High in the Andes Mountains farming has always been a mainstay of the economy.  However, the Quechua women have always been quite industrious and are often the primary bread-winner of the household. Known to be more responsible with money than the men, these women hold the purse-strings of the household.

There are a multitude of ways these creative women find to create a private business. Whether it be a small stand along the side of the road, or being a vendor in the local food market these women work hard to be successful.

One of the more successful small business owners I met is Mercedes. Mercedes makes Chicha every day in a beautiful “Chicharia” on the road between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. Her establishment is marked with the traditional plastic bag on a stick outside the door and is called Descanso. Most likely her primary customers these days are tourists as she provides a wonderful environment where one can learn how Chicha is made and sample the varieties offered.

In the Mercado Central de San Pedro, a local food market in Cusco, these women were busy organizing and preparing their food stalls for the day. Each section of the market has a specialty. There is a bread aisle, a cheese aisle, and best of all, a chocolate aisle! A large variety of fresh meats, fruits and vegetables are available for purchase here along with food stands.

Many women chose to sell souvenir items to tourists. There are a multitude of these women who carry blankets filled with goods that are spread along the ground and set out in a pleasing fashion to attract buyers. This woman was found in the main church plaza in Chinchero preparing for the late afternoon tourist rush.

Other women have small food stands or sell simple items like Maize (Incan Corn) Popcorn. This woman is selling bread outside of the market in Cusco, clearly showing the “Wealth of Bread.”

This dear old lady was selling popcorn outside the train station in Aguas Calientes. Since she didn’t have change for a ten-sol bill, I ended up buying some “Charity Popcorn.”

How I wished I dared to eat these beef heart shish-ka-bobs called Anticuchos from this vendor in Ollantaytambo. But good sense told me it probably wasn’t a great idea.

This woman was seen at the ruins of Moray. Dressed in traditional garb, she had a large souvenir stand with many items hand-made in the region.

Such industrious and hardworking women are through the Sacred Valley region of Peru. Their strong work ethic is truly commendable.