Magical Andes Photography
  • Galleries
  • Using this website
  • Image Licencing
  • High Quality Prints with Fine Art America
  • Postcards
  • My account
  • My cart
  • My lightbox
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
Search Images
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!

Rights Managed (RM) licencing options are available for all images.

High quality photographic prints and other products can be purchased in association with Fine Art America

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.

← 1 2 →
Loading…
Newly rebuilt Inca rope suspension bridge across the Apurimac River at Q'eswachaka, Canas province, Cusco Region, Peru
Newly rebuilt Inca rope suspension bridge across the Apurimac River at Q'eswachaka, Canas province, Cusco Region, Peru
Newly rebuilt Inca rope suspension bridge across the Apurimac River at Q'eswachaka, Canas province, Cusco Region, Peru
Detail of anchor point of newly replaced ropes on the last Inca rope suspension bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province, Peru
Detail of anchor point of newly replaced ropes on the last Inca rope suspension bridge, Q'eswachaka , Canas province, Peru
Dancer at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancer at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancer at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancer from Chirupampa at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancers from Chirupampa at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancers from Chirupampa at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancer from Chirupampa at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Detail of traditional dress worn by girl from Chirupampa at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka ...
Girls from Chirupampa wearing traditional dress at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas p...
Girls from Chirupampa wearing traditional dress at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas p...
Dancer from Chaupibamba at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancers from Chaupibamba at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancers from Chaupibamba at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancers from Chaupibamba at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancer holding skull and femur at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancers holding skull and femur at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancers holding skull and femur at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancers holding skull and femur at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Dancers holding skull and femur at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Chacalaica dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Chacalaica dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Chacalaica dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Chacalaica dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Chacalaica dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Llamitos Chullos dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Llamitos Chullos dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Llamitos Chullos dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Llamitos Chullos dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Llamitos Chullos dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Llamitos Chullos dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Llamitos Chullos dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Llamitos Chullos dancers at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Woman wearing traditional dress at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Women wearing traditional dress at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Woman wearing traditional dress with horse at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas provin...
Woman wearing traditional dress with horse at festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas provin...
Cowboy dancers from Chumbivilcas areaat festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Cowboy dancers from Chumbivilcas areaat festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
Cowboy dancers from Chumbivilcas areaat festival to celebrate end of rebuilding the bridge , Q'eswachaka , Canas province , Peru
← 1 2 →
Powered by PhotoDeck
This website uses cookies. Learn more
AcceptDecline