Perú is home to many festivals. Several deep in the countryside or way up in the mountains. From Peruvian festivals in Jaquí to Coracora and even in Sancos. These festivals are long, loud, and incredible to experience!
People from all over Perú attend these festivals, like the one in today’s post, Fiesta Patronal de la Virgen del Rosario in Sancos, Perú. Despite the long and exhausting journey that some people have to take to attend this festival, it’s all worth it if you’re looking for an incredible Peruvian festival experience.
Check out our last Peruvian festival post here. Then let’s get into everything that is Fiesta Patronal de la Virgen del Rosario!
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Travel and Transportation
Sancos is a small town in the countryside of Perú, at the top of a mountain. The year-round residents are mostly elderly people or families that have been there for a long time. With an elevation of 2,817 meters (9,242 feet), it takes about five hours by motorcycle to reach if you’re setting off from Jaquí.
Most people heading up to Fiesta Patronal de la Virgen del Rosario drive up Friday night after San Francisco de Asís, the Peruvian festival that takes place in Jaquí, Perú. Alternatively, you can head up first thing, bright and early Saturday morning. Though doing it that way you will miss some of the soccer matches that start at sunrise in Sancos.
Motorcycles and 4×4 are the best modes of transportation to visit Sancos because of their ability to climb the mountain better than a simple city car can. The lack of parking options upon your arrival in Sancos does make travel by motorcycle a little more appealing. We saw some people try to make the trip to Sancos by car on our journey up the mountain, if you find this to be a better mode of transportation, I highly recommend you come in an off-road vehicle or 4×4, as your average sedan likely will be unable to make that journey.
Like Jaquí, Sancos is a land with all-day sunshine and scorching heat, remember to bring lots of sunscreen, a big hat, and (if you’re traveling by motorcycle) extra gas. You’ll need it to make it up the mountain and back if you’re traveling from any distance similar to that from Sancos to Jaquí.
As you travel up the hill notice the beautiful, and sometimes interesting scenery. The most eye-catching to me, is what I like to call, the cactus graveyard on the road to Sancos.
Soccer And The Beginning Of The Festival
Fiesta Patronal de la Virgen del Rosario is one of many incredible Peruvian festivals!
Saturday kicks off the festival with a bang. They start soccer matches early and it goes on all day. By noon ice cream carts, drinks, and popcorn vendors line the streets. Soccer continues until sunset, at which point the parades begin as they head down from the hill and loop around the city center.
Just a quick note, when I say bring sunscreen, a big hat, and maybe even a scarf to protect yourself from the sun – I’m not kidding. The all day events are outside, and there isn’t much shade.
The Elta MD sunscreen is my personal fav. it’s made with quality ingredients and has lightweight packaging that packs really well in my backpack when we’re trying to travel light.
Local teams from all over the Andes and coast of Perú come to participate in the all-day soccer event. Come to watch, cheer on the players, and occasionally, join a team that needs an additional player or two.
The Parade
During the soccer matches you can hear music out in the hills as the bands practice for the main event. As soon as the soccer ends not one, but three different marching bands make their way down from the hill and each participates in their own parade.
The parades take a loop around the city center and lead the party down to the soccer fields where the next event takes place. The three bands with their accompanying specialties all take turns playing and dancing while the sun disappears behind the mountains.
You’ll see llameros, traditional Peruvian instruments, and also a couple mules carrying bundles of plants on their back. The excitement is intoxicating and it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the Peruvian festival.
Chamiso And Fireworks
A chamiso is a bonfire created out of a Retama broom bush. This plant grows all over Sancos out in the fields and easily catches fire despite being green when they light it. At the back of the parade, you’ll notice a few mules bringing this plant in. After a huge uproar of music and dancing, they take the bundles of Retama broom bushes down and begin to build a chamiso. Prepping for the next part of the festival.
While they wait for it to get completely dark so they can light the chamiso on fire, most people break for snacks and drinks at the street vendor carts. There are so many incredible Peruvian street food options here! You’re sure to experience so much culture when you attend this Peruvian festival.
At last, they light the chamiso on fire and the marching bands begin to play again. Everyone, including the bands, begin to dance and you find yourself swept with the party.
After the chamiso burns for a while, the crowd makes their way back to the town center to find more food carts have been set up. Here you can buy chicken, french fries and salad. Along with emoliente or pisco to drink. There are also some local snacks you can pick up like empanadas de queso and a hot peanut butter drink.
After dinner, another band sets up and begins to play while we wait for the biggest, most grand firework setup to be ready to go off at midnight.
But wait, there’s more! That’s just day one.
Day Two: Sunday
Day two starts with food. Which is honestly the best way to start any day.
In Sancos there are all kinds of traditional breads they specifically make there. At the festival, they’ll serve you the biggest plate of bread, for free, called Eleven. It gets its name from the fact that there are eleven pieces of bread on the plate. This bread is made from corn and each one is different from the other and unique in its own way. With your plate of bread, they serve you Chicha Jora, a drink made out of purple or white corn that’s been grown in Sancos.
Depending on where you eat, one of the bands from the night before might be there too. What a treat to get your own personal show first thing in the morning!
This festival day is followed by more soccer, fireworks, and of course more music from the bands.
Sunday is a great day to do a little exploring early in the day to check out the Andes before the festival really kicks into full gear. Discover sites like Futcca, a natural spring full of minerals, the waterfall Jarwi, which flows stronger at different times of the year and in other areas, and this lake the locals call Miami Beach.
Day Three, Four, And Five
The following days include bullfights, more music and dancing, and an incredible mix of Peruvian food. All these exciting cultural experiences come together to create one incredible Peruvian festival.
Creating memories, new friends, and special experiences you’ll never forget. All wrapped up with a grand farewell and send-off!
At the festival, there are three or four people chosen to be in charge of the party each year, called Cargontes. They give out free food to many people attending the festival, making it accessible for all to participate in, no matter where you’re coming from.
What do you think? Would you ever attend a Peruvian festival? How adventurous are you when you travel? Let me know in the comments what you thought of this post and what other Peruvian experiences and adventures you’d be interested in learning about!
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P.S. Looking for a fun activity to play while traveling to your next adventure? We put together a great freebie that you can play with your seatmate on a plane, train, or long bus ride, download your free trivia here.
Playing trivia is a great way to participate in fun activities with your friends and family, even when you’re 4,591 miles apart or constantly on the go. It helps you keep your long-distance relationships growing and is sure to provide lots of fun!
