Virgen de Chapi Pilgrimage
Location: Arequipa (desert shrine, 45km from the city) Highlights: Over 100,000 devotees walk barefoot through the desert to honor the Virgin. Fireworks, traditional picantería food, and yaraví music (Andean lament songs).
7 events found.
Fiesta de las Cruces (Festival of the Crosses)
Locations: Nationwide (most famous in Cusco, Lima, and Huánuco) Highlights: Celebrates the Christian cross blended with Inca earth worship (Pachamama). Cusco: Neighborhoods compete with ornate crosses adorned with flowers and mirrors. Huánuco: Danza de...
Q’eswachaka Bridge Festival
Location: Canas Province, Cusco Highlights: Annual rebuilding of the last Inca grass bridge using traditional techniques Community participation with offerings to Apus (mountain spirits) UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event
Qoyllur Rit’i Pilgrimage (Precursor to Corpus Christi)
Location: Sinakara Valley (Cusco), near Ocongate Highlights: One of Peru’s most sacred Andean festivals, blending Inca sun worship (Inti) with Catholicism. Thousands hike to 4,800m to honor the Señor de Qoyllur Rit’i (Christ...
Corpus Christi
Location: Cusco Highlights: 15 saints and virgins paraded from churches to Cusco Cathedral Traditional dishes like chiriuchu (cold spicy platter) Q'apaq Negro dance performances
Fiesta de San Juan (St. John’s Festival)
Location: Amazon regions (especially Iquitos, Pucallpa, Tarapoto) Highlights: Celebrates the Amazonian winter solstice with water purification rituals Traditional dances like the pandilla and humisha (tree cutting ceremony) Feast of juanes (seasoned rice...
Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)
Location: Cusco (Sacsayhuamán fortress) Highlights: The most important Inca festival, honoring the sun god Inti Spectacular reenactment of ancient Inca rituals with 500+ participants in traditional costumes Includes offerings to Pachamama (Mother...
