Peru is rapidly becoming a hugely popular tourist destination, with a wide selection of cultural and arts events for travelers to indulge in from north to south.
In addition to taking in the stunning nature trails and breathtaking views, there’s a diverse selection of cultural activities and events to engage in, ranging from arts and music festivals and traditional religious festivities of All Saints Day to foodie events and the high-adrenaline action of the PokerStars Latin American Poker Tour taking place on its soil every year.
If you’re planning a visit to Peru this year, here are a few events that are well worth checking out.
Festival Internacional de la Primavera: end of September – Trujilio, La Libertad Region
The annual International Spring Festival in Trujillo is a multiday event, which sees traditional dancers, street parades, beauty pageants, live music, gastronomic fairs, bullfights, surfing and so much more take place. The vibrant festival is always full of life and bustling with activities, so it should suit every age and taste.
Promised Land of Pozuzo Festival: 4th – 8th October – Pozuzo, Oxapampa Province, Pasco Region
Founded in 1859 by European colonists from Austria and Germany, the town of Pozuzo welcomes a celebration of its foundation and heritage every year. This fantastic event is not only fun for holidaymakers, but should capture the attention of all who have an interest in history and culture too.
El Señor de los Milagros: second half of October – Lima
The El Señor de los Milagros is the largest religious congregation throughout the whole of South America. Processions line the streets of Lima in honour of a miraculous image of Christ, known by the same name as the festival. The main procession usually takes place around 18th, 19th and 28th of October, although the exact dates have yet to be confirmed.
Día de los Difuntos: 2nd November – Nationwide
Known as All Souls’ Day or Day of the Dead, this event takes place across Peru and is an important day for all citizens. Although the festivities are not as lively as in some other countries, the Día de los Difuntos sees families visiting graves of deceased loved ones, usually beginning with a virgil on the night of Día de Todos los Santos on 1st November, continuing through until dawn of the next day.
Ica Tourist Week: 12th – 20th November
The ICA Tourist Week is a fantastic opportunity for all visitors to Peru to indulge in a fantastical array of events and activities. Everything from Marinera dance contents, Peruvian Paso horse shows, live music, beauty queens and more will make up the week long celebrations, with an Open International Sanboarding competition in Huacachina highlighting the schedule.
Creamfields Peru: 16th November
The British dance music festival, Creamfields stops over for its Peruvian edition in November, as one of its many international incarnations. Ideal for young party-goers, this electrifying festival will deliver the best names in the dance music industry to thrill and entertain.
Immaculate Conception: 8th December – National Holiday
The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is a significant date on the Catholic calendar across the world. The day is a national holiday in Peru, with locals across the country engaging in religious parades and street processions to mark this significant day.
Santuranticuy: 24th December – Cusco
If you happen to be travelling around Peru at Christmas time, then Santuranticuy in Cusco should get you in the festive mood. The annual market is held on the main square and sells nativity scenes and other religious and festive items, all hand crafter by artisans from across the country. Pick up some truly unique gifts for your friends and family.
Top photo credit is of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 and is the courtesy of perumascerca.blogspot.co.uk.
Note: this post was made possible and contributed by our partner sponsor PokerStars Latin American Poker Tour.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
