History of Chiquian

History

By Amanda Massello

Located at the base of the Cordillera Huayhuash, the small Andean mountain village of Chiquian is home to 6, 500 inhabitants. This charming sierra town gets its name from the Quechua for amanecer—“achikyay,” or sunrise in English.  Chiquian was formerly dominated by traditional haciendas, but the patrones (plantation masters) let loose their tight grip on the valley in the 1970s. Shortly thereafter, Chiquian became a popular tourist destination, creating a new economy. Hotels, restaurants, shops, and professional tour guides sprang up to meet the needs of travelers. Cheese production expanded in the 1990s, securing this community of dairy farmers´ traditional way of life. The Association San Marcelo de Chiquian also runs a community-owned business in natural textiles and wools, harvested from the coats of the valley’s abundant herds of sheep and alpaca.