The main event of Cusco Carnival is held in the city’s Plaza de Armas (Main Square) bringing together an array of public and private organizations to offer an incredible spectacle featuring dances and music performed by different types of troupes known as pandillas and comparsas. Many of these groups have won numerous prizes at the different festivals celebrated in the Sacred Valley and the South Valley.

The Celebration of the Compadres and Comadres
Traditionally, Carnival begins two Thursdays before the main event, with one day dedicated to compadres and the other, to comadres. On these dates, prominent local men visit their female counterparts and vice versa.

One of the defining features of this celebration are the dolls made in the image of well-known public personalities, important workplace figures, and even regional authorities. Some place a humorous emphasis on their subject’s most notable traits, while others carry a powerful symbolic message for society. Whatever the case, these dolls always represent something.

These dolls are generally made from recycled materials such as cardboard, bottles, discarded clothing articles and shoes, plastic, etc. Once they are ready, they are hung from high places as soon as Wednesday ends, the better for all to view them.

Cusco Carnival Main Celebration
The most important day of Carnival is held on Sunday. At this point, everything grows more intense, from the music to the colors, with water, talc, mixtures of the two, and even paint flying everywhere. The winning dolls from the compadre and comadre competitions are paraded through the streets. And of course, you cannot miss the dances performed by numerous public and private organizations.

Traditional Foods at Cusco’s Carnival
With all these lively activities, celebrants’ bellies are sure to require a good meal. Luckily, Carnival comes with its own culinary fair featuring three traditional dishes from Cusco:

• Kapchi: Also spelled capchi, is a dish made with fresh broad beans, seasoned potatoes, milk, and cheese or mushrooms. It is usually accompanied by a stuffed rocoto chili pepper and a bit of rice.
• Timpu: Also known as puchero cusqueño, consists of a mouthwatering variety of stewed meats served with potatoes, chickpeas, rice, whole cabbage leaves, sweet potatoes, peaches, yucca, pears, and a local tuber called moraya. There are two different presentations which can be served on separate plates or together in combination.
• Frutillada: To complement our meal (and quench our thirst) we have the famous frutillada, an iconic drink from the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This beverage is prepared with chicha de jora mixed with boiled strawberries (with lemon verbena and cinnamon). The key step in making frutillada is to leave the chicha to ferment for eight days. By the time Carnival rolls around, it will be ready to drink.
• Chicha de jora: Chicha de jora is a drink made from fermented purple maize. While it is often used as the main ingredient in more elaborate beverages, it is also popular all on its own.

Octava or Kacharpari
Octava or Kacharpari, is celebrated one week after the main event to cap off Carnival festivities for the year. On this date, we can catch a glimpse of the famous yunza or cortamonte, where people get together to dance around an artificial tree that has been adorned with gifts. During this event, participants move in a circle around the tree, using a machete or ax to strike blows until they overthrow it. After the tree falls, you have better be quick and crafty if you want to grab one of the gifts. As a curiosity, this tradition can be found in various celebrations in different regions of Peru that happen to overlap with Carnival season (February and March).

Kacharpari always marks the end of festivities and Cusco Carnival is no exception, where it wraps up one of Peru’s most important celebrations.

Carnivals in Cusco’s Provinces
The city of Cusco isn’t the only place where Carnival is celebrated; these unforgettable festivities can be found in the different provinces throughout the department, as well. To name just a few, we have:

• The Sacred Valley of the Incas: Calca, Urubamba, Qoya, Pisac, Lamay, Yanahuara, etc.
• South Valley: Canchis, Oropesa, and San Jerónimo.
  While these events share many features, each community has its own traditions. For example, women take charge of Carnival in the District of Tinta. Towns such as Calca and Mollepata celebrate a yunza for singles and married couples, very similar to the traditional yunza, where participants take part in chopping down the tree to the beat of traditional songs such as huaynos.

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There is no better way to start off your February than by reveling in Cusco’s incredible Carnival!

Photo 1: Holy Tabernacle in procession for Corpus Christi

History of Corpus Christi
During the time of the Incas, there were many fiestas dedicated to their ancestors and the gods. Among these were the Taita Inti, the goddess Killa, Kuychi, etc., which were very significant to them. Of course, the most important feast of all was the fiesta in honor of the Inti (the Sun) and in ancient times they would carry the mummies of their former rulers in a procession before the big celebration.

The Spaniards were amazed at what they saw and took advantage of the festivity in their process to “evangelize” the people to Christianity. And so, in 1572, they decided to replace the procession of mummies with a procession of the 15 saints and virgins that to this day is known as the Cusquenian Corpus Christi.

When is Corpus Christi held?
Following the church calendar, Corpus Christi is held nine weeks after Maundy Thursday (Holy or Easter Week). This year, in 2022, the festivities will be held on June 16.

Photo 2: Ukuku dancer in Corpus Christi procession

How is Corpus Christi celebrated?
Preparing for the feast of Corpus Christi

We mentioned that this was a very important festivity and so, quite naturally, the organization prior to the feast day is equally important. The hosts, also known as the carguyoq, are in charge of offering the food, beverages and a band of musicians to accompany the followers when the saints are brought out in procession.

Cusqueño food is certainly a highlight, especially in these festivities. The Chiri Uchu is an iconic dish during Corpus Christi and you won’t want to miss it for the world.

Entry of the saints

On the eve of the eucharist celebration of Corpus Christi, the effigy of each of the saints leaves their church or temple, accompanied faithfully by their followers with dances and music typical of each region. One would think they were all close to the main venue of the event, but many come from as far as 10 kilometers away from the main plaza.

The destination of all the saints is the Arco de Santa Clara (St. Claire’s Arch) and then to the church of San Pedro, where you can see the symbolic handing over of the keys to the cathedral by Saint Peter to Saint Anthony. When all the saints are gathered, the procession then continues towards the entry of the cathedral, in which they will spend a whole week until the Octava, the eighth week after Easter.

Photo 3: Procession of various Saints through Corpus Christi

Which are the saints that participate?

1. San Antonio from the San Cristóbal Parish
2. San Jerónimo from the District Parish of San Jerónimo
3. San Cristóbal from the Parish of San Cristóbal
4. San Sebastián from the District Parish of San Sebastián
5. Santa Bárbara from the District Parish of Poroy
6. Santa Ana from the Parish of Santa Ana
7. Santiago Apóstol from the Parish of Santiago
8. San Blas from the Parish of San Blas
9. San Pedro from the Parish of San Pedro
10. San José from the Parish of Belén
11. Virgen de la Natividad (Our Lady of the Nativity) from the Parish of Almudena
12. Virgen de los Remedios (Our Lady of Remedies) from the Church of Santa Catalina
13. Virgen Purificada (Holy Virgin) from the Parish of San Pedro
14. Virgen de Belén (Our Lady of Bethlehem) from the Parish of Belén
15. Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción (Our Lady of Immaculate Conception) also known as “La Linda” from the Basilica of the Catedral

The Main Feast of Corpus Christi
The celebration of Corpus Christi itself is understood to mean the celebration of the body of Christ at the Eucharist and fidelity to that devotion, and the main event is the mass —which is held in Quechua — with the presence of all the saints.

The event that everyone waits for on that day is the procession of the 15 saints, which are carried to the beat of the festive traditions and the music of innumerable huaynos. The musical arrangements are personalized for the different saints by their followers.

The ceremony generally ends as night falls, when the last effigy has entered the cathedral and each congregation leaves to the rhythm of their dances and to drink until the following day.

Photo 4: Patron San Cristóbal in procession through Corpus Christi

The Octava of Corpus
The Octava is the date on which the procession of the 15 saints takes place around the main plaza in Cusco. The usual time for the events begin is after lunch, around two o’clock in the afternoon, and it ends close to seven o’clock at night.

Lowering the Saints
This usually starts on the day after the Octava and the ‘lowering’ actually means the return of the sacred images to their respective churches (or temples). However, some of the protocols differ, as is the case with Our Lady of Bethlehem.

Words are not enough to describe the fervor and excitement that this fiesta offers. If you have the opportunity to travel to Cusco for these events, don’t think twice and do it. If it was already in your plans and you have the time available, how about a visit to the Citadel of Machu Picchu? The PeruRail Vistadome train has every comfort to make your trip the best experience of all. Buy your tickets here!

What mportant festivities are celebrated in the Sacred Valley?
There are close to 15 important festivities held in Urubamba during the year. The following are the most attractive to visitors interested in the Sacred Valley.

Easter Week in Calca

Celebrated on March 29

Location: Province of Calca

Follow the Señor de los Temblores (Lord of Earthquakes) from the Apostol Church during the religious events celebrated during Easter Week. Beginning on Holy Monday, the faithful and public in general come together to process through the streets of the city of Calca.

Torrechayoc Festival

Celebrated for close to a month starting on May 31

Location: Province of Urubamba

This is one of the greatest religious festivities celebrated in Urubamba, dedicated to venerating the Crucified Christ on a huge cross. It is celebrated with mass, firework displays, dances, devotional praying, bullfights and much more. Although the celebrations last throughout the month, the main date is June 9.

Pisac’s Virgin of Carmen Festivity

Celebrated on July 15 to 18

Location: Town of Pisac

Legend has it that, at the end of the 19th century, two images of the Virgin of Carmen appeared in a private hacienda very close to the town of Pisac. They are considered twins and both are taken separately to the Main Square to the beat of troupes of masked dancers and their musical groups, in addition to their sponsors and town authorities. The celebration continues when both virgins meet and walk through the main streets of the town; once the night arrives, the dancers and musical groups establish themselves in certain spaces to continue with the party.

Feast of the Assumed Virgin in Qoya
Celebrated on August 14 to 17

Location: District of Qoya, province of Calca

The story goes back to 1951, when the Virgin of Qoya had her head and hands stolen. Some time passed before a villager recognized these stolen parts in the image of a neighboring town and they were returned after a judicial process. Today, 3 images of the “Mamacha Asunta” (as her faithful affectionately refer to her) are venerated: one restored after the robbery, the one that was rebuilt with the recovered parts and one that was donated in 1960. 4 days are dedicated to her, being the 15th its central day, in which 27 troupes of different dances can be found in Qoya participate.

Anniversary of the Coat of Arms of the Distinguished City of Urubamba

Celebrated on November 8 and 9

Location: Province of Urubamba

The small town of Villa of Urubamba was baptized as the Distinguished City of Urubamba in 1839, and since then the anniversary is celebrated with a great event organized by the provincial municipality in which several organizations and authorities participate (Calca, Chinchero, Maras, etc.). A Te Deum or thanksgiving mass is held early in the morning and the day unfolds with parades, dances and a festive atmosphere that will enchant you.

In Urubamba you never have to wait long to enjoy a fiesta, which makes it a perfect destination for travelers who have no fixed vacation date. We would also like to remind you that there are many more local activities that may attract your interest. For example, there is the Festivity of the Señor de Choquekillka, the Wata Qallariy Raymi Festivity, Pisac Willka Raymi, and the Festivity of the Adoration of the Magi or the Three Kings, and others.

Now that you know Urubamba’s attractions, wouldn’t you like to travel by train? The PeruRail Vistadome train offers you comfort and the best of experiences. And also, if it was already in your plans, you can connect your trip to Machu Picchu. Get your tickets here!

Most of these dances are performed during patron saint festivities, carnival, and religious festivities, exhibiting the great vitality of Cusco’s culture. The following are the five dances most frequently performed at festivities in Cusco:

Qhapaq Negro
Qapac Negro, which in Quechua means “rich black man”, is a collective mestizo dance created in the early days of the republic. Its characters represent the black slave and the slavery that existed during the Colonial period, with lyrics about their suffering sung to the Virgin and their devotion to her.

History of the Qhapaq Negro Dance
It is said that black slaves were brought in ancient times from the coast and from Bolivia, to work in the gold and silver mines in Paucartambo, and some brought with them their tradition of worshipping the Virgen del Carmen from Lima.

Characters in the Qhapaq Negro Dance
The dance is made up of a black king, a couple of children and two parallel rows of black soldiers headed by their respective captains. The dance is divided among the dancers, who recite their lyrics and the instrumental group to play the music (harp, quena, violin, accordion, and drums).

Contredanse
The contredanse is a dance about farmlands in which the leader of the troupe introduces the other dancers to the tasks in the field. However, this dance is also seen as a parody of the ballroom dances held by the Spanish elite during the colonial days, and this makes sense considering its name of “contredanse.”

History of the Contredanse
The Contredanse has a history full of triumphs and surprises, having won prizes such as the Department Folklore Dances contest in 1968 and the Inti Raymi Festival in 1991. Its troupe was also the first to be granted its own place in the town and the first to be incorporated, becoming a legal entity registered with the National Institute of Culture (1989).

Characters of the Contredanse
The characters in the Contredanse include the machu (leader), dancers who wear masks made of wire mesh, and a musical group of violins, accordions, quenas and a drums.

Wallata
The Wallata dance represents the courtship of the wallata (male) birds and the wachacha (female) birds by imitating their movements in a choreography. Dancers take their inspiration from the birds’ cries, movements, behavior, coupling, and the dominance of the male. The female dancers perform elegant movements to represent flirtation.

History of the Wallata Dance
The origin of the dance is intimately linked to the farmer in the fields, related to the surrounding nature and wildlife that includes the wallatas, web-footed birds that live in the wetlands and totora reed beds close to these communities.

Characters in the Wallata dance
The male and female dancers represent the courting of the Wallata bird. Men dress in short pants, white shirts, with a short red poncho, a chullo, an ojota sandals and a round hat. Women dress in a wide black skirt with a red border, a short skirt or ikhuna on top, a red jacket, a round hat, an ojota sandals and a shawl or lliclla.

Cholo Qorilazo
The Cholo Qorilazo dance represents the joy of the villagers in the high Andean areas of the Cusco region, in the Province of Chumbivilcas where this beautiful dance was created. It also symbolizes the happiness that the cholo qorilazo feels at having his woman by his side, accompanying him and his faithful horse.

History of the Cholo Qorilazo dance
The word Qorilazo is a fusion of Qori, which means gold or golden in Quechua, and of lazo, which is the Spanish word for lasso. Thus, the dance is about the cholo (or Andean man) with the golden lasso, referring to the local villagers and their tasks or hobbies.

Characters in the Cholo Qorilazo dance
The dance is performed by men and women accompanied by string instruments such as the guitar, the charango, and the mandolin.

Carnaval Cusqueño
The Carnaval Cusqueño dance, a dance performed during the carnival festivities season, is one of the most popular dances in Cusco, with beautifully elegant steps and rhythm that represent young people in love.

The main attraction of the choreography is the tree-chopping sequence, also known as Q’ashwa or more commonly called Yunza, in which young single men dance around a tree festooned with gifts, colorful streamers, balloons, blankets, etc. The objective is to begin chopping the tree down little by little until it falls.

Characters of the Carnaval Cusqueño
As mentioned earlier, this dance is for groups of young men and women. Women’s costumes include brightly colored skirts, white blouses, tall white hats, plaited hair, and a white scarf. Men wear a white shirt, a white kerchief, a black hat, black pants and waistcoat, black shoes, and a white scarf. Both men and women are draped in streamers and have flour on their faces.

This list mentions only a few of the many dances that you can see during your visit to Cusco. Discover them on your travels to this wonderful city and while you are there, visit Machu Picchu aboard our PeruRail Vistadome train! Get your tickets here.

Be part of the festival
The joyful celebrations take place between July 24 and 31 in the districts of Lampa, Pomata, Jaillihuaya, Huancané and Taquile Island. These are differentiated by the festivities offered to San Santiago: Masses, processions, textile fairs, dances, music and even bullfights.

Lampa, a traditional celebration
The Patronal Feast of San Santiago in Lampa, district of Puno, begins on July 24, where the devotees dress the image of the saint, which has a real human size. On the central day, July 25, the devotees participate in the mass in the Santiago Apostle Temple. Then, the procession of the image begins and is accompanied by other 40 temple saints.

When finalizing, the contest of compound melodies begins.These songs were specially made for this festival with traditional instruments such as quenas, zampoñas and leather drums. At the same time, community participants demonstrate their skills and dexterity in the handling of horses, being qualified for it and for their original clothing. The competition takes place on the main entrance of the Lampa temple.

Moreover, during the 29th, 30th and 31st of July, the bullfighting evenings are held in the “Plaza de Toros Arenas” of the Lampa river. These are accompanied by bands of various celebrations.

Taquile Island, a festivity full of folklore
Dressed in brightly colored costumes, the Taquile people perform various local dances, such as the Sicuris, the Candelaria, the Cinta K’ana and the Taquile Carnival, with the accompaniment of zampoñas (Andean flute), traditional pinquillo flutes and many drums. The festivities are finally finished with an offering to Mother Earth “La Pachamama”, a revealing detail that shows how the islanders have mixed the Christian and Andean beliefs, creating their own unique culture.

The celebration is accompanied by a craft fair in which they exhibit ceramics and alpaca looms made by the community. Also, the residents of Taquile show the elaboration process of their beautiful garments, do not miss this captivating experience!

Enjoy the month of July and let yourself be amazed by the wonderful culture of Puno. It’s a magical experience!

The rebirth of an ancestral tradition
Pachacútec, who was in charge of ordering the construction of Machu Picchu, established this celebration around 1430. Despite being banned by Viceroy Francisco de Toledo with the arrival of the Spaniards, in 1944 Faustino Espinoza Navarro, through the story of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, was in charge of writing, directing and representing the reconstruction of the Inti Raymi celebration.

Now, to commemorate this holiday, hundreds of actors using typical Inca clothing, get together in the ceremonial fortress of Sacsayhuamán to recreate what was initially the summoning of the sun by the Inca.

The celebration begins at the Coricancha Temple (today Santo Domingo Convent) with the sun salutation. After this, the Inca and the mayor of Cusco meet in Haucaypata to finally carry out the central ceremony in the north of the city on the esplanade of Sacsayhuamán at more than 3600 meters above sea level.

The Inti Raymi, known as one of the great traditions of the Inca Culture, gives tourists every June the 24th the possibility of enjoying songs, characters with typical clothes and native music.

If you plan to make your first trip to the citadel of Machu Picchu, travel on board our PeruRail Vistadome train where you will begin to experience the Andean culture through music and dancing, departing from the Urubamba station, located in the heart of the Sacred Valley and do not miss the opportunity to witness an ancestral celebration in Cusco with PeruRail

Do not forget:

Sunscreen to protect from the sun’s rays.
Wear comfortable clothes for greater mobility.
Bring drinks and fruits to keep the body hydrated and energized.
Buy tickets to enjoy this unforgettable celebration.
Mosquito repellent.