Written by:
peru.travel
Monday, October 12, 2020
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In the heart of Lake Titicaca there is a town of artists who day by day cultivate the value of identity and whose art is recognized worldwide. It is Taquile Island, located 38 km east of the city of Puno and whose population, which descends from the Pucará, Colla and Inca cultures, has been dedicated to textile art since ancient times.
An island where nature is the mother of all and in which everybody live proud of their culture. Here life is simple and calm, and from an early age weaving techniques are learned: a legacy that remains in force and is passed on from generation to generation.
The island and its art
Big part of the population of Taquile is dedicated to textile art. Learning techniques is a task that parents teach to their children from a very young age. At four, even earlier, children have fun with spinning wheels as they learn to spin and prepare wool for adults to use. At twelve, they begin to master basic techniques and make simple fabrics and then work on more complex garments.
Both men and women learn the elaboration methods with the difference that the ladies are dedicated to weaving pieces such as girdles –chumpis-, colorful blankets – llicllas - and small bags –chuspas-, while the men specialize in clothing like vests, sweaters and chullos
For this, men use the awana or pedal loom, a technology used since colonial times, while women use the floor loom called pampa awana, which consists of four stakes nailed into the ground arranged in the shape and size of the fabric to be made.
The designs that are embroidered are very varied: there are symbols like rivers, stars, birds, alpacas, flowers, whose meanings range from abundance, communal land, marriage, payment or tribute and weather predictions.
The technique most used in Taquile is called "cara de urdimbre" which consists in ordering all the fabric at the time of preparing the threads. In this work, the entire Taquilean population is involved, although the tasks are assigned by gender, depending on the type of garment that is going to be made. Another method used is crochet.
How to get to the island?
To get to Taquile you must travel to Puno. There are flights that go from Lima to the city of Juliaca whose duration is approximately two hours. If you are in Cusco, you can travel by train with an estimated time of ten hours.
The port of Puno -located at 10 minutes from the Plaza de Armas- is the starting point to begin the journey to the island of Taquile. It is approximately a 2-hour journey in a boat and a 30-minute walk to reach the town.
There are many attractions that you can visit on the island. The landscape and the Taquilean traditions maintain their essence since pre-Hispanic times. The place has hostels and hotels with all services. Also, many residents offer their homes as lodging and receive visitors in a hospitable manner.
The winter season, known as dry season, runs from May to October and is the best time to visit the island. The days are sunny and the nights are cold. In the summer, between November and April, the rains are intense. You choose.
Sources: Unesco / Andina / ¿Y tú qué planes? / Perú Info / Viajaraperu.com / Turismoi.pe
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