ABOUT

Surely it is not part of any outstanding tour of the hundreds or thousands that you can find when visiting Cusco and surroundings, nor does it represent a relevant destination for one of the key industries in a country like Peru that has known how to exploit its image like few in Latin America. But if your idea when visiting one of the cultural jewels of Latin America involves portraying and knowing in depth the essence of its people in living and real people, outside of a museum and archetypal characterizations, the Vinocanchón Market in the San Jerónimo District, outside of Cusco it should be a must see.

Located at the base of what was once a huge lake that occupied the entire Valley of Cusco, the San Jerónimo district today houses a key Supply Center where more than 1200 merchants and producers from the region meet, to offer a great diversity of agricultural, livestock and agro-industrial products. More than 25,000 consumers attend a market weekly that undoubtedly represents a key settlement for the economy of the entire region, especially for the thousands of peasant producers that you can find there dressed in their typical colorful clothing, offering a contagious joy that surely will will reflect on their faces.

Photographing these people in their work environment is even simple if you have enough sensitivity to make them feel comfortable in front of a camera, and very likely you can in the dynamics try many of the delicacies they will offer you, such as traditional homemade sweets or delicious season fruits.

Visiting and supporting these types of ventures where they meet in cared spaces, producers who are responsible for bringing food directly from the farm to the pot, is essential to promote fairer trade, away from the indifference that large commercial chains have for the support of the original cultures.

In addition, buying there has the great added value that each product you take will surely be accompanied by a huge smile.