When you decide to go on a travel adventure, there are often two ways to approach it. One of those ways is to reach the most recommended places and destinations. These places are universally found in almost every guidebook and are generally considered classic. The main reason these places come highly recommended is that they offer familiar sights and amenities that visitors look forward to. While these places are a bit busier than others due to their reputation, you should also take into account the fact that they are classic destinations for a reason and that thousands if not millions of visitors before you have given them good reviews and high. ratings, hence its popularity.
The second approach when deciding on a travel adventure destination is to research, ask questions and find places that are not so popular but that pique your interest and ignite your wanderlust. If you choose this approach, the best way to choose an itinerary is to consult a good tour operator. They can give you a list of potential places that fill your need for a tougher, more robust adventure. One of these destinations is the Snow Star Festival that is held in the Sinakara Valley in southern Peru.
called locally "Quyllur Rit’i"the name of the festival literally translates as "Lord of the Snow Star." More than 200 years ago, in the year 1780, a young man named Manuel helped a native herdsman who was struggling to care for his flock. As a result, the herd prospered and the shepherd’s father wanted to reward Manuel with clothes. However, when he sent the pastor to the town to buy clothes, he discovered that the sample of Manuel’s clothes that he brought were only worn by archbishops. The church then sent a group to investigate, but when the investigator tried to grab Manuel, the boy turned into a bush with an image of Christ hanging from it and the pastor died of shock. He was buried under a rock that had an image of Jesus painted on it, now called "Mr. Snowstar." The festival is celebrated a week before the Corpus Christi festival, which takes place at the end of May or June, coinciding with the full moon.
Although sanctioned by the Church, the festival has roots in ancient rituals performed by the original occupants of the area, long before the Catholic Church laid claim to Peru. People who visit and celebrate the festival nowadays celebrate differently than traditional rituals. They climb the mountains of the area on the first day and kneel at dawn and greet the rising sun. Others climb glaciers to bring back ice blocks and crosses that are believed to have healing properties.
Another notable aspect of the festival are the native dances that accompany it. The experience of watching hundreds of people dancing happily on the ice of the glacier is said to be so spectacular and impressive that essays and photos will never do a good job of describing it. If you’re looking for a high-altitude adventure that few people have been on, the Snow Star Festival should be your next travel destination.