Carnivals are global celebrations filled with color, music, and fun, varying by region and culture. From the famous Carnival in Rio de Janeiro to the elegant Carnival in Venice, these celebrations offer extravagant parades, elaborate costumes, and infectious dances that unite communities around the world, marking a time of fun and relaxation before the start of the Lenten season. In Peru, these festivities are also a cause for great celebration, with the Cajamarca Carnival standing out, with parades, dance contests, and music in the streets, as well as the Puno Carnival, famous for its Festival of the Virgin of Candelaria, which combines the Catholic religion with Andean traditions. Here, colorful costumes, infectious music, and an atmosphere of joy add to the great diversity of carnivals around the world.
In Cajamarca, this festival is one of the most anticipated celebrations by both local residents and national and international tourists. During this festival, everyone enjoys a unique experience full of water, colorful costumes, paintings and, of course, dances. This traditional festival takes place from February 9 to 14, although previously, as in all carnivals, a series of activities are carried out such as the famous water ‘globeada’, dance contests and the presentation of the candidates for Miss Carnival.
During the official days of the carnival, visitors can enjoy a variety of events, including patrol and comparsa contests, concerts and the triumphal entry of Ño Carnavalón. The latter, as the central character of the festival, is an anthropomorphic creature approximately one and a half meters tall, which stands out for its luxurious clothing that reflects abundance in every detail.
At the opposite end of the country, in Puno, from February 2 to 13, the main dates of one of the most important festivals on the continent are celebrated: the Virgin of Candelaria. This event represents a unique fusion between the Catholic faith and Andean religiosity, in honor of the patron saint of Puno, who is closely linked to Pachamama or ‘mother earth’. During this festival, more than 40 thousand dancers and 9 thousand musicians from all over the region fill the streets of Puno with joy and color. They perform parades, traditional dawn masses very early in the morning, fireworks and competitions of typical costumes and dances, all in honor of Mamita Candelaria, as she is known by her devotees. The festival of the Virgin of Candelaria, along with the carnival of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and the carnival of Oruro in Bolivia, are some of the largest and most popular festivals in all of Latin America. Carnivals in Peru, such as the one in Cajamarca and the celebration of the Virgin of Candelaria in Puno, are expressions of the cultural richness of our beautiful and diverse country. More than just celebrations, they are symbols of the deep connection between faith, tradition and the identity of each region, attracting visitors from all over the world to enjoy their color, music and contagious joy. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in these unique festivities and experience the authentic essence of Peruvian culture while delighting in dance, local cuisine and the hospitality of its people.