Published by Team Tunupa / November 2, 2026
In early November, Cusco’s bakeries fill with bread figures with painted faces, golden bread horses and huge round loaves fresh from wood-fired ovens. It is the season of All Saints’ Day and the Day of the Dead, when families remember their loved ones by sharing a meal.
Here is what these breads mean and why they are the heart of the celebration.
All Saints’ Day and the Day of the Dead
November 1 is All Saints’ Day and November 2 is the Day of the Dead. In Cusco, the first is a day for family gatherings around oven-roasted suckling pig, tamales and bread; the second, a day for visiting cemeteries with flowers, music and food.
In the Andes it is believed that during these days souls return to visit their families, and they are welcomed with the things they loved most.
Tanta wawa: the bread baby
In Quechua, tanta means bread and wawa means baby. The tanta wawa is a bread shaped like a swaddled child, with a plaster or painted face and colorful decorations. It is given among relatives and godparents and shared in honor of those who have passed.
Alongside it come bread horses, which according to tradition help souls on their journey. Both are made with sweet dough, sometimes with anise, and baked with great care.
Oropesa, the bread capital
About 25 kilometers from Cusco, the town of Oropesa is famous for its bakeries with wood-fired ovens. Its signature product is pan chuta, a large, round loaf with a soft crumb, sold along the roads and in markets across the region.
In November, production of festive breads multiplies and many families travel to Oropesa just to buy them.
How to experience the tradition
- Visit San Pedro Market or the bakeries in the historic center to see the variety of tanta wawas.
- Try lechón with tamales, the typical November 1 dish in Cusco.
- If you visit a cemetery on November 2, do so respectfully: it is an intimate moment for families.
- Take a trip to Oropesa to buy freshly baked pan chuta.
Pan wawa workshop at Tunupa
At Tunupa Sacred Valley we host pan wawa workshops for groups and families, where you will learn to knead, shape and decorate your own tanta wawa while discovering the story behind this tradition. A perfect activity to share with children.
Conclusion: bread to remember
All Saints’ Day breads are a sweet way to remember those who are gone. In every tanta wawa there is love, memory and the certainty that family ties endure.
In November, Cusco smells of bread and memories.
