Latin Americans love fiestas (festivals), which punctuate nearly every month of the year. And Peru is no exception! Peru is a unique gem situated along the Pacific coast. Its fusion of Indigenous cultures and languages along with Spanish traditions and Catholicism creates opportunities to celebrate unique people and events. Explore some of the most famous and most unique festivals in Peru.
1. Festival de Marinera (Trujillo Marinera Festival)
When: January
Where: Trujillo
What to expect: Marinera is a type of courtship dance in Trujillo—with Andean, Spanish, Gypsy, and Islamic influences—so you’ll see lots of folks rendering their version of it to try to win the marinera contest. Despite the ancient influences, the marinera dance honors the Peruvian Navy’s participation in the War of the Pacific in the late eighteenth century.
In addition to watching folks compete to be named the best marinera dancers, get ready for a parade and two more contests: for the best caballo de paso (a special Peruvian horse) and the best passacalle music (music that originated in the streets of Spain).
Fun fact: Passacalle music is associated with endings. In Quechua, it’s called aywalla, which basically means “I’m out of here.”
2. La Fiesta Candelaria (Candlemas)
When: February 2
Where: all over Peru—especially in Puno
What to expect: Known as Candlemas in English, Candelaria is a celebration honoring the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus that’s particularly significant in Peru with its blending of Catholic and Indigenous traditions. Not only is Mary honored but so is the indigenous earth goddess, Pachamama.
The Puno festival features thousands of dancers in traditional, heavily layered costumes with ornate masks and headpieces along with the singers and musicians who accompany them or play music separately.
Fun fact: Aside from the Catholic-inspired rituals, Indigenous purification ceremonies are performed. Many participants and attendees speak Quechua or Aymara, the official languages of Peru (along with Spanish).
3. Día Nacional del Pisco Sour (Pisco Sour Day)
When: first Saturday of February
Where: all over Peru—especially Lima
What to expect: The Pisco Sour is Peru’s most famous cocktail and has been declared part of the nation’s Cultural Heritage. It often accompanies ceviche, a raw fish appetizer with seasonings and lime juice. The cocktail also includes lime juice, an egg white, and pisco—a liquor made from grapes.
On Pisco Sour Day, some folks do a Pisco Sour tour, stopping at traditional and modern bars to savor the drinks. We think the bars of the Museo de Pisco (Pisco Museums—there are three: in Lima, Arequipa, and Cusco) are a great place to start.
Fun fact: This drink has been attributed to an English immigrant in Lima in the early part of the twentieth century, but there’s some debate over its origin.
4. Carnaval de Cajamarca (Cajamarca Carnival)
When: begins five days before Ash Wednesday (usually February, but dates may vary)
Where: Cajamarca
What to expect: The parades and presentations of locals in traditional Indigenous costumes feature wildly colorful giant puppets (powered by humans) and catchy folkloric music and dances like the upbeat cilulo.
The Ño Carnavalón (Carnival King)—a giant paper mache figure with a huge smile—kicks off the festivities before the painting begins. This is also the day folks throw water and paint at each other, all in good fun.
Fun fact: Carnaval ends with the feigned death of Ño Carnavalón, complete with coffin, mourners, and wake. The next day, on Ash Wednesday, the larger-than-life puppet is buried, but not without some searing comments directed at politicians before he goes underground.
5. Festival Internacional de la Vendimia (International Wine and Pisco Festival)
When: first week of March (and other dates in other cities)
Where: Ica—although other cities may also participate
What to expect: In a celebration of gratitude for wine and pisco, this festival features musical artists of international renown in concert. There are also small tasting events at individual wine producers throughout the city and region of Ica.
There’ll be a Reina de la Vendimia (Queen of the Harvest) who presides over the festivities and contests for the best songs, dances, Afrodance, art, poetry, and even dogs.
Fun fact: The Ica region is one of the biggest producers of wine in Peru, and Peru is one of the largest producers of wine in Latin America. Though a liquor not a wine, pisco is also made from grapes.
6. Fiesta de las Cruces (Festival of the Crosses)
When: May 3 (and sometimes the day before)
Where: Cusco, Ayacucho, Apurimac, Junin, Ica, Puno, Pasco, and other locations
What to expect: Processions through the streets of flower-covered crosses with embroidered fabrics are the mainstay of this festival. These large, heavy crosses are usually transported on people’s shoulders.
You’ll also experience folkloric music and, in some cities and towns, the vigorous danza de tijeras (scissors dancers), with exquisite costumes, on-pointe moves, and a curiously Asian feel.
Fun fact: Brought by the Spaniards and probably linked to pagan spring rites, the Fiesta de las Cruces is also associated with St. Helen. She’s famously from the Byzantine era, where she searched for and allegedly found the True Cross on which Jesus died. In Peru, this festival overlaps with the Indigenous one, which celebrates the earth mother Pachamama.
7. Qeswachaka (Rope Bridge Festival)
When: second Sunday in June, with activities beginning three days before
Where: Qeswachaka near Cusco
What to expect: Incas were particularly good at weaving tight and sophisticated textiles. Today, this festival celebrates Indigenous ingenuity: In this case, their ability to weave a completely functional rope bridge by hand! The Q’eswachaka bridge, capable of supporting multiple people at a time, gets woven anew every June at one of the most unique festivals in Peru.
Along with watching this impressive feat of engineering, you’ll see dancers in their gorgeous traditional dress, listen to music, and eat some delicious food. There is also a Pachamama ceremony to honor the earth goddess.
Fun fact: During the Incan Empire, the bridge was part of the Qhapaq Ñan (Royal Road), which led to Machu Picchu.
8. Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun God)
When: June 24
Where: Cusco
What to expect: This recreation of the ancient Inca festival is performed in three beautiful outdoor locations with around 800 participants. Inti Raymi features an Incan king and queen, elaborate costumes, and breathtaking dancing.
Occurring in three acts and three locations, Inti Raymi is now among the most important festivals in Peru. It begins at the Qorikancha Temple and then moves toward the main square while most visitors await the principal ceremony at Sacsayhuamán.
Over 100 other related events occur around this time of year. The dancing, costumes, and setting are just some of the things that make this festival so special.
Fun fact: Inti Raymi means “Festival of the Sun God” in Quechua, the most widely spoken Indigenous language in Peru.
9. Fiestas Patrias (Peru Independence Day)
When: July 28
Where: all over Peru
What to expect: Peru explodes with activities and color on this day in parades, folkloric dancing and music, Indigenous costumes, and cultural events. Cities are decorated with flags and patriotic imagery in preparation for the grand event.
Celebrations start the night before with private parties and public events. There will be fireworks and many street vendors with traditional food and drink, too.
On July 28 in Lima—the nation’s capital—there’s a military parade and a special ceremony where the Peruvian flag is raised at the Plaza de Armas before the president gives a speech.
Fun fact: Although Peru declared independence on July 28, 1821, the fight for total independence continued for another three years.
10. Día de Santa Rosa de Lima (St. Rose of Lima Day)
When: August 30
Where: Lima
What to expect: St. Rose is Lima’s saint and is deeply venerated by many Peruvians, so August 30 is a national holiday. The church of her namesake and its associated nuns can be found in downtown Peru.
Limeños (Lima residents) visit the place where she was born, which includes the small hut that allowed her to practice her spirituality. In the compound, St. Rose’s devotees drop letters in the Pozo de Deseos (Well of Desires), asking the saint to cure their illnesses or grant them a wish.
A large statue of the saint surrounded by roses, her special attribute, is paraded through the streets on high, accompanied by thousands of devout limeños.
Fun fact: St. Rose of Lima is the patron saint of the Americas, the Philippines, and the East Indies. Aside from Peru, she is particularly venerated in Mexico.
11. Procesión del Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles Procession)
When: throughout October and early November, but especially on the first Saturday of October, October 18, 29, and 28, and November 1
Where: Santuario de las Nazarenas and the Parroquia de Santa Rosa, Lima—and anywhere in Peru where brotherhoods of the Señor exist
What to expect: Those of the religious orders—especially the Nazarenas (Nazarenes) dressed in their purple habits—flood the streets in devotion to the patron saint of Lima. Since the color of Jesus of Nazareth is purple, this is purple month. The limeños even eat a purple dessert called mazamorra morada (purple maize pudding).
Fun fact: The image of the Lord of Miracles was first painted in a downtown limeño (Lima) church by an Angolan slave in the sixteenth century. After Lima experienced several earthquakes, the only thing left standing of the church was the wall with the painting, which was later moved to the Nazarenas Church.
12. Semana de Puno (Puno Week)
When: first week of November
Where: Puno
What to expect: A celebration of Manco Cápac, who is considered to be the founder of the Inca empire. Actors playing Manco Cápac and his wife, Mama Ocllo, in full regalia come out of Lake Titicaca, where Manco Cápac was said to rise from. They then join the procession to the Puno stadium.
Huge boats made of reeds also participate on the lake where the Floating islands of Uros—also made of reeds—house about 80 communities. Drums and shell horns punctuate the processions.
Not-so-fun-fact: Be aware that there may be a sacrifice of a llama, which is a traditional act.
13. Santurantikuy (Sale of Saints)
When: December 24
Where: Plaza de Armas, Cusco
What to expect: Also spelled Santuranticuy, this is one of the biggest crafts festivals in the country, right in time to honor the Niño Manuelito or Niño Jesús (Baby Jesus).
Bring your cash and a bag, perhaps with some newspaper to wrap the fragile treasures you’ll buy. Or maybe you’ll simply observe and smell the herbs and plants that are also on display. Along with handmade figures of Peruvians in traditional dress, angels, devils, and saints, natural products such as eucalyptus leaves can be found. Puppets, dolls, clothing, leather, and silver jewelry are also available for purchase or “window shopping.”
Note: It can get pretty chilly in the mountains of Peru in December, so take a warm jacket or buy a nice shawl of vicuña (vicuna).
Fun fact: A beautiful life-sized Natividad (Nativity scene) is put up but with the Holy Family dressed in handmade Indigenous costumes.
Get to know Spanish even better with Rosetta Stone
These are only some of the many fun festivals in Peru that you could experience! Surrounding yourself with Peruvian culture is a great way to learn Spanish and other languages. Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method works in a similar way by pairing words with contextual images. You’ll be asking, ¿Dónde está el festival? (“Where’s the festival?”) year after year.
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