PACHAMAMA RAYMI
CELEBRATION IN HONOUR OF THE MOTHER EARTH
In the Andean cosmovision the Pachamama (Mother Earth, but maybe in etymological sense its better to say the Mother of time and space) takes a very important place as in Inca-times she used to be worshipped maybe even more than the sovereign Inca. For this same reason every certain time worship ceremonias were ( and are still) held, in honour of the Mother Earth
It is important to know that for the Inca’s existed three different spaces referring to the Pacha (Earth); The Hanaq Pacha (The cosmos, the upper world), the Kay Pacha (The earth we live on) and the Uju Pacha (Underworld).
In this program we would like to introduce these three spaces to you, on which in Inca times the Andean people based their daily activities. According to the Andean ideology in this time of the year the mother earth is said to be ‘awake’ and ready to receive tributes from her children, in order to thank her for her great fertility.
DAY 1: July 31st
Arrival to the city of Cusco, transfer to the hotel of your choice.
HANAQ PACHA
On this day, apart from a visit to impressive historical sites, situated at the Hanaq Cusco (Upper Cusco), you will visit the “Planetario Cusco”, a place that has the virtue of introducing you into the magical world of Incan astronomy.
4:00 p.m. City Tour. Visit to the 4 archaeological sites just outside Cusco, and to the temple of the sun and the Catedral.
SAQSAYHUAMAN: Located 2 Km north of Cusco City. During the Inca
empire the city took the form of a puma with Sacsayhuaman being the head. The construction is colossal with stones weighing up to 90 tons and 9 meters tall. Although some of it has been destroyed you can still appreciate the majestic constructions.
QENQO: Lies 6 Km. from Cusco. Here we visit the underground chamber
where ceremonies such as animal sacrifices would have taken place as offerings to the earth. The zigzagging network of small canals was used to direct the flow of the blood of the sacrificed animals.
PUCAPUCARA: Was a tambo (a rest point) where the Incas would have
taken a break before heading to the Water Temple for a ceremony.
TAMBOMACHAY: Was the Water Temple, for the Incas water was an
element that purified the spirit. Due to this the Inca or priest had to take a purifying bath before taking part in any type of ceremony.
6:00 PM. Visita al Planetarium Cusco
WHAT TO BRING: Photo or film camera, sun block, hat or cap.
8:00 P.M. Transfer back to the hotel.
Overnight saty in a hotel in Cusco
Welcome dinner with traditional dancing show.
DAY 2: August 1st
Breakfast at the hotel
KAY PACHA
In the ‘Kay pacha’, or the world we live in, we have to offer a tribute to the mother earth, the Pachamama. According to the beliefs, the 1st of August is the day the Pachamama awakens and gladly receives tributes from her children.
Ceremony of offering to the earth
This Inca ritual, which many Andean communities still continue, consists of offering gifts to mother earth in thanks for all that she provides for the people and animals. Favors are asked of the earth and through the provision of gifts Ayni (retribution) is produced where by the earth returns the favors by providing all that the people need. Everything needs to be in harmony, if anything bad happens it is because the harmony has been broken, most importantly in the spiritual sense. To rebalance the harmony help from the Apus or mother earth is needed who were once living with necessities such as hunger and thirst and so these offerings are needed.
KILLARUMIYOQ
One of the most important Inca deities was the moon, known as Mama Quilla; the sister and wife of the Sun god Inti. She accompanied Inti as the mother of the sky, she was the feminine side of the universe, influenced the tides and the growth and fertilization of plants.
The Incas devised lunar calendars and built temples dedicated to the moon, an example of which we find one and a half hours away from Cusco. We will visit this sacred place which is full of mystery and perfect for meditation and making an offering to the earth.
Itinerary:
9:00 A.M. Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the Moon calendar of Killarumiyoc
Meditation and explanation of the importance and meaning of the offering ceremony for the mother earth.
11:00 A.M. Ceremony
13:00 P.M. Break
14:00 P.M. Return to Cusco. Lunch.
Overnight stay in a hotel in Cusco
DAY 3: August 2nd
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Action Valley near Cusco, a place where we can participate in adventurous activities like bungee jump and slingshot. Adrenaline and fun will be present during this morning.
Alter this enjoyable adventure we will drive onward to the place where we will do the Temascal ceremony
Box Lunch
UJU PACHA
The “Uju Pacha", is the root, with underground connection to the profound sine of the mother earth. The Uju Pacha stands for the the main sustenance, nothing lives without being entrenched; the roots are nutritious and represent the source of all life.
The roots live a similar live as men; they comply with a specific function. They generously spread out their arms full of fruits. The nature offers everything it can to men and we have to correspond to the mother earth in the same way.
In order to find the root of our existence we will symbolically return to the mothers’ womb by entering the Temascal; ancestral sweat lodge made out of natural materials.
This sweat lodge, with Mesoamerican origin, has a purifying function and symbolizes rebirthing.
Transfer to the hotel in the Sacred Valley.
DAY 4: August 3rd
Breakfast at the hotel
Sacred Valley tour
8:30 a.m. Pick up from the hotel.
Includes visits to:
· The picturesque market of Pisaq
· Ollantaytambo (An Inca Fortress)
Return: 6.30 p.m.
Includes: Pick ups, transfers, all transfers, Tourist ticket, bi-lingual guide, lunch.
WHAT TO BRING: Film or photo camera, comfortable clothes and shoes, sun hat or cap.
Overnight in the Sacred Valley of the Inca’s
DAY 5: August 4th
Breakfast at the hotel
8:20 AM Transfer to the train station for the train to Aguas Calientes
Excursion to the sacred site of Machu Picchu
Departure: 5.30 a.m. pick up from your hotel
Return: approximately at 20:00 p.m.
Duration: 1 day
INCLUDES: Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the train station, train tickets roundtrip, Bus tickets roundtrip, entrance ticket for Machu Picchu, bi-lingual guide, Lunch.
OPTIONAL: Stay one night in Aguas Calientes.
WHAT TO BRING: Film or photo camera, comfortable clothes and shoes, sun hat or cap, insect repellent, sun block
DAY 6: August 5th
Breakfast at the hotel
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport.
END OF OUR SERVICES
Includes:
¨ 03 Hotel nights in Cusco.
¨ 01 Hotel night in the Sacred Valley
¨ 04 Breakfast
¨ Visit to the 4 sites near Cusco and the planetarium (tourist transport, professional guide and all entrance fees)
¨ Offering ceremony to the mother earth (tourist transport, Andean priest, professional guide/ translator for the ceremony, cold lunch and all entrance fees)
¨ Temascal (Tourist transport, all necessary elements for the ceremony)
¨ 01 Visit with guide to the site of Machu Picchu (Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the train station, train tickets roundtrip, Bus tickets roundtrip, entrance ticket for Machu Picchu, bi-lingual guide, Lunch)
¨ All pick ups and transfers.
¨ Personalized assistence
Not included:
¨ All meals, flights.