Festivals

The Colca Valley has a well-deserved reputation for beautiful festivals. La Virgen de Candelaria is celebrated in Chivay, Acoma, and Maca on February 2–3.

Both Carnaval, in late February, and Easter week, in April, are lively in Colca.

La Fiesta de San Juan is celebrated in Yanque and several other Colca towns on June 13.

The celebration of the Virgen del Carmen around July 16 is a huge event in Cabanaconde and Chivay, along with that of Santiago Apóstol in Coporaque and Madrigal on July 25.

An interesting eight-day festival takes place in Chivay from August 15 on, in honor of the town’s patron saint, La Virgen de la Asunción, with simultaneous celebrations taking place in Coporaque, Maca, and Yanque.

Yanque’s Spring Festival happens September 23.

La Fiesta de la Virgen del Rosario takes place October 7 in Chivay, Achoma, Ichupampa, Maca, and Yanque.

Todos Santos (All Saints’ Day) and Los Fieles Difuntos (All Souls’ Day) can be enjoyed throughout Colca Valley on November 1–2.

The final big event is a celebration for La Virgen Inmaculada in Chivay and Yanque, during which time the five-day Wititi dance is performed. The Wititi is also performed in Yanque from December 25 onward.

PromPeru, the government promotion agency, keeps an updated list of festivals at www.peru.info.

© Ross Wehner and Renée del Gaudio from Moon Peru, 3rd Edition