During February, Cajamarca changes its pace. The main square, the streets, and the neighborhoods stop being merely everyday spaces and become part of a shared celebration. There is no single main stage or one defining moment—the festivity unfolds across the entire city at once.

A Tradition Meant to Be Shared

Cajamarca’s carnival is born in the neighborhoods. Neighbors, families, and local groups organize their own celebrations, prepare costumes, and write verses that will be sung for days. Music does not accompany the festival—it creates it.

From early morning, the streets fill with bands, dances, and spontaneous encounters. Visitors naturally become part of the celebration.

Colors, Verses, and the Yunza

One of the most representative moments is the yunza, a tree decorated with gifts around which people dance while trying to bring it down amid music and laughter. Paint, water, and improvised songs accompany the day and appear in different parts of the city.

Costumes, painted faces, and local groups turn every corner into a different scene. More than an organized parade, the carnival is a succession of encounters—each street offers its own celebration.



An Experience to Be Lived

In Cajamarca, carnival is not separate from daily life. Homes open their doors, food is shared, and traditions are explained naturally. The celebration is fully understood by taking part in it.

The experience feels different from other festivities. It is not a spectacle staged for visitors, but a living local tradition that remains open to anyone who joins with respect and curiosity.

Traveling at the Right Time

Experiencing the carnival means understanding its rhythm. Activities take place in different neighborhoods and at various times of day, and exploring the city with local guidance makes it easier to follow the flow of the celebration and understand its meaning.

At VIPAC Travel, itineraries are designed around the dynamics of the festival, allowing travelers to integrate naturally and discover Cajamarca from within the celebration.

Because during these days, the city is not just visited—it is shared.