As you travel through the Andes, a few things might catch your eye: the flash of a snow-capped mountain, a shaggy-haired alpaca or the vibrant clothes of the Andean women. The beautiful skirts you’ll see are called polleras. Their patterns, colors and designs change from village to village, and their story is a fascinating one. We’ve assembled a guide to polleras and where you can purchase one on your next Peru trip. A pollera is a full skirt made from cotton or wool that is decorated in vibrant embroidery. Decorations often include flowers and local animals. The rounded shape is similar to that of a bird cage, which is where we get the term pollera. Pollo, of course, means chicken. The Andean pollera The Andean pollera dates back to colonial times. During Spanish colonization, the settlers brought their European fashion sense along with them. One of the most popular pieces was the long and voluminous skirt that was particularly popular among peasants in Andalusia. Andean women decided to make their own out of alpaca wool. However, they decided to put their own twist on the garment. As such, the result was often more vibrant than its Spanish counterpart. While polleras are used for traditional festivals and folklore, you’re sure to see the dazzling dresses as you explore with a Bolivia or Peru travel guide. In these countries, the word pollera denotes a skirt worn by the urban mestizo and the rural indigenous classes. In the Bolivian altiplano, the urban pollera is made of eight meters of cloth and it is worn with four to five embroidered underskirts, which gives the Cholitas (mestizo women who wear the pollera) a "round" shape. Many women wear polleras daily, though they save their more elegant garments for special occasions. The most expensive polleras have very full
As you travel through the Andes, a few things might catch your eye: the flash of a snow-capped mountain, a shaggy-haired alpaca or the vibrant clothes of the Andean women. The beautiful skirts you’ll see are called polleras. Their patterns, colors and designs change from village to village, and their…
Get over the winter blues and start planing your exotic, far-flung trips in 2018! If you're thinking about traveling to South America, Peru has it all. Tick Machu Picchu off your bucket list, dine in the world's top restaurants and discover stunning landscapes from the depths of the Amazon to the shores of Lake Titicaca. Here we share our handpicked round-up of some of the top trips to Peru in 2018. 5 trips to Peru to Inspire your 2018 travels These top trips to Peru can all be tailored according to your interests, travel dates and budget by Aracari - the local experts in private tailormade travel to Peru. 1. Classic Luxury Peru Let's kick off with the ultimate must-see destinations of Peru in this classic one-week route taking you to Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu. staying in luxury hand-picked accommodation with a distinct sense of style and place. Visit Lima with a specialist guide for an in-depth insight into life in the capital – past and present. Savor Peru's booming gastronomic scene by dining in the world's top restaurants in Lima and learning to cook in the private home of a professional chef. Fly to Cusco and drive straight to the stunning Sacred Valley to acclimatize and explore Incan ruins. Travel in serious style aboard the spectacular Belmond Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu to marvel at this archaeological wonder. Round off the week soaking up the beguiling colonial streets of Cusco. Read the complete itinerary. 2. Peru with Flavor Peru is the perfect destination for foodies seeking out a world-class gastronomic travel experience. Lima's food scene has exploded, with 10 restaurants currently in Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list and trail-blazing chefs grabbing the world's attention. This 10-day itinerary takes your taste buds on an incredible journey. From fine dining at Central, the number four restaurant in the world, to browsing
Get over the winter blues and start planing your exotic, far-flung trips in 2018! If you’re thinking about traveling to South America, Peru has it all. Tick Machu Picchu off your bucket list, dine in the world’s top restaurants and discover stunning landscapes from the depths of the Amazon to the…
