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- Chicha tasting and conversations with the makers — Chicha is the heart of the festival: expect dozens of slightly different home recipes, from mellow and sweet to tangy and funky. What makes it special is the communal tasting — people share bowls, swap stories about corn, fermentation times and ancestral tweaks, and you usually get to ask the person who made it how they do it. (Personal favorite — you learn more in one cup than in a guidebook.)
- Live traditional music and genre mash-ups — The soundtrack mixes old-school folk instruments with brass bands and modern fusion, so you’ll hear regional rhythms, call-and-response singing and unexpected covers that get everyone dancing. It’s raw, often improvisational, and grounded in local musical traditions rather than polished festival pop.
- Parades,
- Chicha tasting and conversations with the makers — Chicha is the heart of the festival: expect dozens of slightly different home recipes, from mellow and sweet to tangy and funky. What makes it special is the communal tasting — people share bowls, swap stories about corn, fermentation times and ancestral tweaks, and you usually get to ask the person who made it how they do it. (Personal favorite — you learn more in one cup than in a guidebook.)
- Live traditional music and genre mash-ups — The soundtrack mixes old-school folk instruments with brass bands and modern fusion, so you’ll hear regional rhythms, call-and-response singing and unexpected covers that get everyone dancing. It’s raw, often improvisational, and grounded in local musical traditions rather than polished festival pop.
- Parades, dances and the street-party atmosphere — Colourful costumes, street processions and spontaneous dance circles turn the town into a moving party. The vibe is very community-driven: families, elders and kids all take part, so it feels like stepping into a neighborhood celebration rather than a commercial event.
- Hands-on chicha-making demos and workshops — Makers often open up their process: demonstrations show how corn is prepared, mashed, fermented and strained, plus tips on timing and flavoring. It’s a chance to get your hands dirty and understand the cultural meaning behind the drink, not just taste it.
- Local food, snacks and artisan stalls — The chicha pairs with simple, satisfying regional bites — think fresh corn-based snacks, grilled goods and tamale-like dishes — and nearby artisan stalls sell ceramics, textiles and ingredients. Eating local while browsing crafts gives the festival a grounded, tactile quality you don’t get from big, staged events.
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Best Backpacking
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.