Peruvian Caballo De Paso: A Glimpse Into The Mircaculous 5-Day Horse Festival In Peru

The Peruvian horse festival is the most important event for horse breeders in Peru, when the county’s finest all descend on Mamacona, a short distance from Lima. It’s not just about the horses though, the event is a celebration of Peruvian tradition, culture and is full of music, good food and plenty of drinks. Here’s what you need to know about Peru’s largest horse festival.

The horses

The horses are the attraction that brings everyone from Lima to Mamacona, an area that is otherwise unknown to most travelers. The horses come from the north of Peru and are famous for their smooth ride and unusual trot. Their interesting movements trace back to the Spanish conquest and they have been bred with their distinct characteristics for the last 400 years.

The days are filled with events to find the country’s finest horse

The events

The food and drinks

Like every great Peruvian festival there is plenty to drink and eat. You’ll find stands whipping up pisco sours and other pisco cocktails as well as plenty of beer being served. The food selection represents all of Peru in one place. You’ll find classic Peruvian dishes like ceviche plus fusions like chifa, a Chinese Peruvian dish. If you’ve never tried Peruvian food before or want to get a good feel for it, this is your place. You’ll find it all at the horse festival.

Pachacamac ruins

The festival takes place only a short bus ride away from the Pachacamac ruins, one of South America’s oldest ruins. They are often overlooked for Inca ruins and because they’re slightly off the popular Peruvian Gringo Trail, but the Pachacamac ruins are one of the most important ruins in the country and some of the oldest too, pre-dating the Incas by hundreds of years. The site is well known for its large temples and pyramids.

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