Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [445]
UK Lima (Map; 01-617-3000; ukinperu.fco.gov.uk; 22nd fl, Torre Parque Mar, Av José Larco 1301, Miraflores; 8am-1pm & 2-5pm Mon-Thu, 8am-1pm Fri)
USA Lima (Map; 01-618-2000; lima.usembassy.gov; Av La Encalada s/n, cuadra 17, Monterrico; 7:30am-5:30pm Mon-Thu, to 12:30pm Fri) This place is a fortress – call before showing up in person.
For up-to-date visa information on travel to Peru, visit www.lonelyplanet.com.
If you need to extend your stay in Peru, receive an exit stamp or secure a new entry card, Click here for oficinas de migraciónes (immigration offices).
Return to beginning of chapter
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Many Peruvian festivals echo the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar and are celebrated with great pageantry, especially in indigenous highland villages, where Catholic feast days are often linked with traditional agricultural festivals, such as the harvest. These days provide an excuse for a fiesta, and include plenty of drinking, dancing, rituals and processions. Other holidays are of historical or political interest, such as Fiestas Patrias (National Independence Days). Local fiestas and festivals are held somewhere almost every week. Many are described under the individual towns where they are held. See opposite for public holidays that are observed nationally.
January
Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day) This holiday, held on January 1, is particularly important in Huancayo, where a fiesta continues until Epiphany (January 6; see boxed text, Click here).
Fiesta de la Marinera (last week in January) National dance festival in Trujillo (Click here).
February
La Virgen de la Candelaria (Candlemas) Held on February 2, this highland fiesta is particularly colorful around Puno, where folkloric music and dance celebrations last for two weeks (see boxed text, Click here).
Carnaval Held on the last few days before Lent (February/March), this holiday is often ‘celebrated’ with weeks of water fights, so be warned. It’s popular in the highlands, with the fiesta in Cajamarca being one of the biggest (see boxed text, Click here). It’s also busy in the beach towns.
March & April
Fiesta de la Vendimia (Wine Festival) Sample local wine in Ica (Click here). Held in the second week of March.
Semana Santa (Holy Week) The week before Easter Sunday is celebrated with spectacular religious processions almost daily, with Ayacucho (Click here) being recognized as having the best in Peru. Arequipa (Click here), Huancayo (Click here) and Huaraz (Click here) are also good for Easter processions.
May
Festival of the Crosses This festival is held on May 3 in Lima, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Junín, Ica and Cuzco.
Q’oyoriti At the foot of Ausangate, outside of Cuzco, in May/June (see boxed text, Click here).
June
Corpus Christi Processions in Cuzco (Click here) are especially dramatic. Held on the ninth Thursday after Easter.
Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun; also the Feast of St John the Baptist and Peasant’s Day) The greatest of the Inca festivals celebrates the winter solstice on June 24. It’s certainly the spectacle of the year in Cuzco (Click here), attracting thousands of Peruvian and foreign visitors. It’s also a big holiday in many jungle towns.
San Pedro y San Pablo (Feasts of Sts Peter & Paul) More fiestas on June 29, especially around Lima and in the highlands.
July
La Virgen del Carmen Held on July 16, this holiday is mainly celebrated in the southern sierra, with Paucartambo (Click here) and Pisac near Cuzco, and Pucará near Lake Titicaca being especially important.
Fiestas Patrias (National Independence Days) Celebrated nationwide on July 28 and 29, with festivities in the southern sierra beginning with the Feast of St James on July 25.
August
Feast of Santa Rosa de Lima This involves major processions on August 30 and is held in Lima (Click here), Arequipa and Junín to honor the patron saint of Lima and of the Americas.
September
El Festival Internacional de la Primavera (International Spring Festival) Supreme displays of horsemanship, dancing and cultural celebrations in Trujillo during the last