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- The pilgrimage to the Sinakara Valley sanctuary. The festival centers on the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i, a small rock image of Christ at the foot of the Colquepunku glacier, at roughly 4,700 meters. Pilgrims walk in from the trailhead near Mahuayani, a trek of about 10 kilometers that takes 3 to 5 hours, and the climb is part of the ritual.
- The ukuku dancers. Men in fringed woolen masks and costumes play bear-like figures who police the crowds, crack whips and keep order. Their high-pitched voices and constant movement make them the signature characters of the festival.
- The nation dances (naciones). Groups from different Andean regions, including Paucartambo, Quispicanchi and Canchis provinces, arrive with their own bands, costumes and choreography. Brass and drums echo off the valley walls day and
- The pilgrimage to the Sinakara Valley sanctuary. The festival centers on the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i, a small rock image of Christ at the foot of the Colquepunku glacier, at roughly 4,700 meters. Pilgrims walk in from the trailhead near Mahuayani, a trek of about 10 kilometers that takes 3 to 5 hours, and the climb is part of the ritual.
- The ukuku dancers. Men in fringed woolen masks and costumes play bear-like figures who police the crowds, crack whips and keep order. Their high-pitched voices and constant movement make them the signature characters of the festival.
- The nation dances (naciones). Groups from different Andean regions, including Paucartambo, Quispicanchi and Canchis provinces, arrive with their own bands, costumes and choreography. Brass and drums echo off the valley walls day and night, and you can wander between circles of dancers with no ticket.
- The glacier ice-carrying ritual. On the final night, ukukus climb up toward the glacier and cut blocks of ice, which they carry down on their backs. The ice is believed to hold healing power, and melted water is taken home by pilgrims. The Qullqipunku glacier has been shrinking, so the practice has been adapted over the years.
- The Mass and sunrise procession. At dawn, crowds gather before the sanctuary chapel for Mass and then follow the image in procession. It mixes Catholic devotion with the Andean reverence for the apus, the mountain spirits, and the whole valley falls quiet in a way that the dancing days never do.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.