Santiago de Agencha

The colorful fields of quinoa, an emblem of the community of Santiago de Agencha, stand out against the broad horizon of the Andean highlands. Before sowing or harvesting this herbaceous plant, the farmers perform a traditional ritual called k´oa that implies a mutual exchange with the land; all the sowing and harvesting processes are performed manually with a traditional tool called chilas, similar to a spade.

The village is also surrounded by orchards separated by stone walls. Each orchard belongs to a family and exploits the climate of Santiago de Agencha, which is excellent for growing fruit trees, such as plums, and vegetables. Santiago de Agencha is also famous for its pasakana, the "fruit of the sky," which grows on top of the giant cacti that grow around the community: a delicacy that locals are not in the habit of selling at markets because it is considered a gift of nature that cannot therefore be sold.