Cusco Andean Wedding Ceremony (Kasaracuy)

Departure from Cusco at 8:40 

Travel time from Cusco to Pongobamba Chinchero: 1 hour

• At 09:30 reception, the bride and groom will get married to the rhythm of typical music—a presentation between the members of Huaynas de Pumapata Chinchero and the visitors.
• A 10-minute walk to the viewpoint of the Piuray lagoon is “time to appreciate the panorama and take pictures.”
• We serve organic coca infusion to the taste of the Andes.
• Presentation and explanation of the Kasarakuy-Sawachikuy begin with the bride’s dress, followed by the groom in the traditional way typical of the Pongobamba Chinchero community.
• Wedding walk to the Andean altar on the shores of the Piuray lagoon.
• The Andean priest’s marriage ceremony on the Piuray Lagoon’s shores will thank Mother Earth for performing the act of marriage. The set of the Andean marriage of Pongobamba Chinchero in nature, the lake, and an arch of plants. The bride and groom have the altar of Andean looms placed on the ground so they do not step on the floor because they are not yet married. The priest proceeds to place the following items on the bride and groom:
  • floral crowns
  • Rings “woven in alpaca wool.”
  • Toast of the newlyweds with the Chicha drink in the company of the godparents and “community” relatives.
• Traditional wedding dance with ancestral music representative of the area and congratulations from all the guests.
• Return to the communal hall of Huaynas de Pumapata Chinchero in Pongobamba Chinchero with a wedding hike, carrying the Achihua in the company of all those present. “Achihua is a representative plant of the area.”

PACHAMANCA: Pachamanca, a typical Peruvian dish

11:30, the Pachamanca activities begin; Pachamanca cooking takes about 2 hours.

Huaynas de Pumapata Chinchero workers in Pongobamba at 11:30 have already heated the stones with fire to start the rite of cooking inside the earth with the hot stones. They start by putting the different meats, legumes, grains, etc. They cover it with blankets and soil at the end so that the heat does not escape to cook the Pachamanca to celebrate the Andean wedding. After 2 hours, the Pachamanca will be ready and cooked “at 13:30.” We begin to dig carefully and take out the Pachamanca to serve in the communal hall.

• Presentation and demonstration of Andean textiles and techniques, from shearing to obtaining beautiful material art pieces. Buying Andean souvenirs to support Andean communities’ development through experiential tourism is optional.

Farewell to the beat of the music of Pongobamba Chinchero.