Calca: Walls, Markets and Festival Traditions

You can get to know Calca through a variety of cultural experiences: pre-Columbian walls remain along the streets and in the squares of the present-day town, while markets and religious festival traditions offer further insights into the place. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Calca, you might consider whether historical traces, local markets or a particular festival should be the focus of your trip.

Historical Traces and Art in Calca

The pre-Columbian walls are not confined to a single named site; they remain along the streets and in the squares of the present-day town. Calca’s main square is also one of the places worth seeing. Together with the walls, it offers a point of reference if you are interested in the townscape and history of Calca.

The Church of San Pedro Apóstol in Calca houses a collection of 66 panel paintings, 38 polychrome sculptures and 15 carved and gilded frames. These three figures describe different components of the collection: paintings on panels, colourful sculptures and elaborately crafted frames. Alongside the traces visible in the streetscape, Calca also has its own art attraction. The colonial church of Calca is also mentioned as a place worth seeing.

The Celebration of the Virgen Asunta

A distinctive religious tradition is the Festividad de la Virgen Asunta. The image of the Virgen Asunta has been in Calca since the colonial period and arrived there from Spain in 1753. During the celebration, it is carried in a procession through the streets and across Calca’s main square after Mass. Worshippers perform more than 20 dances during the Festividad. If you are interested in religious traditions and communal forms of celebration, this offers a specific insight into the town’s festive culture.

You can plan your trip around whichever occasion interests you most, without combining the two traditions into a single programme.

Unu Urqo: Performance and Access

The re-enactment of the myth of Unu Urqo takes place in the district of Calca on the first Sunday of October each year. Visitors gather from 10 am in the open area of the Unu Urqo archaeological zone to watch 200 local performers. For travellers wishing to experience this occasion, the first Sunday in October and the 10 am start are the specific time references.

Access to the Urqo archaeological zone begins at Calca’s main square. First, a 2-kilometre stretch of paved road takes 5 minutes. This is followed by 2 kilometres on a drivable unpaved track, for which 10 minutes are specified. The route leads to the structures and the carved rock. The sections described therefore differ both in surface and in their stated length and travel time. Urqo is also home to a tower and a huaca known as Wiracocha Urqo.

Markets and Clothing from the District

Calca has two popular markets offering a wide variety of food for sale. A Sunday market is also held every Sunday. Residents of neighbouring communities bring products to sell there and wear traditional clothing. If you are interested in food and local market traditions, Sunday is therefore a specific point of reference for planning your trip.

The textiles and garments in the communities of the Calca district also differ in certain features. These include colours and Chumpi or Pallay patterns, decorations on Ch'ullus and Monteras, the size of ponchos, and the number and design of Pollera skirts. These differences offer another perspective on local clothing traditions: rather than assuming there is a single uniform style, you can look out for patterns, decorations and garment styles.

The date of the Unu Urqo re-enactment is a particularly clear reference point when choosing when to travel; the Sunday market offers another regular occasion.

Discover more places: Cusco, Quillabamba, Lamay, Colcapampa, Andahuaylillas, Urubamba, Santa Teresa, Ocongate.

For the broader travel overview: Cuzco.