Pachamama Raymi: A celebration to reconnect with nature

In the South American territory, and more specifically in the Andean culture, the earth is the mother of all living beings, whether it is a plant, an animal, human beings or the mountains, rivers, rocks and all the flowers and seeds made for nurturing body and soul. 

Mother Earth or Pachamama, as she is called in Quechua, is celebrated with offerings, dance and devotion for without her the connection with the universe would not be complete.

Pachamama Raymi or Mother Earth festivity in Cusco, is a celebration that shows the ancestral customs of the andean people and their relationship with the soil and every element of nature that surrounds and protects them. Join us in a wonderful experience to discover the secrets of the Pachamama Raymi and be amazed by the magic of the Andean cosmovision.

What is the Pachamama Raymi all about?

Every year on August 1st, a fully traditional festival is celebrated along the Andes mountain range, in countries that are part of it, such as Bolivia, Argentina and Ecuador. Peru is no exception and Cusco makes it all about colors and customs and turns this festival into a meaningful  experience for local people and every visitor.

Pachamama Raymi is a ceremony about being grateful and local people thank her with a Pago a la Tierra or Payment to the Earth, a very popular tradition in the highlands of Peru and especially in places like Cusco, which holds history and traditions that are still alive today.

The purpose of the ritual is to offering presents to the Pachamama to give thanks for what has been received along the year (the harvest, animals, health and progress) and also to ask for a new year full of prosperity and abundance with progress and work for every member of the community.

In this ritual the payment to the Pachamama is made up of different elements such as coca leaves, animal fetus (a llama, ram or a sheep), cigars, pica pica or confetti, sweets, grains and beer. These gifts are wrapped all together in a lliclla, a typical loom of the Andes, and  buried in the ground while people are singing songs and saying prayers to thanks for the gifts received.
The ritual is made the first day of August when the new planting season begins, and the local people prepare the soil for planting the new seeds that, thanks to the deep respect andean men and women profess to Mother Earth or Pachamama, will grow strong and big ensuring the welfare of the entire community.

The ritual ends when all the offerings to the Pachamama are consumed by fire that purifies all earthly possessions and turns them into smoke, elevating the wishes of the inhabitants of the Cusco communities and taking them to every corner of the andean world.

Pachamama, a mother to every living creature

The Incas believed that nature was a creative force that was part of a great absolute and almighty god, connected with every living being that inhabited the earth and the worlds above and below. The andean worldview explains the universe with an unbreakable bond between everything that lives on earth, inhabits the celestial world and hides in the underworld. The Inca culture divides the world into three levels: 
Hanan Pacha: The celestial world where the great Wiracocha lives, the ultimate creator in the eyes of the Incas. The place where those who were just, good and kind spend eternity.
Kay Pacha: The in-between world where animals, humans, plants and minerals coexist in perfect harmony. 
Uku Pacha: The underworld or the world of the dead, where the unborn wait to ascend among the dark creatures.

Pachamama is more than just a name for the Earth, she is a living being with a heart that beats among the Apus (sacred mountains), the river, the stars and everything that can be seen, touched and felt. She is a protector of the balance between everything that inhabits and transits the earth, she is mother and father at the same time, she is generous and powerful, she is just and benevolent. The Pachamama protects, cares for and nourishes men on earth and they must repay her generosity with offerings and gifts on the day of the Pachamama Raymi.

Come to Cusco and visit it’s charming little towns, get to know its customs, music and colorful world. Explore the archeological sites, every market and tourist destination clicking The Full Experience, where you will find adventure, luxury and unique experiences. Embrace the mysticism in order to truly understand the Inca worldview and feel part of the andean universe balance.
Discover the Power of the generous Pachamama in the beautiful Cusco from the impressive Citadel at Morning in Machu Picchu or among the magnificent mountains in The Sacred Valley of the Incas.

At Inca Rail we know well that each traveler  and each trip are unique, that is why we have created a tour package for you to visit Machu Picchu even if you haven’t planned in advance. Explore Machu Picchu Last Minute and we will help you to get the entrance tickets to the Citadel, we will guide you every step of the way and give you all the advantages and the possibility to reorganize your scheduled train so that you do not miss out the Sanctuary of the Incas.

Come to Cusco and discover the magic of nature. Visit the Imperial City and enjoy the most perfect experience of your life.

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