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Near the city of Cusco, nestled among the towering peaks of the Peruvian Andes, Qoyllur Rit’i is celebrated around the Feast of Corpus Christi. This festival attracts thousands of pilgrims from across the region. Qoyllurity is recognized as one of the most impressive and unique celebrations on the local festive calendar. Below, we offer a comprehensive overview of this fascinating Andean festival of stars and explore some of the history of Qoyllur Rit’i and its connection to the Tayancani celebration.
The festival takes place every year in May or June, coinciding with the Feast of Corpus Christi. Qoyllurity blends elements of the Catholic religion with ancestral Andean beliefs and traditions. For many, the name of the celebration in Quechua means “Festival of the Snow Star,” while for others, it means “Lord of the Shining Snow.” In the province of Quispicanchi, near Cusco, this celebration, which brings together approximately ten thousand people, takes place at more than 4,800 meters above sea level.
On this tour, we will depart from the city of Cusco at 5:00 AM, heading towards the start of our hike. We will pass through impressive landscapes and make stops at iconic sites such as Ocongate (3,500 m / 11,591 ft). We will then arrive in the town of Mahuayani (4,221 m / 13,848 ft), where we will have breakfast and where our hike begins.
After recharging our energy and meeting the team that will accompany us on this journey, we will begin our uphill hike of approximately 8 km until we reach the Qoyllority Sanctuary (4,700 m / 15,419 ft). Our lunch will be waiting for us, and we will also set up camp there.
After lunch, we will have the afternoon to enjoy the sanctuary and the traditional dances and customs celebrated here. We will participate in some activities and mingle with the local people who come from different places for the pilgrimage to the Lord of Qoyllority. And after that we’ll have dinner and rest after a day full of adventure.
After breakfast, this day is dedicated to the Sanctuary, following the activities of the pilgrims. In the morning, we visit the Alacitas market. This is a curious fair where miniature items such as trucks, houses, livestock, university degrees, and others are bought with currency valid only during the Qoyllority festival, according to each person’s wishes. Legend says that everything obtained in this game will come true thanks to the power of the Lord of Qoyllority. Next, the Mass of the Souls is celebrated in the atrium of the Sanctuary, followed by the Mass of the Little Pablos.
After enjoying the religious customs of this place, lunch will be ready. And once we have explored all the sites, we prepare to return to the city of Cusco.
We will descend along the same path we took on the first day, covering the same distance, until we reach the village of Mahuayani. There, our transportation will be waiting to take us back to Cusco and your hotel. We will arrive in Cusco around 7 pm. This pilgrimage is a unique experience, and we will take with us a memory that will last a lifetime.
The night before your trip to qoyllority 2 days, information meetings are held at your hotel at 6 pm with your trekking guide. And if you cannot attend at this time, you must arrange to do it at another time.
During the breffing, you will receive your duffel bag for your belongings that you intend to take on the hike, which will not be in your backpack.
These informational meetings last approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
You will receive a duffel bag during your briefing, where you will pack the necessary things for the qoyllority 2 days, the maximum weight you must carry is 6 kilos. All duffel bags will be carried by the horses or porters and will only be available at your campsite every day (morning and afternoon). Any items that are necessary during the hike should be packed in your backpack.
Duffel bags measure (2ft / 66cm long) x (1ft / 36cm wide).
During the trip, you need a day pack big enough to carry your personal belongings like a warm jacket, raincoat, camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. Generally, a 30 to 50 liter backpack is sufficient.
The trek you have booked must be paid in full at the time of breifing or days before departure.
We would greatly appreciate it if you would pay the balance of the trip in cash in US dollars or in local currency. To withdraw here in Cusco we have several ATMs along Av. El Sol (either in US dollars or in local Peruvian soles).
You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay a service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance with traveler’s checks.
Our PERU TREK Company transports will pick you up from your hotel, as long as you are in the Historic Center of Cusco. Pick-up time will be coordinated with your guide at the briefing. The pick-up time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic.
Cusco is a very old city, therefore it has many narrow and cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnb may be located on streets with no car access or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to carry luggage. We strongly recommend that you book an accommodation with good access.
Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also agree that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, everyone can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wants to modify the route; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications can be made.
It is very important to be well acclimatized to the altitude before exerting yourself on a hike. We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 1 or 2 days before the trek begins to help you acclimatize and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness during the trek.
Suppose you have already been to another area of Peru at a high altitude before arriving in Cusco. In that case, we still recommend that you have a full day in Cusco to rest, recover from your trip and fully enjoy your trek and have a unique experience.
Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored in our office (you can coordinate during the day of the briefing or by email) or at your hotel, both for free.
Any equipment you don’t need on the trek can be safely stored at your hotel. Almost all hotels will offer this service. Do not leave valuables with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and get an itemized receipt (in the unlikely event of theft, many insurance companies require you to have a copy of the receipt with all items). It’s best to put items like credit cards in a sealed and signed envelope for added peace of mind.
Strikes and demonstrations are often frequent in Peru, and this can interrupt some of our planned tours. They can block the roads and take control of the railroad tracks. However, we will try to keep your tour as planned, even if it means leaving the night before your scheduled date. In these circumstances, tours can also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our top priority and decisions will be made appropriately.
You are responsible for your personal belongings during the qoyllority 2 days. Please pay attention to where you leave your belongings and remember to take everything once you leave your bus, tents, and restaurants.