Hostels Cusco Peru
The Classic 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a bucket list standard, and possibly the most famous hike in the world. Its history, abundant nature, expansive views, and ancient ruins never fail to excite the thousands of guests who tackle the trek each year in their attempt to arrive at the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu Citadel much in the same way that people did during the time of the Inca Empire.
This Saturday and Sunday (May 14th and 15th), the town of Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas will celebrate a festival in honor of its patron. Señor de Torrechayoc. And like many Andean towns, Urubamba celebrates its faith with a riot of dance and color!
During the time of the Inca Empire, Inti Raymi was one of the year’s biggest celebrations, and it continues being so today. Set in place by Pachakutec Inka Yupanki, Inti Raymi marked the winter solstice with a series of rituals and general festivities. Although banned by the Spanish after the conquest, it was revived in 1944, following a script based on the chronicles of Inca Garcilaso, which were written shortly after the conquest.
Up to the time of the Spanish Conquest, the people of Cusco venerated mallquis, the mummies of former leaders, adorning them with care and carrying them through the streets atop heavy litters on sacred days. Although the appalled Spanish banned this custom, it was retained through a simple solution: rather than abandoning the practice completely, the mummies were replaced with statues of saints and the Virgin Mary, giving birth of the modern Corpus Christi festival in Cusco. Thus, the colorful Corpus Christi celebrations of Cusco are as Andean as they are Catholic.
Throughout the month, the city will be decorated with the rainbow flag of Cusco and folkloric dance parades will take place daily between the 10th and 20th of June. We’ll be publishing the day-to-day program next week, but did want to share the highlights right away. From the Inti Raymi Festival to the Night of Light & Sound, these are the biggest events for Cusco’s Jubilee month, celebrated this year from May 29th through July 03rd:
