Pirwa Hostels Peru Blog

Posts Tagged ‘cusco’

All of us at Pirwa Hostels Peru hope your holidays went well! The Pirwa hostels in Cusco united for our traditional Christmas Eve Dinner in Pirwa Colonial Backpackers, and the pics just came  in.

It’s time to start planning ahead for our biggest events of the year, our New Year’s Eve Parties- this year we’ll be celebrating in Lima and Cusco in Peru and La Paz in Bolivia!

If you’re traveling through Peru or Bolivia during the holidays we hope you’ll be joining us for the festivities! Otherwise, happy holidays to everyone no matter where you spend it!

SOMEONE has to lead the Pub Crawl 2-Step...Why not you?

Whether it’s mixing drinks at the bar, teaching dance classes during happy hour, speaking different languages with travelers from around the world, assisting travelers with their reservations, or photo-documenting events, our Lima and Cusco hostels are in need of your special talents!

Don’t rush through a few days in Cusco or Lima hopping from site to site, get to know the cities better by staying a couple of weeks, enjoying a free bed and breakfast in exchange for helping us out in reception, in the bar, or other areas depending on your skills. Interested travelers can write to us at info@pirwahostelsperu.com for more info.

As we ‘ve all discovered upon waking up hungover in strange places, drinking close to where you plan on spending the night is never a bad idea… That’s why Pirwa Inclan in Lima’s in-house bar and rooftop terrace, or Pirwa Colonial in Cusco’s in-house bar is the perfect place to spend your

Halloween night!!

We’re cross-country partying and invite you to come drinking and dancing with us!

Once we’re drunk enough we may hit the streets to stop by some of our favorite spots in Lima and Cusco, but we’ll end the night back at Pirwa with you a safe distance from your bed…

You don’t haaaave to dress up, but we’ll make it worth your while with some drink specials and are always there to help you put together a ridiculous outfit to match our own!

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When the Saints Come Marching In…

The best place to celebrate Corpus Christi is in Cusco, where the event takes on a character not found anywhere else.  Saints and Virgins lavishly adorned in elaborate clothing and ornaments process along the same streets where, in the time of the Inca Empire, richly attired and bejeweled mummies once processed.  For Cusco, this is the year´s most important and extravagant religious festival.

The day before the main event, patron saints from the 15 parish districts head towards the Main Square´s Cathedral in separate processions to the Cathedral to greet the Body of Christ (Corpus Christi).  They´ll arrive showing off their newest ornate clothing and adornments and accompanied by musicians and parishioners.  They´ll spend the night in the Cathedral.  The next morning they´ll find their way to large altars in the Main Square decked out with flowers and tree branches, spiritual images, standards, mirrors, and more.  The morning of the main day, Thursday the 23^rd of this month, the Arch Bishop will lead the Te-Deum.  Then the Golden Sun of Custody which holds the Sacred Host will be paraded around the Square in a silver carriage.  (An 18^th century piece, the Golden Custody weighs in at 26.7kg and is 1.2m in height.  It´s made of gold and adorned with 331 pearls, 263 diamonds, 221 green emeralds, 89 amethysts, 62 rubies, 43 topazes, 17 diamonds, 5 sapphires and an agate.)

Once the Holy Sacrament finishes its procession, it´s time for the Saints and Virgins to parade together to the sounds of Peru´s largest church bell, the 16^th century María Angola, and traditional music while dancers perform.  Some of the dances you´ll be able to see are the Mestiza Qoyacha and Capaq Qoya.  In typical Andean fashion, costumed characters representing different aspects of Andean and/or Incan mythology will be in attendance entertaining the crowds, such as qollas, chauchos, pabluchas, and ukukus among them.  Afterwards, they´ll stay in the Cathedral for seven days.  On the Octava, they´re will be another parade before the Saints and Virgins separate to parade back to their respective home parishes.

A Place to Watch the Show…

The next two weeks are full of events in the Imperial city.  Corpus Christi is on the same day that the night serenades to Cusco will take place in the Main Square, and the very next day is the principal day of Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun.  Cusco is also celebrating its anniversary and Machu Picchu´s Centenary.  The city´s streets have become an animated stage for colorfully costumed dancers, musicians, and revelers.  Give some thought to securing a comfortable spot from which to watch the action, because thousands will congregate in the Main Square in the next several days.  Pirwa´s Posada del Corregidor Bed & Breakfast has an in-house restaurant with a balcony overlooking the Main Square.  You can sit in the shade and enjoy a drink without missing the spectacle or having to jostle for a spot.  Unlike most of the tourism sector here in the city, we offer the same low price throughout the year- there´ll be no price hikes during the festivities.

What to eat…

During the Wednesday night vigil while the Saints and Virgins are in the Cathedral, families will prepare and share 12 traditional dishes.  On Thursday, one of these dishes is preeminent- you´ll see it everywhere you go: Chiriuchu (Cold Chili Pepper).  It´s a cold dish assembled with pieces of guinea pig, and other meats alongside Andean cheese, toasted corn kernels, tortillas, bread, and more.  The dancing and music don´t stop once the patron saints enter the Cathedral, but the eating and drinking definitely starts.

There´s only one week left until the main Intí Raymi celebration kicks off!  June is considered the best time to stop by Cusco for good reason- those of you who are already in the city know that Cusco´s been dancing for a week already, the faithful are setting off for the hemisphere´s largest indigenous pilgrimage, Qoyllur Rit´i, and the city is anxiously working its way towards Machu Picchu´s Centennial at the beginning of next month (another big one- check back here for info!).  Preparations have been underway all year.  Right now everything is building up to Intí Raymi´s main day on June 24^th.  The festivities will continue into next month with Machu Picchu´s 100^th anniversary, and no expense has been spared, so don´t miss seeing the Imperial City at its best!

It is in honor of the Inca´s supreme divinity, the first day of the Incan solar calendar, and the winter solstice that Cusco explodes into color and elaborately costumed celebration every June.  The Festival of the Sun was the Inca´s most important annual ceremony, supposedly dating back to the very first Inca, Pachacutec.  After a long period of prohibition spanning the Spanish colonial period and its aftermath, Intí Raymi sprung back with a force- nowadays, 50,000 spectators and more than 500 actors, dancers, and musicians participate in the festivities.  If you can´t make it to the main event, don´t worry- the carnivalesque atmosphere continues in a with dance competitions, free concerts, street fairs and parades in Cusco´s main streets.  It won´t end until next month after the Machu Picchu Centennial, so keep checking back here for more info on Cusco´s festivities.

Official Program: Friday, 24^th of June 2011

08:15   The Tahauntinsuyo rainbow flag is raised in the Main Square by the 5^th Mountain Brigade

08:30   Cusco´s Archbishop performs Mass and the Te Deum at the Basilica Cathedral

9:00     Act I: Salute to the Sun at Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun

Cusco travels back in time as characters of importance in the time of the Inca Empire assemble for the Incan Emperor´s Salute to the Sun.  The ceremony begins amid the sounds of conch shells and traditional Andean Instruments.  Afterwards, the characters will process along flower-strewn streets to the Main Square.

10:30   Act II: Meeting of the Times at the Main Square

Epochs clash as the Inca, from a large huaca (Incan Altar) constructed in the Plaza de Armas, officially addresses the Mayor of Cusco

13:30   Act III- The Main Event at the Fortress of Sacsayhuamán

During the principal ceremony, Intí Raymi reaches its culmination with a spectacular performance steeped in tradition.  It includes the Chicha de Jora rite, a simulated black llama sacrifice, and the fire rite.  There will be dancing, jubilation, divining from llama blood and viscera, and sacred bonfires.

Tips for Travelers

• Tickets aren´t necessary to see the main ceremony at Sacsayhuamán- if you don´t mind celebrating from a distance, you can grab a spot hillside local-style.  For those who want prime seating, however, there are still tickets being sold.
• So many people come for the festivities in June/July that rooms are hard to come by.  If you can, try to reserve in advance.  Also, be prepared for price hikes in transport, lodging, and food.  (Pirwa´s policy to keep prices stable, so we´re offering the same low prices we do all year long.)
• June is wintertime in Cusco, the weather is variable: cold in the mornings and evenings, and sunny and hot in the afternoon.  Come prepared with sunscreen and bring warm layers.
• The streets of Cusco are more crowded now than at any other time of year- with dancers and musicians in the streets and spectators crowding the sidewalks you need to remain cautious of pick-pockets hoping to profit from your distraction.