choquecancha.

The best way to visit is with Kind Human Travel.

If you are very confident driving through rural areas of the Andes, there is a map below for you. If you want to meet the villagers, and especially if you want to stay there, contact Kind Human Travel. The town does not have a hotel but Kind Human Travel has luxury tents for their visitors and all the connections with María and other villagers to make your visit unforgettable.