Muruhuay: Sanctuary and Festivity

The Santuario del Señor de Muruhuay is a central point of reference for a stay in Muruhuay. It is located in the Centro Poblado de Muruhuay and is the main place where the Festividad del Señor de Muruhuay is celebrated. It is also considered a site of religious, historical, and architectural significance. This gives you two main areas to focus on when planning your trip: the annual Fiesta Patronal period and the religious and cultural heritage at the Santuario.

Festivity and travel period

The Festividad del Señor de Muruhuay is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nation; the recognition was granted on April 21, 2017. The Fiesta Patronal takes place every year from May 2 to June 15. If you would like to plan your stay around the celebration, you can use this period to choose your travel dates.

During the Fiesta, dance groups arrive every day to pay homage to the sacred image. The traditional Chonguinada is one of the Andean cultural expressions associated with the festivity. The extended duration of the Fiesta and the groups’ daily arrivals thus provide two different timeframes to consider when planning.

Religious heritage at the Santuario

The Santuario houses the original image of Christ crucified, painted on the rock more than two centuries ago. Today, a glass display case protects the image. There are also fourteen textile works from San Pedro de Cajas hanging there. They depict the fourteen Stations of the Cross and bear inscriptions in Quechua.

The image on the rock and the textile works offer different points of focus: one is the original image of Christ crucified, while the others depict the Stations of the Cross in textile form. The Quechua inscriptions are another specific feature of these works. Together, these details offer insight into the religious and cultural significance of the Santuario within the Festividad.

Interpretation center and amphitheater

The Santuario includes a 2,400 m² cultural interpretation center, inaugurated in May 2024. It includes exhibition areas, gardens and terraces, as well as restrooms and tourist signage. The complex thus combines cultural interpretation and outdoor spaces with practical visitor facilities.

The complex also includes an amphitheater for cultural performances. It was inaugurated in May 2024 and has seating for 350 spectators. If a performance is a deciding factor in your trip, check the specific date in advance.

Getting there and day trips

From the Plaza principal de Tarma, the route to the Santuario goes via Acobamba. The paved route is specified for travel by private car: it covers 10.6 km and takes about 20 minutes. The distance and approximate travel time therefore refer to the same route and mode of transport.

A full-day excursion includes a Tarmeño lunch in Muruhuay and an afternoon visit to the Santuario del Señor de Muruhuay. Availability of this offer may change. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check in advance whether the excursion is offered on your date.

For the broader travel overview: Provincia de Tarma.