The Inca Empire ranged from 1197 – 1533 and included parts of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.  Long before this empire flourished, communities inhabited the Andean region surrounding Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The arrival of the Spaniards, and the subsequent invasion of the Inca Empire in 1532 resulted in the demolition of all but a trace of the culture. Thus, information up to this period is incomplete at best, and the myths that have carried on from generation to generation have shaped much of the story we know today.

Legend has it that Manco Capac, the founder of the Empire and first Inca, and his sister Mama Ocllo were brought from the depths of Lake Titicaca by the sun god Inti, who instructed them to create the Temple of the Sun wherever Manco Capac’s staff sank into the sand. This place was found in Cusco, a Quechua word meaning ‘the earth’s navel’, which became the center of the Empire or Tahuantinsuyo.

The Inca rulers took over the area and initiated the religion of the Sun, imposing their ways on the indigenous people who inhabited the lands. Until that point, the Andean people had lived their lives in harmony with nature, celebrating this bond with rituals and ceremonies, and worshipping Pachamama (Mother Earth). The Incas quickly built temples dedicated to their Sun God, Inti, and before long the Andean traditions were incorporated into the new general religion and the people worshipped both the Mother Earth and the Sun God. 



Several traditions have survived the Spanish Conquest. Here are just a few:

Quechua – the indigenous language of the Andean people. When the Spanish arrived, the words were written using Spanish phonetics (there was no written alphabet up until this point), which resulted in a distortion of the words and their meanings. Quechua is still widely spoken by the Andean people and is the basis for many of the names and words you will find throughout Peru. It is one of Peru’s official languages. Rumour has it that the Huttese language spoken in the Star Wars movies is based on Quechua.

Pachamama – Mother Earth. The Andean people honour Pachamama, the female goddess from whom they get life. They frequently make offerings of food, drink, coca leaves and gifts to Pachamama to give back and thank her. In the Andean world people believe that everything is a living being and that all human beings are children of the Sun. The daily light of the Father Sun is thought to be sent as life force energy to the Mother Earth. 

The Andean Worlds –  Kayapacha, Hanapacha, and Ukupacha. The Andean people believe that the universe exists on three levels. Kayapacha, represented by the puma, is the level where humans live, together with the plants, animals and the elements. Hanapacha, represented by the condor, is the upper world, where superior beings (the saints) live. It is from Hanapacha that the stars, the moon and the sun shine their eternal light. The Ukupacha, represented by the serpent, is the ‘underworld’, where the spirits of the dead reside.

The Andean people believe that death only affects the physical body and that the soul is returned to the womb of Pachamama for rebirth. It is for this reason that bodies are wrapped in the fetal position and buried into the earth, to be with Pachamama. 

Coca Leaves –  from the coca plant that is used today to produce cocaine. For centuries the leaves have been used in offerings to Pachamama and for other ceremonies. Three coca leaves are fanned onto the palm of a hand and the participating individual blows their intention onto the leaves, to be taken by Pachamama to the spirits. Today you can see many Andean people with their chuspas (woven shoulder bags) containing coca leaves. The leaves are also chewed or used to make a tea, producing an energy that helps to alleviate hunger, headaches and altitude sickness (great for acclimatizing in Cusco!). Note that the tea made from coca leaves is not a narcotic.

Apukunas (Apus) – the divine beings of the sacred mountains. The Apus are considered to be the most powerful deities in Andean tradition because they live in both the middle and the upper worlds and can be a bridge between humanity and the stars. The mountains are believed to control the weather and the wild animals, which in turn have an effect on the year’s crop. It is for this reason that the Andean people often make offerings to, and ask protection from the Apus.

Inti Raymi – the largest festival of the year, held on the winter solstice in June, honouring the Sun and giving thanks for the harvest. During Inca times, people would come from near and far to celebrate, bringing offerings of silver, gold, and coca leaves. The ceremony lasted 8 days and ended with Manco Inca breaking the earth with his stake to signify the commencement of the growing season.

Today this holiday is one of the most significant in the Andes, celebrated on June 24th. This is symbolic of the transformation that took place after the Spanish conquest, when the Andean people were forced to convert to Christianity. As in many other Latin American countries, the Andean people remained faithful to their true beliefs and their deities persisted. People descend from remote Andean villages to join the flocks of tourists at the Plaza de Armas and on the terrace of Sacsayhuaman to witness the events and performances.