Why Visiting Cusco in June Is Magical: 4 Incredible Traditions You Must Experience!
Ultima actualización en 27 November, 2024 por Waman Adventures
Last Updated on 27 November, 2024 by Waman Adventures
Visiting a new place and being able to enjoy its culture is one of the most incredible pleasures in life. The city of Cusco is considered the “Center of the World” and is one of the most incredible places in South America due to its rich historical heritage.
Why Visit Cusco in June?
Cusco in June specifically, dresses in vibrant colors to welcome thousands of tourists from around the world who come to enjoy the festivals held throughout the city. Below, we highlight the main festivals of Cusco you must not miss if you want to travel there.
CORPUS CHRISTI
Corpus Christi is one of the largest and important religious festivals in the city of Cusco in June, and forms part of the local folklore. This celebration blends two very important aspects of Cusco’s culture: Incan tradition and Catholic religion, merge to form a one of a kind syncretism.
History of Corpus Christi
During the Inca era, there were plenty of festivals dedicated to their ancestors and gods, such as Inti (the Sun God), Killa (the Moon Goddess), Wiracocha, and other gods from cultures incorporated into the empire. The Incas would parade their ancestors through the streets.
When the Spanish arrived in Peru in the 16th century, they were surprised to see this traditional practice of parading mummies. They took advantage of this activity to evangelize the population, replacing the mummies with virgins and saints in the form of Apus (mountain deities). This facilitated the spread of Christianity in the population. Over time, as the majority of the population was Christianized, the Cusqueños began parading virgins and saints, preserving some of their Incan traditions.
Today, Corpus Christi is celebrated in Cusco in June, two weeks before the 24th. The celebration starts on Thursday, with the traditional entrance of the saints the day before. A total of 10 saints and virgins participate in the procession:
- San Antonio
- San Jerónimo
- San Cristóbal
- San Sebastián
- Santa Barbara from the Church of Poroy
- Santa Ana
- Santiago Apóstol
- San Blas
- San Pedro
- San José
- Virgen de la Natividad de Almudena
- Virgen de los Remedios, Church of Santa Catalina
- Virgen Purificada, Church of San Pedro
- Virgen de Belén
- Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción, also known as “La Linda”
This religious celebration brings many devoted Cusqueños to the streets, where they gather to celebrate and enjoy delicious snacks, exotic fruits, and the traditional chiri uchu, a delicious typical Cusco dish made with the famous guinea pig.
The festival continues until the “Octava” (eighth day), where everyone returns to their respective churches, and different groups carry them through the streets in song and traditional dances.
Corpus Christi Festival
THE LORD OF QOYLLUR RIT´I
The Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i is the largest pilgrimage in the Andean world and all of South America. In 2011, it was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. This pilgrimage represents the true syncretism between Andean devotion and Christianity. While the exact date varies, the celebration takes place in Cusco in June, 58 days after Easter Sunday.
History of Señor de Qoyllur Rit´i
The story of Señor de Qoyllur Rit’i dates back to a 17th-century legend about a miracle in the plains of the Sinakara snow-capped mountain. The legend tells of a boy named Marianito, who had a friend with distinct characteristics. One day, Marianito noticed that his friend’s clothes were damaged, and he tried to help. He brought his friend’s clothes to his father, who was astonished.
The archbishop was also surprised and decided to search for the boy. Upon reaching the foot of the Sinakara mountain, a bright light appeared, revealing a crucified image of Christ on a rock. Since that year, the pilgrimage to Sinakara Mountain has taken place.
Today, thousands of devotees from around the world come to Cusco to participate in this grand pilgrimage. The festival is filled with dance, music, and processions of crosses, reaching the summit of the mountain. A key figure is the “Pablitos,” who help maintain order during the event.
Sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i at the entrance of Qolqe Punqu
INTI RAYMI OR THE FESTIVAL OF THE SUN
Inti Raymi is the main festival of Cusco, celebrated each year in Cusco in June, exactly the 24th, during the winter solstice. This festival’s name comes from the Quechua words INTI – Sun and RAYMI – Festival, making it the “Festival of the Sun.”
This huge celebration dates back to pre-Spanish times, when the Incas dedicated it to their greatest deity, the Sun. The festival was originally held at Sacsayhuamán, where the community gathered to offer their best produce to the Sun and Pachamama (Earth Mother) in gratitude for a good harvest.
The first written record of the Inti Raymi is in the book “Los Comentarios Reales” by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, where it mentions that the festival lasted 9 days, filled with feasts and animal sacrifices.
Today, Inti Raymi brings together both locals and tourists in various parts of the city. On June 24th, each year, the first presentation of the Inca takes place at the Qoricancha esplanade, followed by a procession through the Plaza de Armas, and ending at the Sacsayhuamán esplanade.
A traditional activity during this time is the “Watias,” clay ovens made in the ground, where people bake special food to share with their families. Many Cusqueños head to Sacsayhuamán to continue this ancient tradition.
RENEWAL OF THE Q´ESWACHAKA BRIDGE
Three hours from the city of Cusco, in the district of Quehue, at an altitude of 12,139 feet (3,700 meters), the Qeswachaka Bridge stands over the Apurímac River. It is 95 feet (29 meters) long and 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide. In 2013, the Qeswachaka Bridge was included in the representative list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Every year, four communities – Huinchiri, Chaupibanda, Choccayhua, and Collana Quehue– work together to restore the Qeswachaka Bridge using ancestral techniques that have been passed down for generations. This collaborative effort not only involves the reconstruction of the bridge but also strengthens social ties among the communities. The Incas built hanging bridges made of plant fibers to connect different parts of the vast Inca Empire, Tahuantinsuyo. The bridge is made from grass and wire, a combination of ancient and modern techniques.
The process, which takes place in Cusco in June, begins when the locals go out to search for the q’oya, a strong plant fiber used in the construction of the bridge. After the fiber is collected, it is dried, pounded with stones, and then soaked to make it more durable.
On the central day, the four communities gather and begin the weaving process for the bridge. The women are responsible for braiding the fibers, while the men join the braids to build the bridge. Once the bridge is completed, the communities celebrate with chants and dances.
Cusco awaits you with the best of its traditions in June. Come and enjoy everything this incredible city has to offer. After experiencing its festivals, you can also visit archaeological sites like Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay, Ollantaytambo, and the stunning Inca city of Machu Picchu. You can also explore natural spaces with beautiful, Instagram-worthy views like Laguna Humantay, the Rainbow Mountain, the 7 Lagoons of Ausangate, and more. You can trust on Waman Adventures for organizing your trip. We are a specialized agency with many years of experience offering the best services with the highest quality standards.
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