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Photography from Bolivia, Chile, Peru and elsewhere in South America.
I have many more images available in my archives which are in the process of being uploaded and am always shooting new work. If you can't find the images you are looking for please get in touch, I may well be able to help!
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Rebuilding the last Inca rope bridge at Q'eswachaka

Peru is synonymous with the Incas, without doubt the best known of the empires that existed in South America. At its peak the Inca empire stretched from roughly what is now southern Colombia southwards to near Santiago in Chile. An extensive road network (some of it built by earlier civilisations) ran through the empire, at its peak it is estimated the total length of the network was nearly 25,000 miles / 40,000km. The most important road ran from Quito (now Ecuador) south through the Andes to Cusco (the Inca capital) and onwards into northern Argentina and was known as Qhapaq Ñan (Great Inca Road or Andean Highway, Camino Real or Royal Road in Spanish).

The last surviving Inca rope suspension bridge crosses the Apurimac River at Q'eswachaka / Q'eswachaca in Canas Province in the Cusco region. In a unique event that is a throwback to Inca times, villagers of the region rebuild the bridge every year by hand, starting by weaving new ropes from grass. In Inca times maintaining the roads and bridges that connected the empire was part of a labour tax (or mita) that all communities had to perform as service to the Inca. Rebuilding the bridge takes 3 days, when it is finished the local communities celebrate with a traditional dance festival.

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The last Inca rope suspension bridge across the Apurimac River at Q'eswachaka, Canas province, Cusco Region, Peru
The last Inca rope suspension bridge across the Apurimac River at Q'eswachaka, Canas province, near Cusco, Peru
The last Inca rope suspension bridge across the Apurimac River at Q'eswachaka, Canas province, near Cusco, Peru
Man weaving new ropes from grass to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Women weaving new ropes from grass to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Women weaving new ropes from grass to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Women weaving new ropes from grass to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Woman weaving new ropes from grass to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Men arriving with new grass ropes to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Community leader registering people who have provided new grass ropes to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , ...
People who have arrived with new grass ropes to rebuild the bridge wait to be registered, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Women who have arrived with new grass ropes to rebuild the bridge wait to be registered, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Men laying out the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men laying out the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men laying out the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men laying out the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men laying out the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men laying out the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men laying out the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men laying out the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men laying out the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
A man aligns the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ,...
A man aligns the thin grass ropes prior to making the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ,...
Men twisting the thin grass ropes together to make the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ...
Men twisting the thin grass ropes together to make the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ...
Men twisting the thin grass ropes together to make the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ...
Men twisting the thin grass ropes together to make the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ...
Men twisting the thin grass ropes together to make the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ...
Men twisting the thin grass ropes together to make the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ...
Men twisting the thin grass ropes together to make the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ...
Man twisting the thin grass ropes together to make the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ...
Man twisting the thin grass ropes together to make the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province ...
Tug of war contest to straighten and tension the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Tug of war contest to straighten and tension the thicker ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Man plaiting 3 thick grass ropes together to make the foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Man plaiting 3 thick grass ropes together to make the foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Man plaiting 3 thick grass ropes together to make the foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Man plaiting 3 thick grass ropes together to make the foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Man plaiting 3 thick grass ropes together to make the foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Man plaiting 3 thick grass ropes together to make the foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Close up of man plaiting 3 thick grass ropes together to make the foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , C...
Tug of war contest to straighten and tension the main foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Tug of war contest to straighten and tension the main foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Tug of war contest to straighten and tension the main foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Tug of war contest to straighten and tension the main foundation ropes for rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Men carry the new main foundation ropes down to the bridge site before replacing the old bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men carry the new main foundation ropes down to the bridge site before replacing the old bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men carry the new main foundation ropes down to the bridge site before replacing the old bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men carry the new main foundation ropes down to the bridge site before replacing the old bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men carry the new main foundation ropes down to the bridge site before replacing the old bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Men carry the new main foundation ropes down to the bridge site before replacing the old bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Shamans at start of rituals to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Shamans at start of rituals to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Shaman offering alcohol to the apus (mountain gods) at start of ritual to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the ...
Shaman places a dried llama foetus (sullu) on fire during ritual to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the bridge...
Shaman places coca leaves on fire during ritual to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , C...
Shaman performing ritual to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Shaman performing ritual to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Shaman using bells while performing ritual to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas ...
Shaman performing ritual to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Shaman using bells while performing ritual to Pachamama (Mother Earth) before the rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas ...
Woman arrive with qoya grass to make new ropes to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Woman beating damp qoya grass with a stone before making new ropes to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Woman beating damp qoya grass with a stone before making new ropes to rebuild the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Man crosses old bridge with rope that will be used to pull the new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas p...
Man crosses old bridge with rope that will be used to pull the new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas p...
Men start to cut away the old foundation ropes so they can be replaced, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Man blessing anchor support for foundation ropes with chicha ( maize beer ) before the ropes are replaced, Q'eswachaka , Cana...
Putting the ropes that will be used to pull the new foundation ropes across the canyon into place, Q'eswachaka , Canas provin...
Men pull one of the new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Man ties rope to one of the new foundation ropes so it can be pulled across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Men pull one of the new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Men pull one of the new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Men position one of the new foundation ropes around its anchor point, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Men passing down one of the new foundation ropes so it can be hauled across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Men passing down one of the new foundation ropes so it can be hauled across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
New foundation ropes ( brighter yellow ) in position, old ropes cut away and sagging , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Cutting away the old bridge once the new foundation ropes are in position, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Cutting away the old bridge once the new foundation ropes are in position, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
New foundation ropes in position, old bridge floating in river, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
New foundation ropes in position, old bridge floating in river, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Bare male foot on rope during rebuilding the bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Tired man takes a break from hauling new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Tired men take a break from hauling new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Tired man chewing coca leaves takes a break from hauling new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas provinc...
Tired men take a break from hauling new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Tired man takes a break from hauling new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Tired man takes a break from hauling new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Tired man takes a break from hauling new foundation ropes across the canyon , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
New foundation ropes in position across the canyon, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
New foundation ropes in position across the canyon, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
New foundation ropes in position across the canyon, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Man ties rope to one of the main foundation ropes once it is in position so it can be tensioned, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Man has a drink of chicha (maize beer) after tying rope to one of the main foundation ropes (so it can be tensioned), Q'eswac...
Man ties rope to one of the main foundation ropes once it is in position so it can be tensioned, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Man ties rope to one of the main foundation ropes once it is in position so it can be tensioned, Q'eswachaka , Canas province...
Man has a cigarette break after tying rope to one of the main foundation ropes (so it can be tensioned), Q'eswachaka , Canas ...
Men hauling on rope to tension one of the main foundation ropes once it is in position, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
New foundation ropes in position across the canyon, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
New foundation ropes in position across the canyon, Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
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