The festivals and celebrations in Lake Titicaca [1] are some of the most vibrant and spirited in Peru. It’s worth timing your visit to the region to coincide with one of the 300 annual festivities. PromPeru, the government promotion agency, keeps an updated list of festivals at www.peru.info [2].
January, third Thursday: Pacha Mama ceremony on Isla Amantaní [3]
February 2–19: Virgen de Candelaria in Puno [4]
February, second Thursday: Ispalla dance to Pachamama at hilltop pre-Inca temple in Llachón [5]
All February: Carnaval in Puno [4] and surrounding areas
May 2–3: Alasitas, a festival featuring good luck charms to be hung on the Aymara Ekeko doll in Puno [4]
May 3–8: Fiesta de la Cruz y de San Martín de Porras in Ilave
May, first week: Fiesta de San Bartolomé in Chucuito [6]
May 5–17: Pentecostal celebration of San Isidro Labrador on Isla Taquile [3]
May, fourth week: Roundup (chacu) of vicuña on Isla Umayo, near Sillustani [7]; visitors are invited to join.
June 10–14: Founders Day celebration in Llachón [5] with dances and bullfights
June 23–25: Festival de San Juan in Puno [4]
July 2: Founders Day celebration in Capachica, en route to Llachón [5]
July 25 onwards: Fiesta de Santiago Apóstol on Isla Taquile [3], in Chucuito [6], and in Lampa [8]
August 1–3: Fiesta de la Octava de Santiago, on Isla Taquile [3]
August 6: Fiesta Niño de Praga in Capachica, en route to Llachón [5]
August 10–17: Fiesta de San Simon on Isla Amantaní [3]
August 15: Festividad de la Virgen de Cancharani in Puno [4]
August 15–18: Festividad de la Virgen de Asunción in Chucuito [6]
September 15: Fiesta de la Virgen de la Natividad in Acora
September 24: Festividad de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes in Juliaca [9]
September 29: Fiesta de San Miguel Arcangel in Ilave
October 2: Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Acora
October 12–19: Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Chucuito [6]
October, third week: National road rally around Lake Titicaca [1], with dances in Puno [4]
November 1–7: Puno [4] Week, including the arrival by raft of the legendary founders of the Inca empire, Mamo Ocllo and Manco Cápac, on November 5
November 1–2: Fiesta de Todos los Santos throughout the area
December 5: Fiesta de Santa Bárbara in Chucuito [6], Ilave, and Puno [4]
December 6–8: Fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción in Puno [4], Lampa [8], and other villages
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/lake-titicaca-and-canyon-country/lake-titicaca
[2] http://www.peru.info
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/lake-titicaca-and-canyon-country/lake-titicaca/islas-amantani-and-taquile
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/lake-titicaca-and-canyon-country/puno
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/lake-titicaca-and-canyon-country/lake-titicaca/llachon
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/lake-titicaca-and-canyon-country/lake-titicaca/puno-bolivia/chucuito
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/lake-titicaca-and-canyon-country/between-puno-and-cusco/sillustani
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/lake-titicaca-and-canyon-country/between-puno-and-cusco/lampa
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/lake-titicaca-and-canyon-country/between-puno-and-cusco/juliaca