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.

Galapagos Cruise Ocean Spray Review With their breathtaking natural beauty and unique wildlife, the Galápagos Islands are a destination high on the to-do list of curious globetrotters. B...

Preparing for a Trek in the Andes Bolivia and Peru offer up some of the most breathtaking trekking routes in the world, so it’s no wonder that an Andean trek makes it on to so many buc...

National Pisco Sour Day Aracari's Weekly Insight The Question: To which Peruvian cocktail is tomorrow dedicated? The Answer: Tomorrow, the first Saturday in Februar...

Visiting the Mario Testino Association in Barranco, Lima It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Lima, and I decided that I wanted to see the new exhibit Piruw and Wanu at the art gallery MATE. I wandered down ...

Semana del Sabor 2013: Celebrating the Unique Flavours of Peru and Fra... On Tuesday night I ventured with my colleagues Giovanna and Vicky to the Alianza Francesa of Lima to listen to a talk about the gastronomy of Peru and...

Peru Luxury Hotels: Aracari review of Hotel Rio Sagrado Hotel Rio Sagrado in Peru Photo by Orient Express Location: Urubamba Valley Having recently had two of their properties voted amongst the best i...