The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a place where time seems to have stood still, a magical territory framed by majestic mountains, ancient agricultural terraces, and sacred rivers. Beyond its scenic beauty, this valley is a cultural epicenter where ancestral customs still survive, connecting its communities with the earth, the stars, and their ancestors. Through solemn rituals, festivities full of symbolism, and spiritual practices, the Andean legacy remains more alive than ever.
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The Essence of the Sacred Valley
Throughout the fertile valley that connects towns like Pisac, Urubamba, Chinchero, and Ollantaytambo, Andean traditions continue to beat strongly. In the time of the Inca Empire, this was a strategic agricultural hub and a spiritual space where temples dedicated to the Sun and the Apus, divine mountains that guard the Andean people, were erected. Today, these customs continue to be fundamental pillars in the lives of its inhabitants.
Most Emblematic Customs in the Sacred Valley
Immersing yourself in the Sacred Valley is not just a tourist experience but a journey towards the wisdom of a civilization that understood the harmony between humans and nature.
Traditional Ceremonies
Offering to the Pachamama
One of the most representative expressions of Andean spirituality is the offering to the Pachamama, or Mother Earth. This ceremony of gratitude seeks to pay homage to nature’s generosity. It is performed mainly in August, but can be done at any significant moment.
How is it carried out?
A spiritual guide or shaman organizes a ceremonial table where elements like coca leaves, grains, sweets, colored wools, and wine or chicha are placed. Then, the offering is buried or burned as a symbolic act of giving and respect. The ceremony seeks equilibrium, abundance, and protection.
Where is it practiced?
Pisac, Chinchero, and Ollantaytambo are common places for this sacred rite, for locals and travelers interested in connecting with the spiritual.
El Varayoc: Leader and Guide of the People
In various villages of the Sacred Valley, the authority of the Varayoc is still respected, a representative elected by the community who embodies traditional wisdom, order, and justice.
Investiture Ceremony
The handover of the staff of power is a solemn act with chants, dances, and blessings that confirm the responsibility of the new leader. This tradition is especially maintained in places like Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, where the Varayoc not only guides but also preserves collective identity.
Andean Spiritual Practices
Cruz Velacuy
A deeply spiritual celebration that fuses Andean and Christian beliefs. It is held in May and consists of the veneration of crosses located on hills and roads. Communities gather to decorate the crosses, sing prayers, and hold masses accompanied by music and flowers.
Coca Leaf Reading (Lectura de la coca)
An ancient method of divination that is still practiced in valley communities. The shaman throws coca leaves onto a cloth and, according to their shape and orientation, interprets messages about the consultant’s destiny, health, or life path.
Flowering Baths (Baños de florecimiento)
These baths are rituals of energetic renewal. Herbal infusions, flowers, sacred water, and traditional chants are used to cleanse the spirit and attract positive energy. They are common in Urubamba and its surroundings.
Apachetas: Altars of the Path
Apachetas are small mounds of stones that travelers leave by the side of roads as a sign of respect and connection with the earth. Each stone symbolizes a petition, gratitude, or wish. It is a simple, yet deeply spiritual gesture.
Andean New Year
June 21st marks the beginning of a new cycle according to the Andean agricultural calendar. During the winter solstice, valley communities gather at sacred sites like Moray or the Ollantaytambo viewpoint to receive the first light of the sun. Offerings, traditional dances, and rituals are performed to celebrate the renewal of life and the continuity of time.
Sacred Plants and Ancestral Medicine
Ayahuasca: The Spirit of the Jungle
Ayahuasca is a powerful Amazonian infusion with visionary effects, used in ceremonies of healing and self-discovery. Although its use originates from the jungle, it is also practiced today in controlled spaces in the Sacred Valley, where specialized shamans guide the experience.
How is it performed?
The ceremony has an introspective and respectful atmosphere. The shaman directs the process with chants (ícaros), prayers, and energetic protection, helping participants navigate their visions and emotions.
San Pedro (Wachuma): The Cactus of the Heart
San Pedro, or Wachuma, is another ancestral plant with healing and spiritual properties. Unlike ayahuasca, its effect is more subtle and emotional, helping to open the heart and feel connected to nature.
San Pedro Ritual
In these ceremonies, the drink is shared in a ceremonial setting, surrounded by chants, silence, and reflection. Many people experience a profound state of gratitude and inner harmony, as well as a new perception of life and the world around them.