The Andes: The valleys of the Andes are home to 1.1 million indigenous people living in more than 350 communities. Appreciating the multiplicity of traditions helps us understand our identity. At the same time, the Andes are home to many active volcanoes such as Cotopaxi and Chimborazo which are great to explore.

The faces: Just as the indigenous peoples we see today have different faces, not all indigenous cultures are the same. We invite you to learn about their rituals, customs, and traditions.

Koya Raymi: Koya Raymi is a farming ritual that represents the farming cycle of planting, growing, and harvesting seeds by honoring the bounty of the land and the fertility of women.

Kapak Raymi: Similarly, Kapak Raymi is a ritual that celebrates new life and symbolizes the germination of new plants. In the indigenous worldview, the germination of a plant signifies the birth of new life.

Pauka Raymi: Pauka Raymi is a ritual that honors the sun and the mother earth – Pachamama by showing an abundance of crops and flowers.

Inti Raymi: Inti Raymi is a ritual of gratitude to Pachamama for the blessing of a bountiful harvest. It marks the end of the agricultural cycle and honors the fertility of Mother Earth and the Sun Goddess.

Pamba Mesa: Pamba Mesa means “everyone's table,” and is a grand ritual where the entire community gathers to feast on a bountiful harvest, thanking the Earth Mother and the Sun God for their generosity and praying for a bountiful harvest the following year.


Now let's go downstairs.