Peru’s National Pisco Sour Day is coming up this weekend- as it always falls on the first Saturday of each February, it will fall on Febr0.

We haven’t been able to locate information regarding Cusco’s celebrations, but we’ll definitely be offering special prices at Pirwa Colonial Backpackers’s bar.

Or, if you feel like staying in and testing your bartending skills, take advantage of the guest kitchens available in all of our hostel locations to experiment a bit. Here’s a classic pisco sour preparation for starters:

 

For 1 large (8oz) cocktail, or 2 small cocktails, mix 3oz of pisco, 1oz of lime juice, 1oz of simple syrup, and 1 egg white in a cocktail shaker. Add ice to fill and shake vigorously, then strain into a glass and sprinkle 2 to 3 drops of Angostura bitters on top of the foam.

Left to Right: Enjoying a drink and checking out the tip jar at the bar in Pirwa Colonial in Cusco, and making Pisco Sours for a crowd at Pirwa Lima during New Year’s Eve.

Lima: This year’s Pisco Sour Festival will take place at Alameda Chabuca Granda Park from February 1^st through 3^rd. There will be free tastings as well as 2 for 1 deals, for the traditional pisco sour as well as for its modern variations such as those featuring aguaymanto, mango, chicha morada, maracuyá and camu-camu from the jungle. Shows and concerts will also highlight Limeño culture, including Marinera dances. There will also be an exhibit detailing the pisco production process, with more than 20 pisco producers from all over the country.

On Saturday February 2^nd there will be a walking tour known as the Pisco Route, a circuit of taverns, restaurants and other traditional sites for learning about the history and fabrication of the national cocktail, sampling the cocktails, and visiting some of the city’s emblematic buildings. It will begin at 3:00pm at Hotel Bolívar and finish at Hotel Maury, both within the Cercado de Lima, the historical center of Lima. (One can sign up at the Office of Touristic Information at Pasaje Los Escribanos 145, in the center of Lima.)

If you’re interested in Pub Crawling or visiting some of Lima’s bars, stop by reception at Pirwa Inclan B&B or Pirwa Prada Backpackers and we’ll see if we can get a group together!

Arequipa: Expect a variety of festivities at Arequipa’s day-long festival on February 1^st in the city’s main square, during which 6,000 glasses of the national drink will be distributed free of charge.

Ica: Ica will celebrate on February 2^nd with a parade of floats, dancers, and musicians along Avenida Municipalidad, the entirety of Bolívar Street, and Avenida Cutervo, later entering into the Ica Fairground. At the fairground there will be free tastings, shows, contests, a food festival and wine fair, a presentation of Peruvian Paso Horses and a communal toast.

Trujillo: Trujillo is expecting around 5,000 to attend their 9^th Gastronomic Festival on February 2^nd at 11am, stands with Pisco Sours and traditional stews and other dishes. There’s an optional S/1 entry cost which entitles visitors to one small glass of pisco sour.

Lima’s all abuzz at the moment with the celebration of the 478 ^th anniversary of city’s Spanish founding.

Those of you with a sweet tooth will definitely want to stop by Mega Plaza commercial center, where the Limeño Dessert Festival will be continuing until this Sunday the 20^th. The event showcases the traditional treats of Old Lima. From 1pm to 9pm, you can sample some of the city’s best sweets and deserts while also enjoying some traditional dance shows.

What should you try? Some of the most popular are the Suspiro a la Limeña (a pudding and meringue combo), Mazamorra Morada (a purple corn pudding), Arroz con Leche (rice pudding), Picarones (pumpkin fritters in syrup), and Alfajores Limenos (sandwich cookies).

Some domestic cooking stars will be present- the recent winner of the Peru Sweets Festival in the Traditional Stewed Sweets category, Alberto Fernandez Villalobos, a Mistura 2012 Winner in the category of best Alfajor, Gustavo Avalos Vildoso, and the 2012 Presidente de la República winne3r in the category of the best King Kong Lambayecano, Efraín Macassi Mandujano.

After you’ve filled up on some treats, think about making your way to the Plaza Central, Lima’s Main Square. From 3pm this afternoon through 1am tomorrow morning, well-known rock, cumbia, Peruvian Creole and Andean musicians will take part in the traditional serenade to Lima.

The roster includes Peru’s “First Guitar”, Oscar Avilés, internationally renowned singer Eva Ayllón, Eusebio “Chato” Grados, the Hermanos Yaipén cumbia group, rocker Micky González, Teresa Palomino dance group, Kilomba, Bareto, Olodum Afro Perú, the Gaytán Brothers, Lucy Avilés, the Municipal Folkloric Ballet, and Camaguey Orchestra.

Aside from the musical spectacle, catch the colorful float parade along the central streets of Lima, and the fireworks show later in the evening as well.

If you can’t make it to today’s concert, there will be another chance to see some of the featured artists Friday the 18^th at Huáscar de Villa El Salvador Park from 2:30pm on, Saturday the 19^th at Sinchi Roca de Comas, and Sunday the 20^th at Huiracocha Park in San Juan de Lurigancho.

If you have any questions, stop by reception at either of our two locations in Lima for advice on where to go and what to try in Lima. Not only is our knowledgeable staff is eager to make you feel at home, but both Pirwa Inclan B&B and Pirwa Prada Backpackers are located in the most popular neighborhood for travelers, Miraflores, just a couple of blocks from the always lively Kennedy Park!

Thanks to everyone who made our New Years Eve parties in Cusco and Lima such a success. We all had a great and memorable time, and hope that you did too!

It’s finally here- We’ve got new lights, dj and soundsystem, have stocked up on drinks (and a drinking tube…) and everything else we need to throw what we think will be our best New Year’s party ever!

It all starts at 9pm and will continue on through to the morning- no cover, and no outrageously high drink prices as happens in other locals on New Years. Stop by any of our Cusco hostel receptions for details, directions, and a bracelet for entry- we hope to see you there!!