{"id":23269,"date":"2021-06-25T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2021-06-25T13:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.howlanders.com\/?p=23269"},"modified":"2021-06-23T05:18:59","modified_gmt":"2021-06-23T09:18:59","slug":"caballitos-de-totora","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.howlanders.com\/en\/peru\/caballitos-de-totora\/","title":{"rendered":"Caballitos de Totora: one of the oldest and most curious traditions of Peru"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve reached this post, you’re probably already thinking about visiting Peru<\/a> and if not, you’ll want to go after reading a little more about the legendary tradition of “los Caballitos de Totora<\/b>“. <\/p>\n

We invite you to know a little more about Peru, so that in addition to visiting Machu Picchu<\/a> and the Iquitos Jungle<\/a>, you can discover part of the country’s culture. So, today we tell you all about the Caballitos de Totora<\/b>! Let’s get started \ud83d\ude09 <\/p>\n

\"Machu<\/a><\/p>\n

What are the Caballitos de Totora ?<\/h2>\n

The Caballitos de Totora<\/b> have been built for 3000 years<\/b> in the territories of Bolivia and Peru. They are boats<\/b> made by the locals with totora reed stalks, so they have an expiration date when they get too wet.<\/p>\n

\"Caballitos<\/p>\n

To this day they are still used for fishing<\/b> on the north coast of Peru, especially at Huanchaco beach<\/b>, one of the 5 best beaches in the country<\/a> for us<\/a>, and also to ride the waves surfing. <\/p>\n

They are a symbol of prestige, so many restaurants in the area place it at their entrance for decoration. <\/p>\n

\"Huanchaco<\/p>\n

Due to their dimensions, these boats could carry up to 200 kg of cargo<\/b> and transport one person, so the Inca ancestors had enough capacity to acquire fish and feed their families. <\/p>\n

We are talking about a tool that measures between 4.5 and 5 meters long<\/b>, 1 m wide and reach weighing 50 kg<\/b>. In other words, you have to be in shape<\/b> to be able to go into the ocean with a Caballito de Totora<\/p>\n

The main parts<\/b> of the boat are called “sons” and “mothers”<\/b>. So we are talking about two types of sticks: the more robust ones and two others, the mothers. <\/p>\n

These names are a simile, as the mother pieces at the top give the feeling of protection to the sons and support them.<\/p>\n

Los Caballitos de Totora<\/b> have a great historical value and they are Cultural Heritage of Peru<\/b>. Today they are symbols of a millenary culture with the spirit of sailing oceans.<\/p>\n

\"Caballitos<\/p>\n

A little bit of history<\/h2>\n

They say that a little bit of history always comes in handy so… Here we go!<\/p>\n

The Caballitos de Totora emerged<\/b> from the Chim\u00fa and Moche<\/b> culture around 3000 years ago. It is known because ceramics were found showing fishing scenes using this navigation. <\/p>\n

It seems that the legacy of the Inca ancestors does not only consist of the fascinating ruins and temples of Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Moche <\/p>\n

The Moche used the caballitos de totora<\/b> mainly for fishing<\/b> and that includes going in and out of the ocean surfing the waves<\/b>. <\/p>\n

They made use of a paddle composed of Guayaquil reed and to get out of the water they took advantage of propelling themselves with the waves towards the shore. <\/p>\n

There were also other larger navigations specialized in long journeys and the “alaias” or the “olos”, which only served to catch waves. <\/p>\n

As we can see, this typical Peruvian board and surfing are closely related. That is why, in the Festivals of the Sea of Huanchaco<\/b> you can participate in surfing competitions with with a caballito de Totora<\/b> and with a board<\/b>. <\/p>\n