How These Traditional Iconic Hats And Outfits Are Keeping The Andean Tradition Alive

The people and their vibrant outfits are what will stand out most when you first arrive to Cusco, Peru. As other Andean traditions begin to fade, the colorful jackets and skirts of the city’s Andean women, who walk the streets in their resplendent hats and textiles, keep the spirit and traditions of the Andes alive.

An Andean woman in Cusco sits on the side of the street with her daughters and their two baby alpacas, dressed in the traditional Andean garb: little hats and red vests with brightly colored skirts. Each of them has a finely made textile tied around her neck and slung over her back like a backpack. “Photos, photos, photos!” you can hear them say as you pass. Their outfits have become a prop in the scenery of Cusco, a costume to amuse gringos and travelers. The gringos pass by in waves, crowding around the group to snap some photos. One tourist holds the alpaca like a baby and exclaims to her friends, “Look at how lovely this all is! I love the outfits!”

This is business as usual for these ladies, whose job seems to be posing for photos for tourists, another sad reality of tourism’s effects on this area and its people. What gets lost in this transaction of photos, however, is the courage these women have to continue to represent their cultural past through clothing, something their husbands (at least most of them) have abandoned and do only on special occasions. In the face of an ever globalizing world and a modernizing Peru, which extends even to the most remote parts of the country, these women continue to hold on to their cultural heritage, something that is even more evident when traveling outside of Cusco, to the little pueblitos.

Women selling their colorful handicrafts

When you see these women and their children on the streets, remember that they are not props for photos, but women—brave women—who continue to wear their cultural history with them each day. One of the main links to their past is found in their clothing, a tradition that they refuse to lose.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.