Salcedo celebrates 107th anniversary with traditional guinea pig races

The community of Salcedo, located in the central highlands of Ecuador, celebrated its 107th anniversary with traditional festivities, including music, dancing, bullfighting, and several guinea pig competitions.

Guinea pig racing is a local custom in various regions of the country. During the celebrations, rodents competed on narrow wooden tracks. Other highlights included a costume contest, won by a guinea pig dressed as an ice cream vendor, and the crowning of ‘Luchito’ as the heaviest guinea pig, weighing nearly three kilograms.

Guinea pig breeding is a vital component of the regional economy in this Andean area, situated at an altitude of over 2,600 meters. Beyond their role in the economy, guinea pigs are used in traditional cuisine as a protein source and play a role in indigenous medicine, where they are used for spiritual cleansing rituals.