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FESTIVAL OF
Q’OYORITI (Qqoyllorriti in Quechua)
Or celebrating the “Star of the Snow”
Another interesting layer was added to the Andean rituals and ceremonies when the Catholic Church claimed the miraculous apparition of a crucified Christ (The Lord of Qqoyllorrity) in the Sinakara rocky area nearby, which attracted a new wave of pilgrims from the cities, including merchants and tourists. The Festival of Q’Oyoriti is the proof that the ancient Andean traditions and beliefs are still very much alive and celebrated every year. It reaffirms the tenacious survival and strength of the Andean religion and cosmology. It is also a unique event where one can witness, on the way up to the glacier, the fascinating melding of the Andean belief and catholic religion.
DAY 1 - Cusco – Ccatca – Ocongate – Mahuayani - Sinacara We leave Cusco in the morning, and drive by private bus or van on the road leading to Puno until we reach Urcos. From there, we take an unpaved road in the direction of Puerto Maldonado, passing by small villages of shepherds and weavers in the highlands. In the afternoon, we can admire the beautiful Vilcanota range looming in the distance with the peaks of Ausangate, Jampa, and Qolque Cruz dominating the landscape until we enter the Ocongate District at 3,800 m. of altitude (! 2,500 ft) We continue until we reach the trail head at the village of Mahuayani (4,200 m.) where we meet with our porters and horses. (Each group will have a guide, horsemen, and a cook.) Total ride: approximately 4 hours. The 8-kilometer trek will take us approximately 4 hours. We trek amidst a dramatic landscape of soaring peaks and glacial highland plains dotted with odd clumps of Andean grass (“icchu grass”) .The trail winds along crosses and stone formations until we reach the natural basin of Sinakara at 4,800 m. A wide valley where we set up our camp. DAY 2 - Full day of exploration around pilgrimage site
We can observe all the activities, including merchants selling the famous “alasitas” (amulet-like plastic toys such as car, houses, computers,), which symbolize the dreams and wishes of the bearer, to be blessed by the local “shaman or “curandero.” There is a constant flow of pilgrims arriving and settling into the valley. DAY 3 – Exploring the Sacred Glaciers
We will continue to explore the area and observe the indigenous groups as they divide themselves between the three glaciers to perform their individual ceremonies and century-old rituals. During the afternoon, we enjoy the dancing and ceremonies near the catholic chapel. Day 4 – The Main Celebration – and return to CuscoThis is the main Day of Q’Oyoriti. In the morning, we watch the groups as they return from the glaciers and form a spectacular procession, carrying blocks of ice, which they have carved from the glacier. After a midday mass, comes the celebration of the Lord of Tayancani, (also Lord of Qqoyllorriti) to which both pilgrims and visitors are invited to participate. After the procession, the participants return to their communities, still dancing, and preparing for the next important celebration, that of Corpus Christy. Our group returns to Cusco.
Nights are cold (below 5 centigrade) we recommended a four-season sleeping bag
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Today we
hike around the Sinakara valley. We can witness the arrival of thousands
of pilgrims who enter the valley, grouped according to indigenous
communities and clans (80% of the participants are Quechuas, 10% Aymaras,
and 10% city people or mestizos). Dancers dressed in elaborate and
colorful costumes waving the banners of Peru and Cusco accompany each
group. The rituals are almost the same for each group, and, after a
visit to the catholic chapel, they raise plastic tents at their assigned
locations (called “celdas”) 
Next
day, we will hike to one of the sacred glaciers (about 4 hours)
accompanied by our own curandero who will perform a private ceremony for
our group.