living culture

It is through  art, rites and customs that people typically preserve and rescue the essence and value of their roots. In the case of the Altiplano, this has a profound meaning and they express it through numerous commemorations.

Typical Fiestas of the Altiplano
The celebration of the most popular festivals of San Pedro and nearby localities, are rooted in religious beliefs and are therefore of great importance in the lives of the people living in the highlands. These fiestas are the result of a mixture of ancestral rites and cults brought by the Spanish, especially Christianity in the Catholic faith. Here we share a list of the most important holidays in the area and the dates traditionally performed.
January: Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria,  town of Caspana.  January 31 to  February 3.
February: Carnival in Pueblo Atacameño and several villages in Region II.  February 5 to 10.
May: Fiesta de la Santa Cruz, San Pedro de Atacama.  May 1 to 4.
June:
• Machaqmara (Aymara New Year). June 21.
• Livestock Prosperity. Takes place in the Atacameños villages. June 24.
• Indigenous Peoples' International Day. June 24.
• Fiesta de San Pedro and San Pablo. One of the most important in the region, as it reminds the patron saint of the village.It lasts a week,and ends on June 29, when the statue of San Pedro is taken through the streets of the town.
July: Feast of San Santiago in the small town of  Santiago de Rio Grande. July 23 to 26.
August:
• Pachamama. Payment to the Pachamama. Atacameño people. August 1.
• Indigenous Peoples' International Day. August 9.
• Ceremony of Limpieza de Canales, Calama and San Pedro de Atacama.
September:
• Indigenous Woman's International Day. September 5.
• Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe, the most important celebration of the province of El Loa. September 8.

October: Ceremony Limpieza de Canales, Calama and San Pedro de Atacama. "