CUSCO FESTIVALS

Cusco
Christian festivals were based on the pre-Hispanic tradition of the Taki (means "sing and dance", in Quechua) dedicated to pagan gods.

The celebrations boast a rich programme, which includes parades, dances, processions, pilgrimages, dinners, handicrafts and agricultural fairs and other events which freely alternate between sensuality and spirituality, circular order and temporary chaos, the past and the future.

The festivals of Cusco form a radiant rainbow, whose colours bring together sounds, flavours, textures, scents and a vigorous sense of lively theater to reinvent the history and producing a synthesis of Man and the Earth.

Below is a summary of the most important festivals of the year:

FESTIVALS DESCRIPTION PLACE DATES
The Visit of the Wise Men Folkloric and religious festival Ollantaytambo January 6
Carnivals Party for happiness Cusco February and/or March
Lord. of Tremors The brown Christ and the crimson flower Cusco The second part of March and the first week of April
Cruz Velacuy Party of the crosses and Andean spirit Cusco May and/or June
Qoyllur Rit'i The biggest indigenous pilgrimage in America Quispicanchis The first week of May
Festival of OllantayRaymi Staging of Ollantay drama, dances and typical dishes Ollantaytambo The first part of June
Inti Raymi The Inca festival of the Sun Cusco June 24
Corpus Christi The steps of the saints and the virgins Cusco June
Virgin of the Carmen Mamacha Carmen Paucartambo The second week (15-16) of July
Corpus of Santiago A religious festivity Cusco July 25
Corpus of Santa Ana A religious festivity performed in the chapel of San Cristobal Cusco July 26
Corpus of San Cristobal A religious festivity performed in the chapel of Santa Ana Cusco August 2
Warachikuy Dramatisation of Warachikuy in Sacsayhuaman Cusco August and/or September
Corpus of Almudena A religious festivity celebrated in the church of Almudena Cusco September 8
Lord of Huanca Pilgrimages and agriculture fairs San Salvador September 14
Corpus of San Jeronimo A religious festivity celebrated in the district of San Jeronimo Cusco September 30
Virgin of the Rosary Taurine fairs and preparation of Pachamancas Quispicanchis and Canchis October 10
All the Saints' Day Visits to cemeteries, Preparation of the suckling pig Cusco November 1 - 2
Christmas in Cusco Time of integration and artistic splendour Cusco December 24-25
Santuranticuy Fair The sale of saints Cusco December 24