Wititi makes Chivay’s cultural connection to the Collagua and Cabana cultures especially tangible. Colonial buildings, the Puente Inca, and the town’s traditional sectors add further facets to this festival tradition. A tour of Chivay thus leads from living culture to traces of different eras.
Wititi: Dance and Festival Culture
Wititi is an emblematic Andean dance of the Collagua and Cabana cultures. Young people perform it at religious or patron-saint festivals during the rainy season. In Chivay, it is part of the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8—a direct link between the dance and the town’s festival calendar.
Its recognition also highlights the significance of Wititi: Peru lists it as National Cultural Heritage, and on December 2, 2015, UNESCO declared it an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Those interested in Andean traditions will find an introduction here that is connected to the Collagua and Cabana cultures and to a specific festival in Chivay.
Colonial Buildings and Inca Heritage
Chivay is a Spanish settlement founded during the time of Viceroy Toledo, and it is located in the Colca Valley. Its urban character brings together colonial architecture and Andean traditions. Orderly streets and house façades that retain traditional elements are part of the townscape, as are its central squares.
A specific historical landmark is the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. It is a colonial church; the present building dates to the second half of the 18th century. It offers a tangible point of reference within Chivay’s colonial architecture without reducing the town’s history to a single era.
The preserved Puente Inca recalls the presence of the Incas in the region. The tourist attraction is about 28 meters long and built entirely of stone. At this one site, visitors can trace different historical eras, from the Inca period to the Republican period. Together with the church, the Puente Inca shows how different historical references exist side by side in Chivay.
The Plaza, Directions, and Sectors
The Plaza Principal de Chivay lies at the heart of the town and serves as an important gathering place for locals and visitors alike. The square features a tourist map of the Colca Valley and Colca Canyon. From Chivay bus station, the plaza is 550 meters away, or about a 15-minute walk along a paved route.
Chivay is divided into three traditional sectors, each with its own characteristics. Ccapa lies in the upper area and is associated with the Baños Termales La Calera hot springs. Urinsaya is in the lower area and is known for its festive character and regular farming. Hanansaya is also in the upper area and has the largest cultivated area. These differences offer a sense of how tradition, agriculture, and the town’s layout are connected.
Insights Nearby and Other Activities
The Baños Termales La Calera tourist complex is in the Colca Valley, 3 km from Chivay. A small ethnological museum there displays archaeological finds from the Colca Valley and traditional Colca clothing; if you plan to visit the museum, confirm access on site.
There is also a Centro de InterpretaciĂłn at the entrance to Chivay, with an AUTOCOLCA ticket checkpoint. Check current opening hours before your trip. In addition to cultural and historical discoveries, hiking and trekking are also among the tourist activities in Chivay. The town therefore combines specific insights into dance, architecture, and history with other interests to consider when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Chivay, Arequipa and Mollendo.
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