Pachamanca Ritual, Nazca, Ica, Peru

In the Inca Empire, the meaning of pachamanca was a ritual offering to Pachamama (Mother Earth) to guarantee the fertility of the land and the regeneration of life.

Traditionally, it is held at harvest time, when families choose the best products to thank the earth and the cosmos for providing them with food.

Before being consumed, food must return to the land where it was generated.

Entering the Wasipunko Ecolodge where the ritual will take place.

Hole in the ground
The pachamanca begins by making a hole in the ground where the fire will be lit and the stones are carefully placed in the shape of a dome to heat them.

When the stones are hot, the food is placed on top.

Mound of earth with cross on top
First come the tubers (sweet potatoes, potatoes, cassava and cassava) which take longer to cook; Then come the meat, which can be chicken, beef, lamb, pork or guinea pig.

This first layer of food is covered with grass or banana leaves and the rest of the ingredients are placed on top: corn, beans and sometimes sweet corn humitas.
It is then covered with more seasoning, with more grass or leaves, with thick blankets and, finally, with a mound of earth to concentrate the heat. Food can be left for one hour to two or four hours.