Los Bricheros

Here in the Cusco region, probably because there are so many tourists passing through to do the Inca Trail and see Machu Picchu, there exit a special breed of men.

They are known as Bricheros.

These guys generally claim to be of indigenous origin – to make themselves more exotic and appealing to the foreign woman – approach “gringas” and try to start relationships with them. The reason for this is purely cynical: it’s an easy way to make a living. Not that they are prostitutes in the usual sense of the word. They try to get foreigners (who they see as very rich) to fall in love with them and once that’s achieved, they take advantage: the girl pays for stuff, buys him things, perhaps takes him to her country. Apparently these guys can live for years in this way without working.

I have been warned about Bricheros by many people – even before I came to Peru; the women at work and the mother of my host family are always saying, “Be careful with boys, they could be bricheros; introduce him to us before you start anything and we’ll tell you if they are or not!” If I wasn’t cynical about advances by Latin American men before (which I was), I certainly am now!

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