Festivals in Cusco

If you wish to visit Cusco during any of these festivals please let us know well in advance because accommodation may be in short supply.

Carnival

The Italian phrase "Carne vali" deirved to Carnival was used to describe the colorful parades that took place in European cities throughout the ages. This custom was brought to the "new world" by immigrants; the Spanish, Italians and French. Carnival parades are not as popular in Peru as they are in other South American countries but there is the funny and often annoying custom of playing with and throwing water and powder at each other.

Holy Week

Holy Week celebrates the resurrection of Christ and is very well attended by the people of Cusco and indeed throughout Peru. There are processions in the streets and plazas and even mock crucifictions. Shrines are carried by devotees through the streets with bands and thousands of onlookers. This is indeed an impressive spectacle.

Cruz Velacuy

The festival of Cruz Velacuy (Velacuy Cross) is the day of the Catholic crosses in Cusco and in many outlying villages. The date of the festival is not specific as it can vary between May and June.

It is a ceremony during which each community decorates the cross belonging to its church and prepares it for a procession to other churches in neighboring communities. This celebration is held to thank pre-Hispanic gods for bountiful harvests and also serves as a setting for folklore shows.

Beer festival

The beer festival held in May every year in Cusco now has an international reputation. Artists such as Laura Pausini have been entertaining the vast crowds during the last few years. Come and visit Cusco during the festival and experience this great event.

Qoyllor Ritt´I

The Quechua name Qoyllor Ritt´i means "Ice Star" and not "the Lord of Ice" which is a common mistake. This festival takes place on the frozen and icy slopes of the huge Ausangate mountain at altitudes of around 5000 meters. Located 80 Km from the Cusco and in nighttime temperatures below -4°C people pay homage to Christian and Prehispanic customs. The mountain gods, the stars and Christ are all worshipped at the same time. A pilgrimage takes place which involves men carrying blocks of ice on their backs for miles and around them colorful dances take place.

Corpus Christi

The ceremony originally took place in Peru during the Inca Empire with the mummified bodies of ancient Inca emperors. When the Spaniards conquered the empire they tried to abolish this festival by burning all the mummies, changed them to Christian Saints and other Catholic images. During the modern day festival there are many processions through the streets of the old city. Images of Christ and the saints are carried by pilgrims from one church to another. Special food is prepared for the day and everyone eats in the streets at stalls. The dish is called "Chiri Uchu" and means "cold spicy dish" and contains ingredients from all of the regions of the ancient Inca empire such as cuy (guinea pig), cheese, partridge (replaced by chicken today), seaweed, fish eggs, ham and toasted corn. This is today accompanied by copious amounts of beer.

Inti Raymi

Inti Raymi means "The festival of the Sun", and during the days of the Inca empire was the most important day of the year. The festival takes place during the Winter Solstice, on the day after the longest night in the Southern hemisphere. The festival represents the rebirth of the sun god Inti and in the ancient empire all fireplaces of the city were put out and the "starter fire" was lit in the Koricancha temple which was then taken to light fires all over the city. Today the festival is still celebrated and draws visitors from all over the world.

Virgen del Carmen

This is the most important festival held in the town of Paucartambo close to Cusco. The "Mamacha Carmen" festival takes place with townspeople performing 15 different dances for four days non-stop!!!!. Free food and drinks are offered at every opportunity by the people in charge of each dance. Close by is the Tres Cruces viewpoint where you can often see spectacular sunrises over the jungle.

Independence day

The Army of Independence, commanded by the charismatic Argentine General Jose de San Martin, took control of Lima on the 15th of July 1821 and together with the most important men in Peruvian society claimed ideological independence (political independent was not yet achieved). Political independence from Spain was achieved on the 28th of July 1821.

Initiation Ceremony - Warachicuy

Every year at age 13 boys belonging to the Inca Empire underwent an intiation ceremony to celebrate coming of age and greater responsibility within the family and empire as a whole. The ceremony took the form of different contests, not simply to prove bravery, but also to test skills such as building, drawing, management and command skills, arts and other disciplines.

Uno Urco

This fiesta takes place near the town of Calca in the heart of the Sacred Valley and recalls the legend of Uno Urco or "The Water of Urco", directly related to the fortunes of agriculture in the Sacred Valley. The son of Inca Wiracocha, Urco Huaranca, offered his daughter to the first man who could construct water channels in the area which would irrigate the fields and feed the population.

"TODOS LOS SANTOS" : November 1st

"Quilla Raymi" : Full Moon of December

"SANTURANTICUY" : December 24th