Chile🇨🇱 | festivalsFiesta de La TiranaVirgen del Carmen, devil dancers, desert pilgrimage, village camps | things to do and best time to go

Food at Fiesta de La Tirana is pilgrim fare, served from stalls that line the streets around the sanctuary for the whole week. Expect empanadas fried or baked, anticuchos (grilled skewers) smoking over charcoal, sopaipillas and completos for quick meals. Families sell cazuela and pastel de choclo from improvised kitchens, and the almuerzo plates of rice, meat and salad are the best value for a big meal.Drinks lean toward hot and sweet to fight the desert night chill: café con leche, mote con huesillo by day, and ponche or chicha after dark. Beer and pisco sour flow freely among the dancers and visitors, though the main religious moments are quieter. Try a late-night bowl of caldo or cazuela while the bands play, which is when the village feels most alive.Bring cash in Chilean pesos, since … read more 👉

Food at Fiesta de La Tirana is pilgrim fare, served from stalls that line the streets around the sanctuary for the whole week. Expect empanadas fried or baked, anticuchos (grilled skewers) smoking over charcoal, sopaipillas and completos for quick meals. Families sell cazuela and pastel de choclo from improvised kitchens, and the almuerzo plates of rice, meat and salad are the best value for a big meal.Drinks lean toward hot and sweet to fight the desert night chill: café con leche, mote con huesillo by day, and ponche or chicha after dark. Beer and pisco sour flow freely among the dancers and visitors, though the main religious moments are quieter. Try a late-night bowl of caldo or cazuela while the bands play, which is when the village feels most alive.Bring cash in Chilean pesos, since most stalls do not take cards and ATMs run empty or have long lines. Portions are generous, so sharing a plate is normal and easy. Lines peak after the midnight procession on July 15 to 16, so eat early or snack between dances. Carry your own water bottle, as the desert air is very dry.