February:
Starting on the 21st through to the 25th, the Carnival of Huànuco begins with the
entrance of Don Calixto, King of the Carnival. The festival ends on Ash Wednesday with his
staged burial.
The 22nd to the 28th is Summer Tourism Week in Ilo (Moquegua department); this includes
a series of recreational activities related to the summer season, including water sports.
From February the 23rd to March 3rd, Ica and Chincha celebrate
the Afro-Peruvian Summer Festival, where visitors can enjoy Afro-Peruvian folklore,
carnivals, a national dance competition, and traditional Peruvian comparsas (dance
troupes) and corsos (decorated floats).
Organised by the Departmental Direction of Industry and Tourism and the Lion’s
Club, the Ucayali Carnival Festival takes place from the 24th to the 28th in Pucallpa and
Yarinacocha, Activities include traditional dance contests around the cortamonte or
humisha tree to the rhythm of bombos and other drums, and a spectacular
fireworks display.
On the 25th, Olmos and Motupe (Lambayeque department) celebrate the religious festival
of La Cruz de Chalpón with dancing, cockfights, fairs, and other popular activities.
Other carnivals taking place in February
occur in Huaraz, Junín, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Amazonas, and Cajamarca.
March:
The International Vine Harvest Festival takes place in Ica during the first two weeks
of this month.
On the 14th, the festival of El Señor Nazareno Cautivo, patron of Monsefú (Lambayeque
department) is celebrated with a procession of the holy image through principal streets of
town. There is a handicraft fair and delicious local and traditional food.
From the 27th to the 30th, Puerto Malabrigo (La Libertad department) hosts the National
Surf Competition.
Cajamarca celebrates Palm Sunday on March 28th this year, a
religious festival known locally as Las Cruces de Porcón.
Between March and April:
During Holy Week, Ayacucho commemorates the life, passion, and the death of Christ with
10 days of processions. This important Christian festival is also celebrated in the cities
of Cusco, Arequipa, Huaraz (Ancash department), Tarma, Acobamba and Palcamayo (Junín
department), Omate (Moquegua department), Lambayeque, Chiclayo and Ferreñafe (Lambayeque
deparment), Iquitos (Loreto department) and in many other towns and cities.
