Peru´s festivals are colourful displays of the country’s history, culture, and traditions. If you’re travelling to Peru, attending one of these Peruvian fiestas might just end up being the highlight of your Luxury Peru Tour! From festivities with origins stretching back thousands of years to Catholic celebrations introduced by Spanish colonists, Peru’s festivals have many different influences. But they all have one thing in common, each one overflows with exuberant singing, dancing, music, and people coming together to celebrate Peruvian culture.
Inti Raymi
Inti Raymi is the most important date in Cusco. For more than 500 years, the festival celebrates Inti Raymi (the Sun King) and Pachamama (the Mother Earth). Taking place on the 24th of June each year, it also celebrates the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year. When the Incas ruled, priests and important figures would come together in Cusco, along with thousands of people from the Inca empire. Celebrations started at dawn and carried on into the night, with dancing and festivities. Today’s celebrations still carry elements of the ancestral festival, with the Sapa Inca (emperor) opening the festival by praising the Sun God in front of Korikancha (the Inca Temple of The Sun) in the town centre. The royal entourage then makes the pilgrimage through Cusco’s Plaza de Armas. Later in the day, the festival culminates in a staged sacrifice of a llama (no animals are harmed) at the Sacsaywaman archaeological site above Cusco.
Semana Santa
Semana Santa, which translates to “Holy Week”, is Peru’s Easter extravaganza. Jubilant celebrations are held in the week leading up to Easter Sunday. The fiesta takes place all over the country, but Cusco and Ayacucho are the most famous for their impressive celebrations. The festival combines elements of Catholic traditions with Quechua customs unique to the Andes. Colourful processions, traditional ancestral dancing sumptuous feasts, local concerts, and never-ending street events will keep you busy throughout your Peru Luxury Tour.
La Virgen de la Candelaria
Virgen de la Candelaria takes place in Puno in early February. It’s the most important festival near Lake Titicaca and celebrates the Virgen Candelaria, the patron saint of Puno. Peru festivals are colourful displays of the city´s culture history, and ancestral traditions. If you’re travelling to Peru, attending a festival like this is likely to be the highlight of your luxury Peru Tour. This festival has origins stretching back thousands of years, to Catholic celebrations introduced by Spanish Conquistadores, demonstrating that Peru’s festivals have many diverse influences. But they all have one thing in common, each one brims with music, dance, feasts and general festive spirit.
Corpus Christi
The Corpus Christi Festival is one of the oldest religious celebrations in the Americas. It showcases a colourful mix of ancient Inca customs and catholic rituals. This draws people from Cusco, and further afield to see the patron Saint of Cusco. During the celebrations, people carry offerings and flower petals. They follow 15 adorned statues saints and religious figures. These statues come from the nearby churches near Cusco City. Try and visit on your Peru Luxury tours if you are there during June!
Qoyllur Rit’i
The Qoyllur Rit’i Festival is a centuries-old religious pilgrimage that is practiced by those who live in the highlands of The Andes. Every year, just before the celebration of Corpus Christi, the local villages send troups of colourful dancers and “pablitos” to the Sanctuary of the Señor de Qoylloriti in The Ausangate region. This Sanctuary is situated at the base of the Sinakara mountain, about 3-4 hours’ walk above the village of Mahuayani. This is a breathtaking spectacle with days of non-stop dancing, intermingled with traditional Catholic masses. There is truly nothing like it, and if you get the chance to experience a single traditional celebration, make it Qoyllur Rit’I when you travel to Cusco Peru.
Virgen del Carmen
Virgen del Carmen is one of the biggest events in the Cusco region. Held in July in the small town of Paucartambo (four hours from Cusco), this festival dates way back to the thirteenth century. The festival is steeped in the legend of a young woman who was on her way to Paucartambo and came across a woman´s head. The head without a body, spoke to the young woman and told her its name was Carmen. The head made miracles happen in the village, leading to her becoming the patron saint of Paucartambo. During the festival, residents of the town carry images of Carmen through the streets, who is said to chase away demons and blessing festival goers. Dancers in masks leap onto rooftops and the procession finishes in the cemetery, where people can pay homage to the dead. The Virgen de la Candelaria is one of the most renowned festivals in Peru, and all of South America.
Fiestas Patrias
Fiestas Patrias is the national holiday, celebrating the country’s independence from the Spanish on the 28th of July 1821. Similar to the 4th of July celebrations in the United States, Fiestas Patrias is jam-packed with musical parades, processions, and of course, fireworks. It’s one of the most joyful Peru festivals you can experience! You’ll be able to attend concerts in the country´s atmospheric squares and watch the locals marching through the streets wearing red and white, which are the national colours of Peru. Restaurants and bars in the city turn the party vibe up to the max, and it’s a great time to get stuck into the local food and drink scene.
Christmas and New Year
Christmas and New Year are special in Peru and focus on time with family and friends, just like elsewhere in the world. In Cusco, the main event takes place on the 23rd and the 24th of December, called the Santurantikuy. This is where the city converts into an enormous open-air Christmas market, where it is common to buy and sell images of Catholic saints to celebrate the holiday. Families come here to buy figures, sculptures, or even whole nativity scenes to decorate their homes. The nativity scene is the equivalent of The Christmas tree! Even if religion isn’t your thing, wandering around the stalls and soaking up the Christmassy vibes is a totally unique way to spend Christmas!
Santa Rosa de Lima
Santa Rosa de Lima was the first native-born saint canonized by the Catholic Church, and her legacy is celebrated throughout the world. However, the grandest festivities take place in her home country of Peru. On August 30th, the anniversary of her death, celebrations and take place throughout the country, the most famous being in Lima itself. Make sure you visit on your Luxury Peru tours!