Vacas (Quechua languages, Quechua name: Wak'as, deriving from ''Huaca, Wak'a'') is a Bolivian village in the southeast of the Cochabamba Department. It is the capital of the Vacas Municipality, the second Municipalities of Bolivia, municipal section of the Arani Province. Vacas is located about 85 km far from Cochabamba and about 30 km far from Arani, Bolivia, Arani.
The people living in Vacas and surrounding areas are predominantly Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous citizens of Quechuas, Quechuan descent. During the Inca period Vacas served as a ''Tambo (Incan structure), tampu'' along the Inca road system that led to Inkallaqta and Pocona Municipality, Pocona. Later on, during the History of Bolivia, colonial period, it was founded under the name of "Santa Bárbara de Bacas".
Vacas is situated in a rural environment in the altitudes of the ''Cono Sur (Cochabamba), Cono Sur'' (Southern Cone) of Cochabamba. The climate is suitable for the cultivation of potatoes, wheat, barley, broad bean and oat. Vacas is known as the "Land of the potato" (Quechua: ''Papaq llaqtan'', es, La patria de la papa). The fields are prepared with the help of Yoke, yokes of oxen. The cultivation of the soil is supplemented by animal husbandry of cows, sheep, pigs and hens.
Education
As to education all types of schools are available in or next to Vacas.
* Preschool education: ''Guardería Sagrado Corazón de Jesús''.
* Primary school: ''Escuela Unidad Experimental'', founded in 1862
* Secondary school: ''Colegio Profesor Toribio Claure''
* Higher education: Ismael Montes Teacher Training College (''Escuela Superior de Formación de Maestros "Ismael Montes"'' or ESFM "Ismael Montes") (in Challwa Mayu, Bolivia, Challwa Mayu)
Festivities
* May 4: True Cross, Santa Vera Cruz Tatala
* May or June: Corpus Christi (feast), Corpus Christi
* June 29: Saint Peter
* July 16: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patron saint of Bolivia
* October 15: ''Anniversary of Vacas Municipality''
* December 4: Saint Barbara, Anniversary of Vacas
Fairs
* April: Fish, potato and crafts fair
See also
* Asiru Qucha (Bolivia), Asiru Qucha
* Parqu Qucha (Bolivia), Parqu Qucha
* Qullpa Qucha
External links
Map of Arani ProvinceMap of Vacas MunicipalityImages of VacasBetty Veizaga and the group Pukaj Wayra: ''Aires de mi tierra'' (''Takipayanaku'')(Spanish)
Escuela Superior de Formación de Maestros Ismael Montes(Spanish)
{{Cochabamba Department
Populated places in Cochabamba Department