SANTIAGO HOLIDAY - TAQUILE ISLAND - PERU

This fascinating island inside Titicaca Lake is located 45 km from the city of Puno. Its 1300 inhabitants are unique in that they live as a community and in perfect harmony with nature, surrounded by impressive vistas.

The communities are organized to warmly lodge visitors within their own homes. There are no hotels.

The Santiago the Apostle holiday is celebrated every July 25th. Offerings of candles are made at the temple asking for health and work. Additionally, rituals are observed in which the islanders maintain a sense of the religious-magical traditions of their popular culture.

The dance of the “Sikuris” is enacted in a variety of occasions during the year. It is mainly organized by unmarried men and women primarily during the seeding and harvest seasons, the branding of domestic herds, or to celebrate weddings. The males wear their best outfits and “chukus” of multi-colored feathers. At the rhythm of “zampoñas” and double “sikus” (from which the name of “sikuri” or “siku” player derives), they are able to tirelessly dance for hours. Their weaves, which are dominated by fiery reds, are exhibited in their woolen caps and girdles. The blend of colors creates and extraordinary vision of the dancers and their lateral head and shoulder movements to the rhythms of the music that continues for the whole celebration.