Cusco: A region of contrasts

Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire (from the 12th century until 1533) lies on the eastern slope of the Central Andes at 3'200 m. a. s. l. in a subtropical mountain landscape. The traditional Quechua-speaking population of rural areas suffers from profound economic and social neglect, while the Spanish-speaking population of the tourist-oriented metropolis strives for a more modern and more independent way of live. This deep cultural and economic conflict has led to a continuous rural exodus. These migrant-fluxes have provoked on the one hand the aban-donment of large areas of far off agricultural territory, on the other an intensification of the use of primary resources in the surroundings of the densely populated areas. As a result, all sectors of society in Cusco, one of the classic Peruvian examples of rural to urban migration, are suffering the progressive destruction of their natural resources: water, forest and fertile ground.


Fig. 2 and 3: Mayor migrant-fluxes in the "Región Inka" within 1976 – 1993 (Ramos; 1996).

As Fig. 2 and 3 shows, Cusco's attraction to immigrants has decreased in recent years. In the years 1976 - 1981, the total number of immigrants was approx. 21'000, while the total number of emigrants was approx. 18'000. The netto-fluxe hence was pointed into Cusco. Between 1988 and 1993 however, the direction of migration changed (total immigrants: approx. 31'000, total emigrants: approx. 35'000) in favour of an influx to Lima. At the root of these developments is the fact that the attraction of the area was increasing throughout the period of 1976 - 1993, mainly as a result of tourism. But by the end of the 1980's, the region had reached its ecological, social and economic saturation point.

 

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