Visit the Kan Kan Lagoon/Pitusiray

Legend

This is a love story passed down through oral sources in the Rayampata district of Calca Province, Cusco region.

Orqo Waranqa was a kuraka from the town of Urco and had an extraordinarily beautiful daughter named Pitusiray, the fruit of his love for a princess of the Yungas.

As the years passed, the girl grew into a beautiful woman who fell in love with the handsome Sawasiray.

The kuraka (her father) owned land that was dying from a lack of water and was unproductive, so one day he offered the hand of the young princess Pitusiray to anyone who could carry water to the parched furrows.

Kuntisiray and Sawasiray, lords of neighboring regions, competed for supremacy in the almost impossible task entrusted to them by the Inca Kuraka, which was made even more difficult by the geographical configuration of the terrain to be conquered.

It is said that Sawasira attempted to channel water down the slope of Mount Sunqu Qhata, but failed due to the short time available.

On the other hand, the fortunate Kuntisiray built a large well on a hill, and water began to flow down the terraces of a ravine, emerging as the legitimate victor.

The princess, overwhelmed by the outcome, could do nothing but obey the orders of her father, the Inca. Her marriage to Kuntisiray was pompous for several days. Days passed, and unable to bear the nostalgia and distance, one stormy night, Pitusiray ran in search of Sawasiray, fleeing with him to the hills, believing they could overcome the altitude and take refuge in distant lands. However, they were overtaken by the warriors of Orqo Waranqa and the offended Kuntisiray, and as punishment, they were petrified and turned into snowy mountains.

These snow-capped mountains rise today behind the province of Calca. One is known as the Pitusiray snow-capped mountain, the other is the Sawasiray snow-capped mountain, and behind these two mountains lies the Kuntisiray snow-capped mountain.