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Festivals in Peru

Whether you choose one of our Machu Picchu holidays or piece together some of our Peru tours, you may well come across a festival during your time in Peru.

If you want to visit the sites that Peru has to offer or simply would like some inspiration for a holiday, take a look at our Peru holidays for some options.

Peru National Holidays
The following are official Peruvian national holidays:

1 January: New Year's Day
March - April: Semana Santa (Easter). National celebrations include a colourful parade in Cuzco honouring the patron saint Nuestro Señor de los Temblores, on Easter Monday and Maundy Thursday. The week is celebrated in several towns and villages in the highlands. The celebrations are a real spectacle, but keep in mind it's a national holiday which means the Peruvians all head for the popular tourist attractions as well. Hotels and domestic flights can be fully booked during this period.
1 May: Labor Day
29 June: San Pedro y San Pablo
28 and 29 July: Fiestas Patrias (Independence Day)
30 August: Santa Rosa di Lima
8 October: Battle ofAngamos
1 November: All Saints
8 December: Immaculate Conception
25 December: Christmas

Festivals in Peru: January to May

January: 15-20 January: Lima anniversary.
February: 2-14 February: Virgen de la Candelaria. In Puno 'La Mamita Candicha', the patron saint of the city is honoured with an elaborate colourful fiesta. Thousands of people flock to the city to join in the processions, fireworks and dance performances.
24-27 February: Carnival in Puno en Cajamarca. Carnival is celebrated throughout Peru, but in Puno and Cajamarca it's celebrated mostly with pandilla dancing and other traditional fiestas.
March: first or second week: Vendimia Festival. In Ica the traditional wine harvest is celebrated with processions, dance and most importantly, wine.
April: third week: Caballo de Paso Peruano horse competition held in Mamacona, 30km south of Lima. Beautiful display of the traditional Caballo de Paso Peruano horses.
May: 2 May: Cruz Velacuy. The crucifixes of all the churches in Cuzco are decorated in a celebration of gratitude for a plentiful harvest.
2-4 May: Las Alasitas. Major arts fair of miniature traditional arts and crafts held in La Paz.

Festivals in Peru: June to August

June: 24 June: Fiesta del Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun). Ancient festival held in Sacsayhuaman, north of Cuzco with authentic Inca rituals, processions, folk dancing and competitions. If you happen to be in the area, don't miss it.
28 June: Festival of St Peter, celebrated in the Peruvian Altiplano.
July: 15-17 July: Festival of the holy virgin Carmen. Celebrated everywhere in the highlands, most colourful fiesta is in Paucartambo, 256km from Cuzco.
August: 13-22 August: Arequipa Week. Most important annual festival in the city, including dance, arts fair and fireworks on the 15th.
30 August: Festival of Santa Rosa in Lima

Festivals in Peru: September to December

September: 18 September: Uno Urgo. Urgo ceremonies with dance and processions in Urco and Calca, near Cuzco.
October (varying dates). Señor de Luren festival. Thousands of pilgrims come to Ica to revere the patron saint. Lord of Miracles: spectacular procession honouring Lima’s patron saint.
November: 1-7 November: Puno week. Celebration of the founding of the city by the Spanish and fascinating re-enactment of the appearance of the founders of the Inca Empire, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, from Lake Titicaca. Some of the most beautiful traditional fiestas are held here during this week.
December: 24 December: Santo Ranticuy. Traditional toy fair in Cuzco. People flock here from all over to buy and sell nacimientos (Christmas decorations).

Festivals in Peru - Colourfully dressed locals

Bolivia's National Holidays

The following dates are official Bolivian national holidays:

1 January: New Year's Day
February - March: Carnival
March - April: Easter
1 May: Labour Day
May - June: Ascension Day
6 August: Independence Day
1 November: All Saints
25 December: Christmas

Other festivals and events:

Bolivia has numerous local festivals and celebrations across the country. These are the largest or most important ones:

January: 24-31 January: Feria Alacitas. Festival in honour of the little Andean idol of abundance Ekeko, held in La Paz.

February: 10 February: Mineworker’s festival in Potosi and Oruro.

24-27 February: Carnival in Puno and Cajamarca. Carnival in these two cities is celebrated mostly with pandilla dancing and other traditional fiestas.

March: second week: Carnival of Tarbuco
19 March: Festival of St Joseph
23 March: Festival of the Sea

April: Bi-annual Latin-American music festival held around Santa Cruz.

May: 23 May: Sucre Festival

June: 21 June: Aymara New Year, winter solstice celebrations at the ruins of Tiwanaku, south of La Paz.

July: 16 July: Festival of La Paz
End of July: student festival in La Paz celebrating Bolivian folklore

August: 5- 6 August: Maria Festival in Copacabana
15-17 August: several festivals across the country, including the Dog Festival in Potosi and Urkupiña in Cochabamba. 17 August is Flag Day
Last week of august: Festival week in Potosi: Chutillos

September: 5-13 September: Anniversary of La Paz
8 September: Rosasani festival in Copacabana
24 September: Festival of Santa Cruz

October: 1 October: Festival of the rose garland in La Paz
20 October: La Paz festival
whole of October: Latin-American cultural festival in Sucre and Potosi

November: 10 November: Festival of Potosi

December: 8 December: Festival of Immaculate Conception

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