Cusco City Tour from Great Heights

Breeze Through the Cusco City Sights

I had the amazing opportunity to participate in an Incan ceremony, which felt like a beautiful cleansing ritual and a way to give thanks to Pachamama, the Earth Mother. The ceremony was led by a shaman who spoke Quechua, the language of the Incas, and luckily, our tour guide translated everything into Spanish and English, so I didn’t miss a thing. During the ritual, I held three coca leaves in my hand and the shaman asked my name. There was also this bottle of Agua de Florida, a wonderfully fragrant liquid, that played a part in the ceremony. Interestingly, all the tour guides carry this bottle with them because it’s known to prevent dizziness and nausea—similar to what we think of as ammonia back home. I was so fascinated by it that I ended up buying a bottle to take back with me to the USA. A former guide shared a little secret with me: whenever you visit an Inca sacred place, you should offer three coca leaves and tuck them under a rock without letting anyone know. It’s a tradition I’m excited to honor whenever I return.