Already Cusco’s plazas are festively winking with Christmas lights and garlands along the balconies, but it is each December24th that Cusco’s Main Square really comes alive with Peru’s largest folk art fair- Santurantikuy (Saints’ Sale). From throughout Cusco and surrounding regions hundreds of artisans gather, bringing with them their pieces for sale. Some say they begin to prepare for the fair up to 6 months in advance!
Santurantikuy’s main product from the period directly after the Spanish conquest through relatively recent times was the Niño Manuelito (Enmanuel, the Child Christ) in many variations, and other characters for the adornment of holiday nativities. The most traditional incarnation of the Niño Manuelito is as a young child sitting in a wooden chair with one foot raised and showing a wound. Buyers will ask him for a wish and insert a thorn in the wound which doesn’t get taken out until the wish is granted! It used to be that altars were present and the fair finished in the early afternoon. Nowadays, the wares have become quite varied, including decorative ceramics, wood and barkwork, silverwork, stonework, leatherwork, sculptures and more alongside traditional nativity pieces.
Some might try to take advantage of the crowding, so keep a close watch on your pockets and possessions in order to ensure that you can enjoy the event without any negative experiences. The atmosphere is lively, there’ll be food vendors offering Cusco’s brand of street food, and as the day continues and the weather cools you can buy some ponche or hot chocolate to heat up. If you’ll be in Cusco on December 24th, don’t miss it!
Santurantikuy: Cusco’s Christmas Eve Fair was last modified: December 26th, 2011 by Pirwa
In most of the cities of Peru, Christmas Eve is the day for partying and Christmas Day is the day for staying at home with the family.
In the days prior, the streets become hard to navigate due to roving venders strategically displaying the new merchandise and the street fairs that pop up.
Christmas Dinner with Pirwa!
As in most countries, Christmas Eve dinner is animportant occasion- in Peru, you can expect to eat Roast Turkey, which most people prepare and then take to their local bakery for roasting. For the whole week of Christmas, expect to see lots of hot chocolate and panetón, the local fruitcake. Not just after dinner, but for Christmas breakfast as well! If you aren’t sure where to spend your Christmas Eve, check with reception in the Pirwa Hostel in which you’re staying to see if you can sign up for Christmas Eve Dinner with us.
Lima's Plaza Mayor
Don’t let the constant BOOMs on Christmas Eve let you think war has broken out- those are the official and personal fireworks and firecrackers which you’ll hear everywhere for several hours. If you intend on going to the plaza to see some fireworks, expect some to go off shockingly close to you!
One of the most unique Christmas sights in Lima is the HSBC Christmas show in the historic San Martin Plaza:
Spending Christmas in Peru! was last modified: December 26th, 2011 by Pirwa
On January 6th, in the high Andean town of San Pablo, between the departments of Cusco and Puno, a unique race will determine the following year’s luck for these two cities. Here, the three kings are not Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar, but rather Inkarri, Mistirri, and Negrorri (Inca King, Mestizo King, and Black King) and the three compete in a race on horseback.
Herod and his Secretary directs the Kings in the Plaza
After a ceremony in the town’s Wilson Theater the whips and conch horns are arranged in preparation before the municipal authorities and the kings of the year. After a fortifying cup of hot almond ponche, the fully-costumed Kings make their way to the plaza for a comical dialogue with King Herod, who fears for his throne!
Non-King Jockeys have their race as well
Around 2:30pm the race begins, with different stops where the communities of Langui, Layo, and Checca will compete. There’s a good deal of drunken revelry and hijinks throughout, as with all Peruvian celebrations- beer everywhere.
Riders: Are you in it for the glory or are you in it for the Mayor's baby Jesus?
The race ends with the Virgen of Bethlehem and the Mayor and other authorities of San Pablo presiding. If Inkarri, who represents the valleys of Cusco, wins, it will be a good year for the harvests in the area around Cusco. If Mistirri wins, the altiplano (high Andean plains- higher than 4000 meters) benefits. That means it will be a good year for ranching and the llamas and alpacas will prosper. If Negrorri wins, it will not be a good year for either of the two regions, there will be scarcity in production, but strangely, they say that there will be money.
Negrorri after the Race
This month is full of interesting Christmas and New Year’s related activities in Peru, and we’ll be hosting our own parties as well, so keep checking back as we’ll be posting that information soon!
The Race of Kings in San Pablo: Cusco vs the Altiplano was last modified: December 6th, 2011 by Pirwa
Don’t feel like dressing up this Halloween?? There’s another option….
On Creole Music Day Peruvians toast, party, and sing to the beat of música criolla, a genre combining Afro-Peruvian and Andean styles and giving rise to a bevy of stars including the internationally recognized singer and current Minister of Culture, Susana Baca, and the great Eva Ayllon. The most popular of this genre is the Marinera, the national dance of Peru, although it also includes the Peruvian Waltz, Tondero, Festejo, Peruvian Polka, Zamacueca, Landó, and others.
This musical staple of the coastal region was honored in 1944 when Creole Music Day was announced as a national holiday, and has been celebrated alongside Halloween ever since.
CUSCO
Party with us at Pirwa Colonial!
Those of you staying with us in one of our four Pirwa hostels in Cusco shouldn’t miss the FREE Concert in Cusco for “Día de la Canción Criolla”. It takes place on Oct 31st at 7:00pm at the ICPNA Auditorio (Av. Tullumayo #125).
Don’t forget that we are also having our own HALLOWEEN PARTY at Pirwa Colonial Backpackers, so no matter which of the hostels you are staying at, you should definitely stop by after the concert! We’ll get started around 8:30 and will go as long as you do!….
LIMA
Your New Pirwa Friends...
If you’re staying in one of our two Lima hostels on October 31st, you’ll have lots of options. Because we are located in the Miraflores district of Lima, we’re perfectly located near a variety of lively and safe establishments.
Below are some Miraflores options for Creole Music Day, for those who are interested. We’re partying for Halloween in Pirwa Prada Backpackers Hostel as well, so stop by!
Kimba Fá
Afro-Peruvian percusión with traditional instruments at De Teatro Canout located at Av. Petit Thouars 4550 in Miraflores. If you can’t make it on the 31st, the show will continue nightly until the 20th of Nov from Fridays through Mondays at 8 p.m.. Tickets at Teleticket.
Criollismo
We love you Susana!
Singer Lourdes Carhuas will sing the classical themes of the creaole repertoire at the Jazz Zone located at Av. La Paz 656, Pasaje El Suche in Miraflores. The show begins at 11 p.m. and entry is S/.20.00- call 241-8139 for reservations.
Noche Peruana
Giselle Altuna will sing Valses, Polkas, Landóas and Festejos at the ICPNA Miraflores Auditorio located on Av. Ángamos Oeste 120. The show starts at 7:30pm and entrance is FREE.
Celebrate Peruvian Style: Creole Music Day is Coming on October 31 was last modified: October 24th, 2011 by Pirwa
The rowdy night scene in Cusco contrasts sharply with the stately colonial atmosphere of the daytime. In the city´s lively bars and clubs backpackers, nationals, and locals can all party together. The closeness of the bars and clubs, the biggest of which are mostly all around the Main Square, means travelers can´t resist going with the old-school pub-crawl. We know a lot about it ourselves, having started the original Cusco hostel pub crawl lo those years ago! The happy folks at left are waiting for you at Pirwa’s Bar in Pirwa Colonial Backpackers hostel in Plaza San Francisco if you’re looking for a place to start….maybe they can even tell you the backstory about some of the pub crawl photos illustrating the post…
San Blas Hotspots
Drinking with Pirwa
7 Angelitos- Best Mojitos San Blas hotspot with live music every night- ranging from local Andean fusion bands to retro funk DJs- and the best mojitos in Cusco. (Calle Siete Angelitos 638, San Blas)
KM 0- Where to Hook-up! Live music from Jazz to Rock to Andean fusion and happy hours that are infamous for occasioning hookups. (Calle Tandapata 100, San Blas)
Wachuma- Party with the Rastafaris Reggae-loving DJ in the early hours, live music from around midnight on, and a laid-back relaxed atmosphere with low tables and big cushions in the upstairs area which will make it hard for you to get back up! (Hatun Rumiyoc 480, San Blas)
Plaza Hotspots: Bars & Clubs
On top of the World
Ukuku’s Bar & Club- Best Live Music Okay, I lie- it’s a tiny bit out of the Plaza, you have to turn the corner of Plateros and walk half a block, but it’s worth it. If the omnipresent-electronica beats start to bore you, head to brightly-colored Ukuku’s boasts a large dance floor and variety of live music and shows every night- alternative, Afro-Peruvian, jazz, latin, reggae, Andean fusion, rock, pop, techno, soul, and more. Open ‘till five in the morning, with a pizza bar for when your energy flags. Grab a flyer from the girls in front and on the corner and get in free. (Calle Plateros 316, 2nd floor)
I...don't know what to tell you
Mushrooms Lounge Bar If you can grab one of the booths overlooking the Plaza, Mushrooms Lounge Bar, with its fungi-centric design is a good place to chill and play some pool. Excellent cocktails, and as soon as you have some drinks in you only need to stumble one floor up to find yourself in Mama Africa for some dancing! (Portal de Panes 109, Plaza de Arma)
Mama Africa One of the most popular clubs in Cusco. Grab a flyer from the jaladores out front and on the corner and get in free befote 11pm- after 11pm there’s a S/10 cover with drink. Groove to an international dance mix of reggae, latin, techno, and rock with travelers and locals alike. The party here tends to get started late…there’s an 8:00-9:30pm Happy Hour, but you’ll be waiting around for quite a while before people start arriving! Corner of Calle Triunfo and Santa Catalina (Portal de Harinas 191- Left of the Cathedral)
For the Rugby Fans!: The Plaza Pubs
Safety First, Sports Fans
Cross Keys For a taste of England in Peru, stop by here for your sports, darts, or pool needs. Grab a balcony seat, some pub grub and some beers and commisserate with some of Cusco’s expat community. Happy hour is 6-7pm and 9-9:30pm- it’s only open until 1am, so you’ll need to relocate if you were planning on a late night. (Confiturias 233, Plaza de Armas, facing the cathedral)
Paddy Flaherty’s Another lively spot for watching rugby and other sports with some beer and junk food. This is another cozy pub that’s only open until 1am so switch to one of the Plaza bars or clubs if you want to hold on until the sun comes up. (Triunfo 124, Plaza de Armas, right of the Cathedral)
Out of the Plaza (But Close by…): Find the Party!
Fallen Angel
...someone prefers blue
This campy restaurant and bar features a wild decor that includes bathtubs filled with fish and topped with glass for the tables and red and black sofas with heart pillows. Get there by climbing the narrow street from the Plaza de Armas as if you were heading to San Blas or to see the 12-angled stone- it’s the first little plaza you’ll cross. (Plaza de Nazarenas 221)
Kamikase One of the first nightclubs in Cusco with funky decor, live music ranging from Spanish rock to reggae, a 2-level bar, and nightly drink specials. A little less crowded than some of the other clubs and as many locals as gringos come here to party. Plaza a Regocijo is the little plaza right next to the Plaza de Armas, so you’re not going to far out. Happy hour 8:30 – 9:30 pm and live music begins at 11pm. (Plaza Regocijo 274, second floor)
Cusco Nightlife: Best Bars & Clubs in Cusco! was last modified: September 23rd, 2011 by Pirwa
Already Cusco’s plazas are festively winking with Christmas lights and garlands along the balconies, but it is each December24th that Cusco’s Main Square really comes alive with Peru’s largest folk art fair- Santurantikuy (Saints’ Sale). From throughout Cusco and surrounding regions hundreds of artisans gather, bringing with them their pieces for sale. Some say they begin to prepare for the fair up to 6 months in advance!
