Festivals in Peru: Your Month-by-Month Guide to Authentic Celebrations
- Peruwayna Spanish School in Lima
- May 6
- 12 min read
Updated: Jun 3
Here, we have curated a list of the best festivals to experience while traveling in Perú and learning Spanish in Peru with Peruwayna. Peru is a country of extraordinary cultural wealth, home to more than 3,000 traditional festivals every year. These vibrant celebrations in Peru highlight a unique blend of indigenous traditions and Catholic influences, offering travelers an immersive glimpse into the soul of Peruvian society. Whether you're exploring the Andes, the Amazon, or the coast, there’s likely a festival happening nearby — from spiritual rituals to joyful parades.
From the colorful Carnaval in Cajamarca to the ancient Inti Raymi celebration in Cusco, these authentic Peruvian festivals are living expressions of faith, heritage, and identity. Some are globally renowned, like the UNESCO-recognized Fiesta de la Candelaria, while others remain hidden cultural gems celebrated mostly by locals. This updated 2025 guide walks you through the best festivals in Peru, month by month, so you can plan your travels around the most unforgettable events the country has to offer.
January and February Festivals
The year begins with a powerful display of cultural energy. January and February are packed with iconic Peruvian festivals that reflect both ancient traditions and colonial legacies — from traditional dance competitions to massive religious processions. These are some of the best months to experience Peruvian culture firsthand.
La Fiesta de la Candelaria (Puno)
Held in February in the city of Puno, La Fiesta de la Candelaria is one of the most spectacular and important religious festivals in Peru. Declared by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, this event draws tens of thousands of participants and performers.
The celebration honors the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of Puno, blending Catholic rituals with Andean spiritual symbolism. Over 40,000 dancers and musicians participate in dazzling parades, dressed in intricate costumes that represent regional myths and stories. The festival is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Quechua and Aymara peoples, making it a true showcase of Andean cultural identity.
Festival de la Marinera (Trujillo)
Each January, the coastal city of Trujillo becomes the stage for the Festival de la Marinera, one of the most elegant and emblematic cultural festivals in Peru. Recognized as part of Peru’s national cultural heritage, this celebration pays tribute to the Marinera, a romantic dance that symbolizes courtship and grace.
The event features national dance competitions, parades, and showcases of the Peruvian paso horse, another cultural icon. Trujillo, officially named the “Capital of the Marinera,” attracts dancers and spectators from all over the country, making this one of the top January festivals in Peru for travelers interested in traditional Peruvian music and dance.
Pisco Sour Day (Nationwide)
Celebrated on the first Saturday of February, Pisco Sour Day honors Peru’s national cocktail: the Pisco Sour. This festive occasion is observed throughout the country, especially in Lima and the southern coast, where pisco production thrives.
Bars, restaurants, and public plazas host tastings, music performances, and mixology contests. This is a fun, food-and-drink-centered celebration that offers insight into Peru’s gastronomic culture and pride in its national drink. Officially declared a national holiday in 2003, it’s one of the most lively modern festivals in Peru.
Carnaval de Cajamarca (Cajamarca)
Often referred to as the “Capital of Peruvian Carnival”, Cajamarca hosts one of the most spirited and colorful Carnaval celebrations in Peru. Held in February or early March, this multi-day event combines Andean rituals, satire, and joy in equal parts.
The highlight is the arrival of Ño Carnavalón, a giant puppet figure who leads the festivities, followed by the famous Paint Day, where locals and visitors alike throw water, paint, and talcum powder in playful chaos. The celebration ends with the symbolic burial of Ño Carnavalón, symbolizing the transition into Lent. For a deeper cultural experience, Cajamarca’s Carnival is one of the most unique traditional festivals in Peru to attend.
March and April Celebrations
As Peru transitions into autumn, the months of March and April bring a mix of religious festivals, agrarian rituals, and community-centered celebrations. These events reflect Peru’s unique cultural blend — ancient practices rooted in the earth, overlaid with Catholic symbolism. It’s a perfect time to witness how festivals in Peru honor both nature and spirit.
Festival Internacional de la Vendimia (Ica)
Each March, the Ica region comes alive with the Festival Internacional de la Vendimia, or International Grape Harvest Festival. This annual event celebrates Peru’s wine and pisco production heritage, which dates back to colonial times. The 2025 edition marks its 60th anniversary, promising even more elaborate festivities and cultural programming.
The highlight of the festival is the traditional grape stomping ceremony, where participants — including the Harvest Queen — crush grapes with their feet in massive wooden barrels. Beyond this symbolic act, visitors enjoy pisco and wine tastings, traditional food fairs, live music, and parades featuring folkloric dances. It’s one of the best March festivals in Peru for food and wine lovers looking for authentic regional experiences.
Semana Santa (Holy Week – Nationwide)
Celebrated in late March or early April (depending on the calendar year), Semana Santa in Peru is among the country’s most deeply observed religious holidays. From the highlands of Cusco and Ayacucho to coastal towns and jungle communities, each region adds its own cultural imprint to the Catholic observances.
In Cusco, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday processions and culminates in dramatic reenactments of the Passion of Christ. In Ayacucho, known for having 33 churches (one for each year of Jesus’s life), the entire city becomes a stage for spiritual processions, traditional markets, and cultural exhibitions. On Good Friday, thousands gather in silence, while Easter Sunday erupts with fireworks, music, and celebrations of resurrection.
Semana Santa is one of the most important and emotionally resonant traditional celebrations in Peru, where faith, art, and local tradition converge in powerful ways.
El Señor de los Temblores (Cusco)
Unique to Cusco, this local version of the Holy Monday procession is known as El Señor de los Temblores — or Lord of the Earthquakes. It dates back to 1650, when an image of a dark-skinned Christ was believed to have stopped a deadly earthquake in the former Inca capital.
The image is now considered Cusco’s protector and is paraded annually on a gold-and-silver platform through the city’s historic center. The procession is decorated with red ñucchu flowers, symbolizing the blood of Christ and Andean spiritual traditions. Thousands of locals line the streets to witness this emotional tribute, making it one of the most revered religious festivals in Peru.
More than a Catholic ritual, this celebration represents the fusion of indigenous beliefs and colonial religion, a recurring theme in many of Peru’s most authentic festivals.
May and June Highlights
May and June bring a wave of deeply spiritual and historically rooted celebrations, especially across Peru’s Andean highlands. These months feature some of the most meaningful and visually striking festivals in Peru, including pre-Columbian ceremonies, Inca rituals, and Catholic processions that continue to shape the nation’s identity.
Fiesta de las Cruces (Various Regions)
Held every year on May 3rd, the Fiesta de las Cruces (Festival of the Crosses) is celebrated in many regions across Peru — particularly in the highlands of Cusco, Ayacucho, and Apurímac. Introduced by Spanish missionaries to replace indigenous rituals, this event has since evolved into a powerful hybrid of Catholic and Andean traditions.
Communities craft wooden crosses, decorate them with flowers, fabrics, and sacred symbols, and parade them through town accompanied by traditional music and dance. In Cusco, the local variant called Cruz Velacuy begins the night before with vigils, followed by vibrant processions and fireworks. The festival is typically organized by a designated “carguyoc”, or community sponsor, who oversees the rituals and hospitality.
The Festival of the Crosses is a meaningful example of syncretic religious celebrations in Peru, where the symbolism of the Catholic cross merges seamlessly with earth-based Andean spirituality.
Corpus Christi (Cusco)
Celebrated nine weeks after Holy Thursday, Corpus Christi in Cusco is one of the city's most visually captivating and sacred events. This Catholic festival in Peru dates back to the colonial era but is rooted in even older Inca traditionsof public ritual and sacred procession.
Fifteen statues of saints and virgins are carried from surrounding churches to Cusco’s Cathedral, accompanied by musicians, dancers, and faithful followers. Each image is richly adorned, and the Plaza de Armas fills with sound, color, and ceremony.
During the celebration, locals enjoy Chiriuchu, a traditional cold dish that blends ingredients from the coast, highlands, and jungle. Made with roast guinea pig, seaweed, cheese, corn, and spicy rocoto pepper, it’s an edible symbol of Peru’s cultural fusion.
Corpus Christi stands as one of the most important religious festivals in Peru and remains a must-see if you’re in Cusco during early June.
Q’eswachaka Bridge Festival (Canas Province)
One of the most fascinating and least-known authentic Peruvian traditions is the Q’eswachaka Bridge Festival, held each June in the remote Canas Province of Cusco. During this four-day event, local communities come together to rebuild the last remaining Inca rope bridge, a tradition passed down for more than 500 years.
Made entirely of braided ichu grass, the bridge stretches 28 meters across the Apurímac River. The rebuilding begins by cutting down the old bridge, followed by a meticulous reconstruction using ancient engineering techniques. Four villages collaborate on the task, singing and working communally under the guidance of elder engineers.
Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Q’eswachaka Bridge Festival is a rare chance to witness living Inca traditions in practice. It’s a powerful celebration of identity, craftsmanship, and collective memory.
Inti Raymi – Festival of the Sun (Cusco)
Without question, Inti Raymi is one of the most iconic and spectacular festivals in Peru. Held annually on June 24thin Cusco, it honors Inti, the ancient Inca sun god, and marks the winter solstice and Inca New Year.
The modern version of Inti Raymi was revived in 1944 and features more than 800 costumed performers reenacting rituals once practiced during the height of the Inca Empire. The festivities begin at Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), proceed through Plaza de Armas, and culminate at Sacsayhuamán, a dramatic fortress overlooking the city.
Key moments include the Sapa Inca’s address, symbolic sacrifices, and the offering of chicha (fermented corn drink) to Pachamama. The event draws thousands of spectators, both local and international, making it one of the top cultural festivals in South America.
Inti Raymi is more than a show — it’s a vivid expression of Peru’s Inca heritage and enduring spiritual connection to the sun and the earth.
July and August Events
Midyear brings a surge of national pride, spiritual gratitude, and ancestral traditions across Peru. From Independence Day parades to Andean rituals honoring the earth, July and August festivals in Peru represent the diversity of both modern and ancient cultural expressions.
Fiestas Patrias – Independence Day (Nationwide)
Celebrated annually on July 28th and 29th, Fiestas Patrias marks Peru’s independence from Spanish rule and stands as the country’s most important national holiday. These two days are packed with patriotic ceremonies, military parades, and family gatherings.
July 28 honors the 1821 proclamation of independence by General José de San Martín, while July 29 features the Grand Military Parade with the Armed Forces and National Police of Peru. Cities and towns throughout the country hold flag-raising ceremonies, masses, and civic parades, while locals decorate their homes and businesses in red and white.
For travelers, it’s an excellent opportunity to experience modern Peruvian culture and join in patriotic celebrations that reflect deep national pride. Note: book accommodations early, as this is one of the busiest travel periods in Peru.
Carnaval of Arequipa (Arequipa)
Though Arequipa's Carnaval isn’t as internationally famous as Cajamarca's, it’s one of the most culturally rich local festivals in Peru, tracing its roots back to 1541. The celebration begins in early August, blending pre-Hispanic traditions with Spanish influences.
At its heart is the traditional “huifala” (or wifala) ribbon dance, where participants weave vibrant ribbons around a central post. Locals dress in colorful peasant costumes, featuring lace blouses, embroidered skirts, and regional accessories.
What makes Arequipa’s version unique is its community-centered character. Families celebrate in neighborhoods weeks ahead of the main day with caravans, confetti, and music, creating an inclusive, joyful atmosphere. It’s one of the most authentic Peruvian carnivals to experience if you’re looking for off-the-beaten-path cultural events.
Pachamama Day (Andean Highlands)
On August 1st, communities across the Andean highlands celebrate Pachamama Day, one of the most spiritually important ancestral festivals in Peru. Pachamama, or Mother Earth, is revered as the source of all life — responsible for fertility, harvest, and natural balance.
Families begin preparations the night before, cleaning their homes and preparing ritual foods. At dawn, they dig a small hole in the ground and make offerings to Pachamama, including coca leaves, chicha, fruit, candies, and sometimes cigarettes — all intended to ensure prosperity and protection for the coming year.
This ritual blends agricultural traditions with spiritual reverence, and while it is celebrated in cities, the most powerful and authentic experiences are in rural villages of Cusco, Puno, and Apurímac. It’s one of the best examples of living Inca traditions in Peru and reflects the enduring power of indigenous belief systems.
September to October Festivals
As spring arrives in the Southern Hemisphere, festivals in Peru during September and October highlight religious devotion, musical heritage, and the country’s internationally acclaimed gastronomic culture. These months are especially exciting in Lima, which becomes a hub for spiritual and cultural expression.
Señor de los Milagros (Lima)
Every October, the streets of Lima turn purple in honor of El Señor de los Milagros (The Lord of Miracles), one of the largest and most important religious processions in Peru — and in all of Latin America.
The tradition began in 1651 when an Angolan slave painted an image of Christ on an adobe wall in the Pachacamilla district. Despite multiple earthquakes, the mural survived untouched, becoming a sacred symbol of protection and unity. Today, it’s carried through Lima’s historic center on a massive platform weighing over two tons.
Devotees wear purple habits, sing hymns, and toss white and purple petals from balconies. The event draws hundreds of thousands of participants during processions on October 18, 19, 28, and November 1. It’s not only a religious event but also one of the most emotionally powerful cultural experiences in Peru.
Día de la Canción Criolla (Lima)
Celebrated on October 31st, the Día de la Canción Criolla (Day of the Creole Song) pays tribute to Peru’s coastal musical heritage. Established in 1944, it honors música criolla, a genre that fuses Spanish, African, and Andean influences, including styles like vals criollo, festejo, and marinera.
On this day, “peñas criollas” (traditional music venues) come alive with live bands, dancing, and plenty of pisco and Peruvian food. Streets across Lima, especially in neighborhoods like Barranco and Rímac, fill with vibrant performances.
The celebration also coincides with Halloween, creating a lively, multi-layered experience for locals and visitors alike. If you're looking for cultural events in Lima that highlight Peruvian identity through music, this is a must-see.
Perú Mucho Gusto Food Festival (Lima)
Organized by PROMPERÚ, the Perú Mucho Gusto food festival is one of the country’s top culinary events, typically held in October. Chefs and food artisans from all 25 regions gather to present iconic Peruvian dishes, such as ceviche, lomo saltado, chupe de camarones, and anticuchos.
This festival offers more than just food — it features live cooking demonstrations, regional dances, artisanal markets, and pisco tastings. For travelers interested in the intersection of culture and cuisine, it’s one of the most flavorful and engaging cultural festivals in Peru.
November and December Traditions
The final months of the year in Peru bring a sense of spiritual reflection, cultural pride, and holiday celebration. From indigenous mythology to Christmas markets and New Year’s Eve rituals, these months offer a beautiful conclusion to Peru’s dynamic festival calendar.
Semana de Puno (Puno)
Known as the “Folkloric Capital of Peru”, Puno comes alive during the Semana de Puno (Puno Week), celebrated during the first week of November to honor the city's founding. The highlight is a historical reenactment of the legendary birth of the Inca Empire, where actors portraying Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo emerge from the sacred waters of Lake Titicaca.
The week includes nonstop parades, traditional dances, fireworks displays, and music that reflects Aymara and Quechua heritage. For travelers seeking authentic indigenous festivals in Peru, this event offers deep immersion into local mythology and identity.
Santurantikuy (Cusco)
Held every December 24th, Santurantikuy is a traditional Christmas market in Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, whose name means “Sale of Saints” in Quechua. Dating back to the 16th century, this event gathers hundreds of artisans from across the Andes selling nativity figures, handmade textiles, ceramics, and miniature Andean crafts.
The festival’s most iconic figure is Niño Manuelito, a version of baby Jesus represented with Andean features. The event blends Catholic Christmas traditions with indigenous artistry, offering visitors a vivid example of Peru’s cultural hybridity during the holidays.
Christmas and New Year's Eve (Nationwide)
Christmas in Peru is celebrated with strong family traditions. On December 24th, families gather for a midnight feast, known as “Nochebuena”, featuring dishes that vary by region — including roast turkey, lechón (pork), or cuy (guinea pig), accompanied by hot chocolate and panetón (a sweet bread).
A unique custom is the “Revelación del Niño”, where a small statue of baby Jesus is unveiled at midnight, symbolizing His birth. Families then attend Midnight Mass, and gift-giving follows the next morning.
On New Year’s Eve, Peruvian traditions take a playful turn. People wear yellow underwear for good luck, eat 12 grapes at midnight (making a wish for each month), and even run around the block with suitcases to attract travel in the coming year. Fireworks and public celebrations erupt across cities, especially in Lima, Cusco, and Arequipa.
These end-of-year customs are among the most fun and visually striking modern festivals in Peru, blending ritual, superstition, and community spirit. You might also be interested in: 17 Best Things to Do and See in Peru
Conclusion: Festivals in Peru
With over 3,000 festivals celebrated each year, Peru’s festival calendar offers a vivid lens into the country’s cultural, spiritual, and historical identity. Whether you’re witnessing the grandeur of Inti Raymi, the soulful devotion of Señor de los Milagros, or the joyful chaos of Carnaval de Cajamarca, these events are more than just performances — they’re living traditions passed down through generations.
Each month unveils new opportunities to explore authentic Peruvian celebrations: from religious festivals in Cusco and food festivals in Lima, to ancestral Andean rituals in remote highlands. These aren’t staged tourist shows — they’re genuine expressions of Peru’s multicultural heritage, where indigenous beliefs and Catholic customs blend into something entirely unique.
If you're traveling to Peru, aligning your visit with these celebrations will transform your trip into a deeper cultural immersion. And if you want to go even further in your understanding, learning Spanish in Peru is one of the best ways to connect with locals, appreciate the symbolism behind each festival, and engage with the country beyond surface-level tourism.
📚 At Peruwayna Spanish School in Lima, our immersive programs are designed for travelers who want to experience Peru with cultural insight and confidence. Whether you’re here for festivals, gastronomy, or ecotourism, speaking the local language will elevate your entire journey.
➡️ Ready to explore Peru’s rich cultural traditions while learning Spanish? Join our community of international learners and discover Peru beyond the guidebooks.
Because when you understand the festivals in Peru, you don’t just visit the country — you become part of its story. Ready to embark on your Spanish learning journey in Lima? Discover the perfect course for you at Peruwayna! Visit our website to explore our diverse options and start your adventure today. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us—we're here to help!
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