The Andean ritual of love

Andean Ritual of Love: Spiritual Wedding in Cusco & Sacred Valley

$335.00 / private service / 2 people

CategoryCultural

DurationFull day

RequirementsNo experience required

Type of servicePrivate

In the Andes, love is a sacred bond that unites two people, their spirits, their families and the surrounding nature. During the emotional ancestral ceremony known as Kasarakuy, the couple celebrate their union by offering coca leaves and other symbolic items to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Mamacocha (the sacred lagoon), the goddess of fertility, life, and love. This ritual is full of symbolism, spirituality, and tradition.

This beautiful ceremony takes place on the shores of Piuray Lagoon in Chinchero, a town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas with a rich heritage. In Inca times, Piuray Lagoon was considered a sacred place, forming part of a mystical landscape surrounded by mountains that was ideal for connecting with Andean deities. The ceremony connects human love with the energy of the cosmos, the Apus (mountain spirits) and the fertility of the earth. Guided by an Andean priest (paq’o), the ceremony honours the balance between the masculine and the feminine with offerings to the earth, traditional music, flowers, and coca leaves, in order to achieve lasting love.

Overview

Itinerary

• The service

The service

1. Pick up from Cusco (morning)
   Transfer to the community of Chinchero and Piuray Lake. Approximately 1-hour drive with beautiful views of the Sacred Valley.

2. Welcome ceremony
   Reception by Andean elders and community members with traditional music, flowers, and a brief spiritual introduction about the meaning of Andean marriage and the role of Pachamama.

3. Spiritual preparation of the bride and groom
   Symbolic purification with water and smoke from Andean herbs. The bride and groom are dressed in traditional costumes and present offerings representing their wishes, gratitude, and intentions.

4. Kasarakuy ceremony
   The Paq'o (priest) leads the traditional ceremony, invoking the Apus and Mamacocha. An "Despacho" (offering) is made to the earth with coca leaves, flowers, corn, and sweets, sealing the commitment with nature as a witness.

5. Music, dances, and traditional toast
   Celebration with traditional dances and flute and drum music. Toast with chicha or Andean herbal tea to symbolize abundance and fertility.

6. Community lunch
   Tasting of a typical Andean lunch prepared by the families of the community, with local and organic products.

7. Free time for photographs and connection with nature
   Space for photos next to the lagoon, surrounded by a mystical landscape, sacred mountains, and the living energy of the water and earth.

8. Return to Cusco (afternoon)

The Andean ritual of love map

Included & Excluded

You will find detailed information about the services included in our tours and hikes below. Please read the list of inclusions and exclusions carefully.