Live the Carnival Celebration in Cusco
when the words “compadres”, “comadres” and “puchero” are heard in Cusco, it is a sign that the carnivals are nearby. The children prepare to make jokes with water and in the kitchens the aroma of the traditional pout is felt beforehand. In Cusco, the carnival atmosphere feels intense as the month of February progresses. We invite you to be part of this fun celebration and get to know Peruvian culture up close.
February, the month of carnivals
Carnivals are the season prior to the celebration of Holy Week in Cusco . During these days people are more cheerful and joking. The markets, the typical restaurants, the squares and the common places dress of party to receive the best of the season.
Carnivals are celebrated throughout the month of February, the main days being Compadres Day and Comadres Day, in addition to Carnival Sunday. This party is loaded with diverse cultural traditions. Do you want to meet them?
The compadres will cry, the comadres will laugh
On Thursdays before carnivals, markets and traditional centers are filled with colored balloons, serpentine paper and carnival dolls. These dolls are life-size representations of local people made of recycled materials and garments that the represented person usually uses. They are in visible places or hung in a high place for the sight of all
The first Thursday is celebrated Compadres Day and the following Thursday, the Day of Comadres . It is said that if it rains the compadres or the comadres will cry and if it is good weather, they will laugh.
A never ending game, carnivals
If you are traveling in Cusco during Carnivals and they ask you, and you, do you play ?, answering yes will be a door to a unique and fun experience. In a release of freedom, the boys throw water balloons at the girls and they respond with buckets of water. The children use toy water guns to wet everyone and the ladies walk with the hoses ready to repel the attack. Others use spray foam to avoid getting wet, and end up white!
In the big houses and neighborhoods, everyone faces in a fight to have fun wetting each other. From young children to family grandparents enjoy this moment of healthy fun. In the Plaza de Armas of Cusco, tourists who arrive on a trip to Machu Picchu and locals are armed with foam spray and join the celebration.
Make way for the pot
A Carnival Sunday morning is also fun, a special job in the kitchen. The grandmothers insist on teaching the youngest the secrets of a recipe that comes out during this party. The stew , a boiled (boiled) beef and lamb and vegetables including cabbage, chickpea, potatoes, morayas, carrots and more, is the main course of the occasion.
The aroma of vegetables and meats are dispersed from the clay pots of the traditional neighborhoods and they announce to the locals that lunch is almost ready. You can try this delicious dish in tourist restaurants or in traditional ones .
The party starts at the rhythm of Carnival
In towns like Pisaq or Urubamba and throughout the Sacred Valley of the Incas , as well as in the great city of Cusco, dance troupes of public and private companies and institutions fill the central square with carnival dances and multicolored costumes celebrating the joy and playing with water and foam.
Cusco is much more than ancient history and archaeological attractions. Cusco culture is full of moments and celebrations that demonstrate the joy of their hearts. To travel is not only to know new places but to experience the customs. It is not only eating a new dish, but also laughing and celebrating with the locals. Do not miss the Carnivals of Cusco next to the adventure of Machu Picchu .