Colca Festivals

Like Huancayo, Puno, and the shores of Lake Titicaca, Colca has a reputation for vibrant festivals. If you can, plan your trip around any of the following festivals:

La Virgen de Candelaria: celebrated in Chivay, Acoma, and Maca on February 2-3

Carnival: celebrated in late February in Colca

Easter Week: celebrated in April in Colca

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

Virgen del Carmen: celebrated in Cabanaconde and Chivay on July 16

Santiago Apóstol: celebrated in Coporaque and Madrigal on July 25

La Virgen de la Asunción: an eight day festival celebrated in Chivay starting
on August 15

Spring Festival: celebrated in Yanque on Sept 23

La Fiesta de la Virgen del Rosario: celebrated in Chivay, Achoma, Ichupampa, Maca, and Yanque on October 7

Todos Los Santos (All Saints’ Day): celebrated throughout Colca Canyon on November 1-2

Los Fieles Difuntos (All Souls’ Day): celebrated throughout Colca Canyon on November 1-2

La Virgen Imaculada: celebrated in Chivay and Yanque on December 8; celebrations include performances of the five-day Wititi dance.

For further information regarding Peruvian festivals, check out www.peru.org.pe, the government’s tourist agency page. (Note: you can change the language to English by clicking on the drop down list located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen).