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Discover the Magical San Blas Neighborhood

Alfredo Arroyo Diaz — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 22:58:35 +0000

San Blas, once known as the “artisans’ neighborhood”, is an invaluable area within Cusco’s Historical Center that maintains its classical original state, with narrow, stone-cobbled streets. Visitors may easily find and walk through this neighborhood because it is only four blocks away from Cusco’s Plaza de Armas.

Photo 1: San Blas Neighborhood

In the times of the Inca Empire, the San Blas Neighborhood was known by the local inhabitants as T’opokachi (the Hole or Cave of Salt). Its beautiful architecture, a mix of Andean and European styles, was built during the Colonial period.

Why visit San Blas?

The San Blas Neighborhood includes a number of very interesting places to visit in the daytime and at night, along its narrow and beautiful streets rich in art and culture, that will become some of your best experiences in the magical city of Cusco. Here we list some of the favorite places for locals and visitors.

The San Blas Slope

More than a place to visit, it is rather an obligatory preview if you are coming from the Main Square. The San Blas slope begins at the street called “Choque Chaqa”, where you will get a first impression of what the other streets are like that connect to the small plaza. On the San Blas slope you will find:

Galleries and workshops: The galleries and workshops of Cusco’s best-known artists are at your disposal, where you can have a look at their work and perhaps buy something that catches your eye.
San Blas Square: At the top of the slope you will come into the San Blas square, a small rendezvous spot where you can take a break and relax. From here you can easily reach two of the most visited sites in the area: the San Blas Temple and the Gallery of Hilario Mendivil and Family.

Visiting the area by day is wonderful, but at night the city lights up and it is a sight you definitely do not want to miss. The local shops light up attractively in the evening and become popular spots, especially the bars.

Photo 2: The pictures streets of the San Blas Neighborhood

There are also night tours led by local singers/songwriters who, through their music, weave tales of the myths, legends and local culture.

San Blas Temple

The famous San Blas Temple, also known as San Blas Church, was built of adobe in 1563 on top of a sacred Inca space where the God Illapa was worshipped. It was rebuilt of stone in 1650 following an earthquake. Today it is considered one of the jewels of Colonial architecture.

Photo 3: San Blas Temple

Gallery of Hilario Mendivil and Family

The Galería de Hilario Mendivil y Familia is one of the most important museums in the city of Cusco. It is where the Mendivil family, especially Hilario Mendivil, exhibit their marvelous art to the public. Hilario Mendivil was one of the great Peruvian artisans of the 20th century, known for his art and style in the making of long-necked and serene figures of saints, virgins and arquebusiers.

Restaurants and Bars

Not surprisingly, such a popular place like the San Blas neighborhood has a great variety of restaurants and bars for all tastes. To mention just two:

Limbus Resto Bar: As its name indicates, this is a restobar. It is a good place to spend some time marveling at the view since it is surrounded by large windows. It also has a balcony where you can relax and enjoy the sun while looking out over the town.
The Meeting Place: This spot is on the San Blas Square and will make you feel right at home. The Meeting Place is a café that offers delicious breakfasts, lunch or just a cup of good coffee.

San Blas Viewpoint

To finalize your day tour, and looking forward to watching the sunset over the Cusco Historical Center, the San Blas Viewpoint is your next stop. It is located uphill towards Calle Tandapata, from the San Blas square, and finally at Calle Pasñapaskana. This lookout point has been remodeled and refitted to offer the best and most comfortable view for visitors.

Photo 4: View of the city of Cusco from the San Blas Neighborhood

The residents in this neighborhood proudly show visitors all the artwork they have created in gold and silver, pottery, wood or stone.

As already mentioned, at night San Blas becomes a colorful party. The bars welcome every visitor who have come to discover the marvelous city of Cusco with great music. Have you been inspired to find out a little more? Then wait no longer and visit this spectacular neighborhood in the imperial city.

And since you’re in the area, how about visiting the Machu Picchu citadel? Aboard the PeruRail Vistadome train, you’ll live one of the best experiences when it comes to visiting our world wonder. Get your train tickets now!

Transformers in Machu Picchu and Cusco

Alfredo Arroyo Diaz — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 15:51:46 +0000

On Sunday, June 4th, PeruRail attended the highly anticipated Avant Premiere of the film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and after two hours of film, we left the theater very satisfied because it was a delight to see the beautiful Peruvian landscapes on the big screen. As expected, the city of Cusco and the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, our Modern Wonder, are now in the eyes of the world.

Let’s take a closer look at the Cusco locations that were depicted on the big screen in this action-packed film, filled with adventure and the beloved Autobots, and now the Maximals. We warn you in advance: Spoiler alert!

Qoricancha

When the intern Elena Wallace investigates the strange marks on the eagle figurine, she realizes their connection to some found in the Temple of the Sun in Cusco, Peru. Although its real name in Quechua is not mentioned, it refers to the Qoricancha.

Photo 1: Temple of the Sun: Qoricancha

As we know, this place of worship is famous for symbolizing the clear clash between two cultures: the Spanish and the Inca, as after the Spanish conquest, the Convent of Santo Domingo was built on top of the temple’s remains. Learn more about this Inca sanctuary here: Qoricancha.

Sacsayhuaman

When our beloved Autobots arrive in Cusco, they land in the remains of the ceremonial center of Sacsayhuaman. From here, they have an excellent view of the city, where they will plan their next steps to find the missing part of the key that will allow them to return to their world. They specifically focus on the Qoricancha and the Cusco Main Square.

Photo 2: Archaeological Center of Sacsayhuaman

The Archaeological Center of Sacsayhuaman, considered an icon of Inca architecture in the Imperial City of Cusco, was built with the help of more than 20,000 men and took around 50 years to complete. Impressed by these facts? Learn more about this construction made of cyclopean blocks here: Sacsayhuaman.

Main Square

Our protagonists seek to reach the Qoricancha temple by passing through the crowd gathered in the Main Square, where the Inti Raymi is taking place. Here we can see different floats, folk dances from the region, live music, and vibrant colors overall. Furthermore, our human protagonists, Elena Wallace and Noah Diaz, wear traditional costumes from the region to blend in and go unnoticed by the Predacons.

Photo 3: Cusco Main Square

As we have always reiterated, the Cusco Main Square is a visual delight for any first-time tourist who visits it. Its colonial architecture has a story to tell, and as the legend goes, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo founded the Empire of Tahuantinsuyo in this place. Learn more about this must-visit location here: Cusco Main Square.

Inti Raymi

The ancient Festival of the Sun, known as Inti Raymi in Quechua, turns out to be the most eye-catching scene in the entire Transformers: Rise of the Beasts film. Among the distinguishable dances are the mischievous Saqras, the Wallatas, the Caporales, and the Huaylarsh.

Photo 4: Inti Raymi in Cusco

This ancestral ceremony, where homage is paid to the Sun god or Inti every June 24th, has become one of the most popular celebrations in Peru, attracting numerous visitors, both local and foreign, year after year. If you’re looking for a celebration full of culture, color, and history, don’t hesitate to read our article about everything you need to know about Inti Raymi.

Machu Picchu

One of the best action scenes takes place in the grounds of our Modern Wonder: Machu Picchu. The clash between the Autobots and Maximals on one side, and the Predacons led by Scourge on the other, unfolds in the main square of the citadel, as well as on the famous terraces, and concludes with a shot that showcases the Pisonay tree. This “lonely tree” was cultivated over 200 years ago and was considered sacred by the Incas.

Photo 5: The Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Main Square, Side terraces of Machu Picchu, Pisonay, the lonely tree

To talk about the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is to talk not only about the architectural advancements of the Inca civilization but also about an ancient culture. The complexity of its construction is such that the exact purpose of this citadel located at 2,430 meters above sea level is still not known for certain. We share with you what is already known and historically recorded in our Machu Picchu timeline.

Bonus: Quechua Language

In a conversation between Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime, the gorilla mentions to the trailer that they, more than hiding, adapted to their environment. Proof of this is the close relationship the Maximals have with humans, specifically with the last descendant family of the Andean tribe that took care of them when they arrived on our planet hundreds of years ago.

In this scene, a brief exchange in Quechua can be heard between the leader of the Maximals and the curaca Amaru. Here is the translation:

Amaru: Qusikuni jamuskayquimanta machukausaq masillay. (I’m glad you came to our village, old companion.)
Optimus Primal: Allillanchu wayqey (How are you, brother?)

Photo 6: Quechua Language

This indigenous language belongs to the Cusco region and the Andes in South America. Quechua has a long history and was the main language of the Inca Empire. Would you like to learn more about this language? We invite you to read our blog post to learn more about the Language of the Incas.

Interesting Facts

The Avant Premiere of the film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in the city of Cusco was almost like a ceremony. A car parade was organized in the Main Square, and they were greeted by the Inca at the doors of the Cusco Cathedral. There were also fireworks, Autobots cosplays, and the day ended with an outdoor concert.
The film was entirely dubbed in Quechua by fans. With this inclusive gesture, the film was able to reach thousands of Quechua speakers in the region. It should be noted that only the scene of the conversation between Amaru and Optimus Primal mentioned earlier was preserved in Quechua in all existing official dubs.
Although the film is set in 1994, the inclusion of the song “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” by DMX presented in the second trailer was criticized because it was released later, in 1998.
The chase scene between the Autobots and Predacons within the city of Cusco was filmed on the road that leads from the city of Cusco to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
The film was released a few days before the ancestral celebration of Inti Raymi. As mentioned before, this film refers to this festivity, but what the producers did not know is that this celebration consists of three stages: Qoricancha, the Main Square, and Sacsayhuaman. The film shows the ceremony as exclusive to the Main Square, leaving out the other two locations.
The scenes of the lush jungle where the Autobots meet the rest of the Maximals were filmed in Tarapoto, belonging to the department of San Martín, located in the eastern zone of Peru. It makes sense that a forest with those characteristics would serve as a home for the animals that the Maximals represent, but in reality, there is no such place within the Cusco department.
Lastly, this is not the first time Machu Picchu has appeared in the Transformers universe. In episode 9 of their first animated series, the Autobots and Decepticons travel to Peru in search of the Power Crystal, but the temple where this treasure rests turns out to be a Mayan pyramid, something entirely inaccurate to what we find in Inca Culture.

Take advantage of the film’s screening to enjoy a movie full of action, adventure, and a lot of culture. Never before have Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Inca Culture been exposed to the world as they are now thanks to the seventh art.

Photo 7: Train to Machu Picchu

If you are in Cusco and want to visit the Inca citadel, recognized as a New Modern Wonder, you can buy your train tickets to Machu Picchu here: Train to Machu Picchu. See you on board!

Discovering Circuit 1 at Machu Picchu

Katherine Cordova — Wed, 22 May 2024 15:31:32 +0000

There are five circuits to access the citadel of Machu Picchu and we should plan well which we decide to take. Here we would like to give you more information on Circuit 1 and all that you can discover on this route.

What kind of route does Circuit 1 provide?

This route offers the opportunity to explore both the higher and lower levels of the archaeological site within the space of about two hours, allowing you to discover a variety of important structures. Among these are the Foso Seco, or dry moat, the Mirador at the Temple of the Sun, the Quarry, the Water Mirrors, Pisonay Plaza and the Archaeological Reserve. The route takes about two hours.

Photo 1: Upper Platform

Additionally, it is on Circuit 1 that you can take the classic photo of Machu Picchu. You’ll notice it once you’re at the Guardhouse in the area of all the terraces. The best photo for your social networks!

Remember that you can only gain access to Circuit 1 with the Machu Picchu Solo ticket, also known as the Llaqta Machu Picchu entrance. More information is available on this link.

What attractions does Circuit 1 offer?

Main entrance

The Incas used a trapezoid design for this door to frame the view of the Huayna Picchu mountain, considered one of the more important deities of the citadel.

Photo 2: Main Door

The main entrance is the same used by all of the circuits, but from here on and depending on the circuit taken, the access is to different attractions and locations.

Dry Moat

This is our first stop after visiting the upper and lower platforms. This dry moat served to protect Machu Picchu, and it was a mechanism that fulfilled several functions:

Water drainage
Prevention of land erosion
Division between the urban and agricultural areas

Photo 3: Dry Moat

Both Circuit 1 and Circuit 2 have access to this attraction. The map clearly shows it as a dividing line.

Temple of the Sun

Continuing on our route, we come to the Temple of the Sun, an enclosure built at the top of the citadel of finely hewn stone. It is believed to have been a religious building to worship the Sun. It is a circular building with niches, windows and an entry door.

Photo 4: Temple of the Sun

According to the remains, and before the Spanish invasion, it is believed to have been decorated with ornaments of gold and silver. Even today you can see the fissures that prove these precious metals were looted.

The Temple of the Sun is in the Hanan or religious section. The temple also served the following purposes:

Astronomical observatory
Tomb or Mausoleum. According to some chroniclers, the mummy of Inca Pachacutec was buried here, the ruler who ordered the building of Machu Picchu itself.
As its name implies, the temple was used for religious ceremonies to rend homage and give offerings to the sun.

The Quarry

Also known as the granite chaos of Machu Picchu, the Quarry will be our third stop. It is an area where stones and blocks of granite were worked. Stones are scattered everywhere, leading us to understand that the citadel was abandoned when work was still being done.

Photo 5: The Quarry

It is located to the far left of the llaqta and is visible also from the Sacred Main Square. However, the plaza is not part of this circuit and can only be seen from Circuit 3 and Circuit 4. Both the Quarry and the Sacred Main Square can also be visited also in these two latter circuits, something to take into consideration.

The Water Mirrors

The Water Mirrors will be our fourth stop and consist of two circular containers hewn out of the granite floor, shaped like mortars. The enclosure is called “The Hall of the Mortars”, and it is located in the Temple of the Virgins of the Sun.

Photo 6: The Water Mirrors

Since this route is shorter, on Circuit 1 we arrive at this location directly from The Quarry. However, on the other circuits the route is longer before reaching this location.

The Water Mirrors can be visited on all of the routes!

Plaza Pisonay

The Pisonay tree, also known as the solitary tree, is our fifth stop and is located in the middle of the main square. The tree has beneficial properties and is held in high esteem in the villages where it is grown because it is said to have the power to transform the land, making it fertile and improving the crops.

Photo 7: Pisonay Main Square

Just as the Dry Moat, the Pisonay Main Square can only be seen on Circuits 1 and 2.

Archaeological Reserve

Lastly, we arrive at the Archaeological Reserve as the final stop, both for Circuit 1 and Circuit 2. It is located to the right of the llaqta, very close to Pisonay Main Square and almost in a direct line from the Water Mirrors.

Photo 8: Archaeological Reserve

These are the attractions you will enjoy along Circuit 1. It is obvious that this experience is much more than a simple archaeological route. It is a voyage back in time, in which each step connects us to the engineering and spirituality of a lost civilization.

Are you excited about what you can discover? If so, you cannot miss taking one our PeruRail trains to Machu Picchu to discover this impressive world wonder.

Get you tickets here!

Puno, Capital of Peruvian Folklore

Alfredo Arroyo Diaz — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 00:27:41 +0000

Nestled in the Andean highlands, on the shore of Lake Titicaca, is the city of Puno, which proudly holds the title of “Capital of Peruvian Folklore.” At an altitude of 3,827 masl and with a population of 130,000, Puno is a destination that attracts many to all that it offers. From vibrant dances and colorful costumes to ancient traditions that its people fervently celebrate.

Foto 1: Titicaca Lake

Have you thought of exploring this lovely city? Join us as we fully convince you to take this journey.

Why is Puno considered the Capital of Peruvian Folklore?

Puno is the land of more than 300 dances that are highlighted by their costumes, choreography, music, and tradition which are each steeped in their own story. All of this led to the city’s recognition on November 7, 1985 as the Capital of Peruvian Folklore.

These dances are mostly performed at the different festivities celebrated in the city of Puno:

The Feast of the Virgin of Candelaria (February 2)
Carnival – Feast of Joy (Between February and March)
Easter Week (Between March and April)
Feast of the Alasitas (May 1)
Feast of Santiago Apostol (July 25)
Feast of All Saints and All Souls (November 1 and 2)
Puno’s Anniversary (November 4)

Let’s take a deeper look into the iconic dances of the Department of Puno.

La Diablada

This is the main folk dance troupe and one of the most iconic that Puno has to offer. A popular legend linked to the worship of the Virgin of Candelaria says that, in 1675, some miners who were trapped in a mine shaft dreamt of the Virgin and prayed to her, and this led to a battle that represented the fight between good and evil.

Foto 2: Diablada

However, recent studies take its origin further back to 1577, when the Jesuits settled in Juli, which today is the capital of the Province of Chucuito.

The dancers make their offerings to Pachamama to the tune of their panpipes, dressed in dazzling costumes and completely masked.

Sikuris

This dance originated on the Altiplano, the highland plateau, particularly because of their worship of mythical Andean beings such as the condor, the suri (the ostrich of the high Andes), the Pachamama (Mother Earth), the apus or mountaintops, the sun, and the moon.

Foto 3: Sikuris

The dance carries a martial rhythm and expresses the deepest sentiments of the inhabitants of Puno. It features the panpipe (or siku), the wind instrument made of pipes of different diameters and lengths, and the drums that set the pace.

Pandilla Puneña

The Marinera and Pandilla Puneña is a hybrid that originated in Puno and is danced the length of the country. It is an unhurried but happy rhythm that expresses the elegance of the women of Puno and the gallantry of the men.

It begins as a marinera, with features similar to the different marinera dances in other regions and is then followed by a Huayno Pandillero or Pandilla. This Pandilla traces its origins to an urban setting in the city of Puno, created in a low social stratum known as “cholada” and then adjusted for a higher social status.

Foto 4: Pandilla Puneña and Huyano Pandillero

The women wear colorful and finely woven shawls and their traditional skirts or polleras. They also wear white blouses and bowler-type hats, with their hair tightly combed into two braids.

The men wear a jacket, white shirt and trousers and a Borsalino-type hat. Many of the clothes are a mix of black and white. They also wear a colorful shawl on their shoulders, which Puno men used to wear in days gone by.

Tundique, Tuntuna and Caporales

The Tundique dance is a reminder of how the black slaves lived during the Colonial period until they were freed. Its origin is a controversy between Peru and Bolivia. The dance is performed mainly by black dancers who play the different roles of slaves, a lawyer, a ranch formal and a female slave.

Foto 5: Tundique

The Tuntuna dance is an offshoot of the Tundique. It tells the story of how the black slaves were forced to work in the mines in the Altiplano. Their rhythms and dances were blended with the local dances, giving shape to a new way of expressing their dance.

Foto 6: Tuntuna

The dance of the Caporales is an offshoot of the Tuntuna, taking on more colorful and dazzling costumes. The movements are more expressive and acrobatic.

Foto 7: Caporales

Besides these already mentioned, there are also many more dances: the Wifala, Morenada, Tucumanos, Qhapu, Tita Titas, Papa Tarpuy, Kajchas, Casarasiri, etc.

Puno dances not only celebrate history and folklore but also invite us to join in a vibrant weaving of rhythm, color and meaning. With each step, gesture and costume, these dances capture the essence of the soul itself of the Andes, transporting us to a world of beauty connected to the place’s roots.

You can get to the city of Puno aboard our PeruRail Titicaca train, on which you can enjoy a luxurious experience you will always remember. Cross the Peruvian Andes to reach the shores of the mystical Lake Titicaca on a completely exclusive train on a route that has been prized for its beauty

This majestic experience includes a three-course gourmet lunch, a show and taste session of the famous Pisco Sour, live typical music and dances and, of course, one of the best views you can ever have of the Peruvian Andes. Get your tickets here!

Cusco Colorful Carnival

Katherine Cordova — Mon, 22 May 2023 14:09:57 +0000

The ancient city of Cusco blooms with color during the Carnival, when locals and tourists are united in an exciting celebration where attendees splash each other with talc and water, among other lighthearted traditions. Keep reading to learn more about these famous festivities.

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.

Thinking of visiting Cusco during Carnival season? Then be sure not to miss the view from the PeruRail Vistadome train, which offers exceptional comfort and an unrivaled experience on your journey to Machu Picchu. Get your tickets here.

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

Celebration of Corpus Christi in Cusco

Katherine Cordova — Mon, 22 May 2023 14:02:17 +0000

Corpus Christi is a very traditional religious celebration in the imperial city of Cusco because it also harbors the customs of several different indigenous peoples in one place and is a beautiful spectacle that amazes visitors as well as the local residents.

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?

San Antonio from the San Cristóbal Parish
San Jerónimo from the District Parish of San Jerónimo
San Cristóbal from the Parish of San Cristóbal
San Sebastián from the District Parish of San Sebastián
Santa Bárbara from the District Parish of Poroy
Santa Ana from the Parish of Santa Ana
Santiago Apóstol from the Parish of Santiago
San Blas from the Parish of San Blas
San Pedro from the Parish of San Pedro
San José from the Parish of Belén
Virgen de la Natividad (Our Lady of the Nativity) from the Parish of Almudena
Virgen de los Remedios (Our Lady of Remedies) from the Church of Santa Catalina
Virgen Purificada (Holy Virgin) from the Parish of San Pedro
Virgen de Belén (Our Lady of Bethlehem) from the Parish of Belén
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!