Huancarqui (; Quechua: Wankarki) is a district of Castilla, a province of the department of Arequipa, Peru. Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática. Banco de Información Distrital . Retrieved April 11, 2008. Its capital is the populated centre of the same name.
Etymology The district's name, also written "Guancarqui" up until 1800, come from the Quechua words Huancar, meaning "drum", and Canque, meaning "you".
History Huancarqui is one of the oldest settlements in the province of Castilla, having been populated since pre-Inca times. It is presumed that the first Spaniards who arrived founded the town on Inca cemeteries. According to Spanish chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega, the Incas that conquered the region under Cápac Yupanqui in 1000 AD made it into their local headquarters in order to be able to conquer local rival groups. The arrival of these Incas allowed for a unique development of a mixed culture descended from the Wari, Tiwanaku and Inca cultures, as well as the Spanish culture that would arrive later.
At the time the arrival of the Spanish in 1549, the area was inhabited by the Collaguas and Cabanas, two Kunti ethnic groups, as recorded by Martín López de Carvajal, a Conquistador originating from Extremadura, as well as one of the founders of Arequipa, who arrived to the area under direct orders of the Viceroy of Peru. On April 19, 1813, Huancarqui's town hall was established. It was led by an Alcalde ordinario, who oversaw five other people. The mayor was accompanied by a procurador and two regidores.
On May 3, 1955, a government law elevated Huancarqui to a capital town of the homonymous new district. Today the town has a population of approximately 1700 people. Despite it being less developed than neighboring Aplao and Corire, it is nonetheless a well-off touristic spot among visitors.
Throughout its history, Huancarqui has had the following priests: Agustín Laso de la Vega y Soto, Pedro Velasco, Jacinto Llerena y Dávila, Manuel Dávila y Calderón, Leandro Dávila y Dávila. Pedro Chacón de Luna y Dávila, Antonio Nates y Martínez del Pino, Mariano Adrián López y Nates, Manuel Mariano Rodríguez de Olmedo y Martínez del Pino, and Alejo Rodríguez de Olmedo y Martínez del Pino, among others.
Geography Huancarqui is located in the Majes Valley, where the Colca River flows through. It is located below 1 000 meters above sea level and is made up of the districts of Aplao, Uraca and Huancarqui. The terrain is mostly plain and fertile, in comparison to the surrounding deserts.
The climate in the region of Castilla Baja is very hot due to its narrowness and depth, in relation to the plain where the waters have undermined its basin. Average annual temperatures range between 15º and 24 °C. The winter rains on the coast and summer in the mountains. reach only the ends of the valley, which does not receive rain other than very scarce drizzles.
Government Huancarqui is under the jurisdiction of its own district municipality. The Catholic Church in Peru administers the district as part of the Territorial Prelature of Chuquibamba.
List of mayors MayorPartyTerm Begin EndLieutenant-Generals of HuancarquiRafael Martínez del Pino y LópezFrancisco de Campos y TapiaAgustín Araico y CorralMayors of HuancarquiAgustín Araico y CorralAgustín Hipólito Araico y Martínez del PinoMariano Santos de Quiroz y NietoPedro López y VelazcoManuel Valcárcel y LópezRamón Ramírez de Avellano y EstradaMariano Santos de Quiroz y NietoMariano Santos de Quiroz y NietoRamón Ramírez de Avellano y EstradaJosé Serna y MuñozMiguel DávilaF. Javier AraicoJuan Manuel RendónEnrique F. AraicoEduardo SánchezRubén Rendón RojasRubén. R. Araico TorresRaymundo I. Velazco AranzamendiEzequiel Gutiérrez SuárezRaymundo I. Velazco AranzamendiEnrique O. LazarteClemente Chirinos FernándezFrancisco PachecoT. Benjamín Núñez MartínezRubén Rendón RojasEnrique O. LazarteManuel RíosArtemio Zúñiga SánchezVíctor Augusto Gutiérrez DávilaArtemio Zúñiga SánchezAdalberto Zúñiga AraicoCésar Velazco PostigoBenjamín Rendón ZavalaClemente Chirinos AraicoGenaro Gutiérrez BarretoEduardo Velazco MoránVicente A. Vera ValenciaBaltasar Febres PostigoAlfonso López AriasJuan Martínez ZúñigaJorge Zúñiga ZúñigaEnrique Zúñiga AraicoTomás N. Linares VillanuevaDarwin Zúñiga AmesVamos VecinoJony Mampari Cárdenas UrquizoTodos Por CastillaJony Mampari Cárdenas UrquizoTodos Por CastillaFlavio Antonio Martínez MartínezArequipa RenaceJony Mampari Cárdenas UrquizoJuntos por el desarrollo de ArequipaFlavio Antonio Martínez MartínezArequipa RenaceBernabé Rafael Salinas ZunigaArequipa, Tradición y Futuro
Subdivisions Huancarqui is the site of 25 populated centres that make up the district: Code Name Region Type Altitude (MSL) Population (total) Housing (total) 0001 Huancarqui Maritime Yunga 620 1,256 (2017) 627 (2017) 0002 Huatiapa Maritime Yunga 754 16 (2017) 16 (2017) 0003 Ccollpa Maritime Yunga 655 6 (2017) 5 (2017) 0004 Cuculintay Maritime Yunga 595 6 (2017) 5 (2017) 0006 Las Islas Santa Rosa Maritime Yunga 607 17 (2017) 14 (2017) 0007 El Recodo Maritime Yunga 618 11 (2017) 6 (2017) 0008 Chacones Maritime Yunga 590 6 (2017) 3 (2017) 0009 El Conto Maritime Yunga 588 0 (2017) 2 (2017) 0010 Callejones Maritime Yunga 595 0 (2017) 2 (2017) 0011 Sacramento Maritime Yunga 577 1 (2017) 1 (2017) 0012 Las Tiendas Maritime Yunga 591 4 (2017) 3 (2017) 0013 Los Pinos Maritime Yunga 591 2 (2017) 1 (2017) 0014 Las Tierras Maritime Yunga 591 1 (2017) 1 (2017) 0016 Lopez Maritime Yunga 579 0 (2017) 2 (2017) 0017 El Majuelo Maritime Yunga 588 5 (2017) 1 (2017) 0018 La Laja Maritime Yunga 594 36 (2017) 16 (2017) 0019 Pampa Blanca Maritime Yunga 536 3 (2017) 7 (2017) 0020 Tomaca Maritime Yunga 520 12 (2017) 7 (2017) 0021 Collon Maritime Yunga 503 5 (2017) 3 (2017) 0022 San Antonio Maritime Yunga 598 5 (2017) 3 (2017) 0023 San Isidro Maritime Yunga 690 0 (2017) 1 (2017) 0024 Santo Domingo Maritime Yunga 523 11 (2017) 5 (2017) 0025 Sicera Maritime Yunga 2,008 0 (2017) 2 (2017) 0026 El Rescate Maritime Yunga 521 2 (2017) 2 (2017) 0027 Ganchos Sicera Quechua 2,902 73 (2017) 35 (2017)
Culture Huancarqui is an agricultural district, known locally for its archeologic heritage, such as the many petroglyphs found, as well as a nearby dinosaur-themed park. The valley as a whole is known for its pisco production, with its many wineries being part of a gastronomic route. Fishing is also a popular activity in the district. Touristic attractions include outdoor sports, such as rafting or hiking, or the local gastronomy, with many of its restaurants specializing in traditional Peruvian food.
Religion A Roman Catholic church building dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, after whom it is named, is located in the district's capital.
Religion is important among the local population, with Catholicism being held in high esteem by the local population. Local festivities, such as the Virgen de Chapi or Our Lady of Mount Carmel are important in the area. During Holy Week, local residents tend to perform traditional activities such as the Via Crucis in the surrounding mountains, as well as traditional Mass services. Folk legends are also popular with locals, who claim certain areas are haunted.
Transport Owing to its location in a valley, transport is limited to the roads linking the towns together along the valley. The town is accessed through Aplao District. Both public and private transport usually service these roads.
Notable people Tomás Gutiérrez (1817–1872), a colonel who carried out a coup-d'état in Lima in 1872, alongside his three brothers (Silvestre, Marcelino and Marceliano), after which only one survived. Mariano Rodríguez de Olmedo y Valle (1771–1831), Roman Catholic bishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico and first archbishop of Santiago de Cuba
See also Gutiérrez Brothers' rebellion
References