Carhuaz: Festivals, Faith, and Regional Nature Destinations

If you are looking for a hotel in Carhuaz, you can plan your trip around specific festival dates and interests: religious traditions shape the cultural offerings, while viewpoints and natural attractions in the surrounding area offer different highlights. The Virgen de las Mercedes festival is celebrated in September and dates back to 1921.

Festival Days and Traditions in Carhuaz

The main festival day of the Virgen de las Mercedes is September 24. The Wankillas are performed during the festival, from September 24 to October 3. Their performance is intended to promote well-being, good harvests, and an increase in livestock, as well as to give thanks to Patsa Mama, Mother Earth. The choreography also has a meaning: it is associated with the movement of the earth and various natural phenomena.

La Colación is also part of the festival. From August 14 to September 13, the Mayordomos bring traditional sweets to the homes of their Quellis; the activity is accompanied by Roncadora and Tinya. The sweets include Bizcochuelos, Suspiros, Fachenda, corn rolls, Alfajores, sweet empanadas, and sugar-coated egg-yolk rings. This means that part of the festival tradition extends beyond September and has a culinary dimension as well as performances.

The Marian Statue and Domingo de Cuasimodo

The Virgen de las Mercedes, a religious sculpture from the viceregal period, is housed in the Iglesia de Carhuaz. It is considered to have historical, social, and artistic value. During Domingo de Cuasimodo, flower carpets made exclusively from petals, leaves, and branches are laid along Avenida El Progreso. The procession reaches the Santuario Virgen de las Mercedes; afterward, the main gate is opened to worshippers so they can attend Mass.

Domingo de Cuasimodo also involves communal religious devotion: families and communities visit older and sick people to bring them Communion. The festival traditions thus center on both public processions and visits and shared religious practice.

Viewpoints, Nature, and Local Specialties

Carhuaz is known for its handcrafted ice cream. There are also destinations with diverse natural features nearby. Cascada Bruja Armanan is about 15 minutes north of the Plaza de Armas in Carhuaz. Petroglifo Piedra del Diablo is 1.7 kilometers outside Carhuaz, is considered easy to access, and is suitable for observing the landscape, flora, and fauna.

The Mirador natural de Llanllapu offers views across the district of Carhuaz and the Callejón de Huaylas. The route is considered easy; downhill cycling is also a possible activity there. The attractions therefore differ in focus: the Mirador highlights views and cycling, while Piedra del Diablo is a place to observe the landscape and nature.

Destinations in the Wider Carhuaz Travel Region

The wider Carhuaz travel region has other natural and cultural destinations. Parque Nacional Huascarán extends into the province of Carhuaz; Laguna Auquiscocha is located in this national park. UNESCO declared the park a biosphere reserve in 1977 and a World Heritage Site in 1985. Another type of landscape is Pampas de Shonquilpampa: this highland plain, covering about 2.26 square kilometers, is crossed by the Río Chucchún.

Honcopampa also offers an archaeological point of interest. The area features three multi-chambered structures known as Chullpas. In 1991, William Isbell classified Honcopampa as a provincial Wari center in the Callejón de Huaylas. The name Cascada Bruja Armanan is associated with a local story about a woman who used the waterfall for healing and cleansing rituals in the 1930s.

Other regional destinations include Baños Termales de Chancos. There is a large and a small pool, individual and family pools, and steam baths in caves dug into the hillside. Three kilometers of paved road lead to the baths from Marcará; the drive takes about six minutes in a private car. Road conditions and services may change, so it is advisable to check them before visiting.

In Vicos, the Cuyaqui Wayi community tourism association provides visitor information about lagoons and glaciers in Parque Nacional Huascarán. During a stay in Vicos, visitors can also share typical dishes with farming families. If you are interested in these offerings, check contact options in advance. This can help you weigh the festival dates in Carhuaz against the different cultural and natural highlights in the wider travel region when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Caraz, Chimbote, San Juan District, Santo Toribio District, Anta, Mancos, Buena Vista, Huarmey.

For the wider travel overview: Ancash.