In South American small towns invariably have a square in the middle.  Even in the most modest of towns the square is an important place.  There will be a church, some restaurants and streets radiating out from the square where commerce takes place.

The church on the town square.

The town square.

Almost all town squares will have a fountain.

The hat is very important in Peru.  Each region has distinctive hats.  In Chivay they take it to another level with hat sculptures.  They are irresistible  to children and sometimes accidents happen.  Some child may have spilled ice cream on the last hat.  The sculptures are designed so you can sit on them and rest weary legs and feet.

Kids can’t resist playing on the hat sculptures.

Peruvians love their hats.

Hats take all kinds of abuse.

If you’ve had a tiring day you can always take a taxi.  However don’t look for the standard black taxi or collectivo here.  Each taxi owner personalizes their ‘cab’.  It’s quite the creative use of a motorcycle.

Chivay’s taxi lineup

Chivay’s taxis

Chivay’s taxi

Chivay’s marketplace is quite orderly.  In Chivay each area of the marketplace has a purpose.  If you want groceries you go to one area and for other items you find the area where it’s being sold.

Market Street

A typical day at the market.

Lots and lots of woven goods, many of them done by hand.

We also went on a hike outside of town that took us up on a hill that overlooked the town.  We highly recommend taking that walk.  The views are great at the edge of town.

The ‘back’ way to the town square.

Viewing the mountains from the edge of town.

At the edge of town looking into Colca Canyon

Those views get even better outside of town.  And if you go you may even see someone walking to town with child in tow and their llama.  We really liked the bridge and appreciate the amount of work that must have gone into building it.

A mother with child in tow and llama leading the way to the town square.

Colca Canyon begins as a steep narrow gorge.

Bunch grass on a trail outside of Chivay.

Two stages of a flower. One waiting for pollination and one waiting to spread it’s seeds.

Chivay from a distance.

Chivay from above and away from the square.