Candelaria in Puno 5D/4N: An incredible cultural celebration 

The morning begins with pick-up at your hotel in Puno and a transfer to the shores of Lake Titicaca, where we will embark on a speedboat journey to Taquile Island, renowned for its textile traditions and scenic trails offering breathtaking panoramic views. We will then continue to the Luquina Peninsula, where you will enjoy a gourmet Andean buffet lunch featuring fresh local ingredients, along with time to take in the beautiful lakeside scenery.

The visit continues at the Uros floating islands, where you will learn about the traditions surrounding totora reeds and the daily life of the local inhabitants. As an optional activity, you can enjoy a ride on a traditional totora reed boat at an additional cost. Finally, we will return to Puno and transfer you to your hotel.

*Includes: Transfers, entrance fees, guide, hotel accommodation and buffet lunch.   |   *Does not include: Totora reed boat ride.

We will pick you up directly from your hotel and comfortably transfer you to the venue where the street parade and dance competition featuring traditional traje de luces costumes will take place.

Get ready for an unforgettable experience at one of the most iconic celebrations in southern Peru. Known as the Folklore Capital of Peru, Puno comes alive with vibrant colors, music, and devotion in honor of the Virgen de la Candelaria, the city’s patron saint. This remarkable festival blends Catholic faith with ancient Andean traditions, closely connected to the worship of Pachamama, the symbol of life, purity, and fertility.

During the parade, thousands of dancers and musicians fill the streets with spectacular choreography, lively rhythms, and dazzling traje de luces costumes, rich in intricate details and cultural symbolism.

You will witness some of the most iconic dances of the Andean highlands, including Diablada Puneña, Morenada, Caporales, Sikuris, Kullahuada, and Llamerada, among other expressions of Peru’s rich folkloric heritage.

At the end of the celebration, we will accompany you back to your hotel.

*Includes: Transfers, admission fees, guide, and hotel.   |   *Does not include: Lunch.

At 8:30 a.m., we’ll depart from Puno and head to Chucuito, where you’ll visit the Inca Uyo Fertility Temple, the main square, the Renaissance-style church, and the sundial, all set within a traditional town steeped in history.

We’ll continue to Thunco, in Ácora, where geoglyphs and semi-subterranean agricultural structures reveal the ancestral knowledge of communities living in harmony with Pachamama, Mother Earth. Next, at Molloco, a necropolis associated with the Lupaca and Aymara cultures, you’ll learn how Andean highland societies viewed death as a spiritual passage.

We’ll then visit Aramu Muru, the enigmatic stone portal, where ancestral stories and beliefs offer a glimpse into the mysteries of the Andean highlands.

To conclude, you’ll enjoy lunch in Juli, savoring local cuisine in a charming traditional setting. We’ll return to Puno, arriving at approximately 5:30–6:00 p.m., with lasting memories of the region’s Andean history, culture, and spirituality.

*Includes: Transfers, admission fees, guide, and hotel.   |   *Does not include: Lunch.

Depending on your flight schedule, our team will pick you up from your hotel in downtown Puno and take you to the Sillustani Archaeological Complex, home to the impressive funerary towers known as chullpas, built by the Kolla and Inca cultures.

Upon arrival, our professional guide will accompany you on a visit to this important ancient necropolis, sharing insights into its historic ceremonial and funerary structures. You will also have time to admire the beauty of Lake Umayo, which surrounds this fascinating archaeological site.

We will then visit a traditional home in Atuncolla, where you can get up close to South American camelids such as llamas and alpacas, and capture beautiful photographs of this cultural experience.

Finally, we will transfer you to Inca Manco Cápac International Airport in Juliaca, bringing your experience in Puno to a close.

*Includes: Transfers, admission fees, and guide.   |   *Does not include: Lunch.