The Inca Empire, Cusco Indigenous in Peru.

Traditional celebration for Pachamama in Cusco, Peru.

The ancient people of Cusco were the Inca people. The Inca people were a tribe in the Cusco area around the 12th Century. While visiting Cusco, I have witnessed the numerous indigenous people of Cusco, Peru, which are primarily descendants of the Quechua-speaking group who formed the core of the Inca Empire.

Pachamama celebration in Cusco, Peru.

The indigenous of Cusco are combined mostly by the Quechua descendants and that is the language they are speaking until this day. That group of indigenous are the most prominent indigenous group in the Cusco area. The other group, speaking Quechua as well, is called the Q’ero. Other than that, the other group of indigenous are both from the Andean highlands and the Amazonian jungle. 

Traditional customs of the indigenous in Cusco, Peru.

Indigenous man with traditional hat playing the harp in the streets of Cusco, Peru.

The indigenous in Cusco are noticeable for their traditional clothing, and the preservation of traditions, customs, ceremonies, gatherings, and trade. It is amazing to witness the strict preservation of this indigenous group to their traditional gathering and customs such as marriages, living together, weaving clothing from natural materials, agriculture of crops including coca leaves, fruits, vegetables, and all kinds of potatoes. 

Traditional gathering of the indigenous celebrating Pachamama in Cusco, Peru.

Gathering at the main square in Cusco, Peru.

On the streets of Cusco, you can witness the indigenous sitting with llamas and selling products of natural weaving clothing and mochillas.

Indigenous woman weaving the natural materials offering her artisinal in the streets of Cusco, Peru.

Traditional indigenous women with baby llamas in the street of Cusco, Peru.

On the other side of the city of Cusco, you can visit local markets which are spread all over the city. There is the main market called Mercado Central de San Pedro, located in the historical center near the big Cathedral and the main square. In that market, you can purchase fruits, vegetables, and have an amazing lunch, all cultivated by the indigenous people living in the surrounding Cusco area. The traditional lunch in the main market costs around $3 and includes fried trucha fish, ceviche and soup. In other corners of the market, you can purchase products of chocolate, made from cacao, and products of coffee. In the market and in the streets around, the indigenous sell coca leaves. Coca leaves are consumed by the indigenous for helping with breathing in high elevated altitude as well as for having energy during the day.

Enjoying traditional lunch of ceviche and Trucha fritta at the market in Cusco, Peru.

Traditional indigenous agriculture crop offering at the market in the street of Cusco, Peru.

I loved visiting the market on a daily basis, co-mingling with the indigenous and specifically buying cheese made at home from llamas and vacas cows. In addition to cheese made at home, the indigenous are offering all kinds of breads made in special ovens and keep the grains underneath the ground to preserve their fresh ingredients. The indigenous also keep underneath the ground and in special custom storage to preserve different kinds of potatoes. 

Pumpkins and tomatoes traditional agriculture crops in the market of Cusco, Peru.

While attending Spanish language school in Cusco, which offers many classes for foreign tourists, I used to buy an avocado sandwich made by the indigenous woman on the corner of the street. This is traditionally a custom by locals who stop in the morning to have hot chocolate with avocado sandwich offered by the indigenous. 

Traditional indigenous woman selling avocado sandwich in the street of Cusco, Peru.

Llama and her indigenous family in the viewpoint of Cusco, Peru.

Cusco is a very important city and a major hub for the indigenous communities in this region. From this city, they are conducting their traditional trade with other parts of Peru and outside of Peru. Cusco not only served as the capital of the Inca Empire in the 12th Century but also preserved this importance of being the capital city of the indigenous community until present day. The indigenous communities in Cusco demonstrate resilience in preserving their cultural identity and traditions while witnessing the innovation that the modern world brings in. 

Indigenous of the descendants of the Inca marching the street with baby llama clothing in Cusco, Peru.

The beauty of the indigenous women in Cusco, Peru.

Moreover, keeping the indigenous beliefs, religious ceremonies, which praise Pachamama, is very important to the community. It was amazing to watch the communities celebrating the matrimonial within the indigenous community. The invitees were all dressed with different colors and each group had their own colorful clothing gathering together for dancing and eating. The band in the street was playing instruments traditionally for the matrimonial ceremony for the indigenous. 

Traditional band and gathering of the indigenous celebrating matrimonial in Cusco, Peru.

Traditional matrimonial ceremony of the indigenous in Cusco, Peru.

For knowing the indigenous culture of the ancient Inca empire and for searching for the Quechua culture in Cusco, Peru, it is recommended to visit Cusco and spend the time co-mingling with the local indigenous.

Co-mingling with the beautiful indigenous women descendants of the Inca in Cusco, Peru.