In the Mantaro region of the central Andes, Earle (2001: 310) notes that long distance exchange (classified as taking place over a distance of 50 km or greater, to lands beyond those held by the local ethnic group), rarely includes staple items. During the Late Intermediate and Late Horizon, items that were found in the Mantaro area include items of metal and shell described as "wealth items", emphasizing the political nature of long distance exchange in this period.

While Colca valley obsidian was primarily conveyed throughout the Titicaca Basin during prehispanic times by unspecified groups, during the colonial period Colca valley polities are known to have been dominant caravan operators in the region. Residents of the Colca valley owned large camelid herds and they were responsible for extended caravan journeys to the altiplano during the Colonial period. Documentary evidence shows that the Collaguas from the main Colca valley initiated caravans to transport products, such as Arequipa wine to Cusco and Canas, and Colca corn to "wherever they would like to sell it" (Crespo 1977: 56). A testament to the role of the Collaguas, and the Colca valley in Arequipa more generally, comes from Toledo's (1924 [1570-1575]) visita generaldescribing populations of Colca community members resettled as farmers in the new city of Arequipa, Yanahuara, and environs. Toledo states that these Collaguas mitimaesgroups should produce wine in these lower-altitude areas for transport to Cusco and to the mines of Potosí in Bolivia over 700 km to the south-east (Málaga Medina 1977: 114).