Chaku, ancestral shearing of the vicuña

Every November, in Laguna Blanca and other towns in northern Belén and Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, one of the oldest and most sustainable practices of the Andean world is revived: the Chaku. This pre-Hispanic ritual, inherited from the indigenous peoples, consists of the capture, shearing, and release of vicuñas, allowing their precious fiber to be harvested without harming the animals or impacting their population.

The Chaku is much more than a responsible management technique: it is a ceremony of profound respect for nature and a living testament to the Andean worldview. Local communities lead this practice, following ancestral methods that guarantee the well-being of the vicuñas and the balance of the ecosystem.

In recent years, the event has sparked growing interest among visitors, who come to witness this connection between humankind and nature and to immerse themselves in the local culture. The Chaku reaffirms the reciprocal relationship with the land and its inhabitants, keeping alive a tradition that continues to weave identity in northern Catamarca.