Full-Day Culinary Experience – Pachamanca Preparation Tour

Complete Itinerary

The day begins with a convenient pick-up from your hotel in Cusco. We embark on a scenic drive to a nearby Andean community or farm, where the Pachamanca experience takes place. Along the way, your guide will provide insights into the history and cultural significance of Pachamanca as a communal tradition in Andean life.

Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by the local hosts with a warm Andean welcome. The hosts will introduce you to the ingredients, tools, and techniques involved in preparing a Pachamanca. Learn about the traditional use of the earth as an oven and the symbolic role of Pachamanca in Andean celebrations.

The first step is setting up the Pachamanca oven, a pit lined with stones that are heated with firewood. As the stones heat, your hosts explain how the heat is carefully controlled to cook the food evenly. Participants are encouraged to get involved, helping to arrange the stones and prepare the pit.

While the stones are heating, you’ll help prepare the ingredients for the Pachamanca. This includes marinating meats (chicken, pork, lamb, or alpaca) with traditional Andean spices, cleaning and seasoning potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and fava beans, and wrapping them with aromatic herbs like huacatay. The preparation process is interactive and offers plenty of opportunities to learn about Andean culinary traditions.

Once the stones are ready, the ingredients are carefully layered into the pit. Meats go in first, followed by the vegetables and tubers. Everything is covered with fresh leaves, cloth, and earth to trap the heat, creating a natural oven. As the food cooks, you’ll have time to enjoy the surroundings, learn about the community’s traditions, or participate in optional cultural activities like music or crafts.

After about an hour and a half of cooking, it’s time to uncover the Pachamanca. This is a festive and exciting moment as the layers are removed, revealing perfectly cooked and aromatic food. The hosts will serve the Pachamanca buffet-style, allowing you to savor the fruits of your labor.

Gather with your group and hosts to enjoy the Pachamanca feast. This communal meal is a celebration of flavors, culture, and shared effort. The meal is accompanied by traditional Andean beverages like chicha de jora (corn beer) or herbal teas.

After the meal and a heartfelt farewell from your hosts, we begin the drive back to Cusco. The tour concludes with a drop-off at your hotel or a central location in the city, leaving you with lasting memories of this unique cultural and culinary experience.