Peru is famous for its rich culture and colorful festivals, Qoyllur Rit’i festival is an impressive high-altitude pilgrimage in the Cusco region.

Qoyllur Rit’i Festival

This festival is held annually on the north face of Ausangate mounta, on the Sinakara glacial mountain. A world-renowned pilgrimage, it involves a rigorous trek and 2 or 3 nights camping at high altitude, with a high point of around 4,700 metres – although some dedicated revellers will climb right up next to the glacier at 5000 metres.

Worshiping Apu Ausangate Mountain

The festival, which is attended by as many as 50,000 Peruvians, entails the worship of the “Apu” and Lord of Qoyllur R’iti at the same time, merging the traditions of native religion and Catholicism: there is a legend that an image of Christ appeared here in 1780 to a shepherd boy named Mariano Mayta.

The festival has been shown several times by the the BBC as well as other major Television programmes and documentaries. This year’s Qoyllur Rit’i will be held between Saturday, June 18th and Tuesday, June 21st with Corpus Christi on Thursday, June 23rd.

Apu Ausangate

Even if you don’t visit for the tough pilrgimage for Qoyllur Rit’i, it’s still possible to enjoy the wonder of the scenery of Apu Ausangate either by hiking one of the lodge-to-lodge Ausangate trek routes around the mountain, or with a multi-day camping trek. Read more about all of Aracari’s Peru trek options.

Five unmissable highlights of Bolivia As Peru’s more rustic cousin, Bolivia is a country that until the last decade, remained largely unexplored by International travelers. But as one of A...

La Paz Walking Tour La Paz is a metropolis of many nooks and crannies. I had visited La Paz once before in 2011 when I was living in Sucre, but when I was passing through...

A review of the best Sacred Valley Private Villas The Sacred Valley is a must-see destination in Peru and home to a wide range of sumptuous luxury five-star hotels and charming boutique retreats. In a...

Mistura festival 2013 Mistura festival 2013 Mistura is Peru's largest gastronomy fair, with restaurants setting up stalls to showcase their speciality dishes and producers...

Candelaria Festival in Puno Pays Homage to the Virgin of Candlemas The month of February is filled annually with festivities and carnivals in many corners of the world; Peru is no exception. The first two weeks of Feb...

Celebrate the Galapagos! Enjoy multiple benefits during the 200th anni... There aren't many places in the world where the word unique is an understatement, but it barely does justice to the 35 volcanic islands (and counting)...