Creole Music has suffered from influences of the international music. Hip Hop, Reggaeton, Salsa, Rock, Pop, Cumbia, and Chicha have all weakened the Creole of Peru, but at the same time it’s still very much alive. For a taste of Peruvian Creole music, interested parties should head down to the III Encuentro de Centros Musicales (3rd Meeting of Musical Centres), where a number of musicians will demonstrate their skills in the Creole musical tradition. The event begins at 7.00pm and it’s free for anyone to attend.

An interesting fact is that, of course, October 31 is also Halloween. Nowadays those two fiestas co-exist in Peru and both are celebrated together. One of the most popular Halloween costumes is seen in Cusco’s main square, the Plaza de Armas: the festive costume of the Negroide, the Afro-Peruvian celebrated in Creole Music.

On the 31st of October in many cafes, bars and restaurants all over Peru you will only hear Musica Criolla. Orquests of creole music, with their guitars and the wooden box drums called the (creole) “cajon”, work extra hours on this day. The most well-known representatives of the Peruvian creole music are Bartola, Eva Ayllon and Chabuca Granda.

Apart from in bars and restaurants you will hear Creole Music on TV and radio stations all day long. Creole Music is very important in the life of Peruvians. It stands for tradition, nostalgia and love. It is the music of their parents and grandparents. In many institutions, such as schools and companies special activities will take place during this day. Children dress up like the Afro-Peruvians of the coast. They are the symbols of the coastal creole style that has become typical for Peru.

Here is a beautiful example of Creole songs:

San Pedro of Andahuaylillas church is the major attraction for visitors. Even though on first sight the church seems inconspicious, due to it’s simple design. The quality and collection of art pieces is what makes it so special and worth seeing.

San Pedro Apóstol was built by Jesuits in the sixteenth century over a pre-Columbian huaca, or ceremonial space. The construction of the current temple started in 1570 with the creation of a small chapel corresponding to the existing apse and sanctuary; the nave and façade were completed in 1606. Much of the interior was decorated by Luis de Riaño, a student of Angelino Medoro, in the 1620s. It is often called the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes” because of the beauty of its mural painting. The sanctuary has a polychrome ceiling in the Mudéjar style built using a pre-Hispanic construction method called kur-kur which combines cane, straw and mud instead of wood.

Andahuaylillas has two main tourist attractions

Sistine Chapel of America

Although its architecture is quite simple, the internal decoration is the most impressive part of the place. For example you will find the painting “Virgen de la Asuncion”, from the historical painter Esteban Murillo in this chapel.

You will also find murals made by Luis Riaño (17th century) that represent the man choosen by glory. He also did the design and painting  to decorate the socles and a remarkable oil painting of archangel San Miguel. The church also is in possess of a never seen collection of Cusquenian school paintings that represent the life of Saint Pedro. They are kept in amazing frames made of gold leaf, a majestic organ, silver jewelry and a baroque altar. In the enclosure, we can see rooms where there are remains of an Inca construction. Outside, on the west of the front patio, there are three carved crosses that represent the trinity as Catholic symbol (Father, son and holy spirit).

Andahuaylillas main square

The main square is surrounded by leafy pisonay trees and palm trees. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares of the region. Huaro the city, where the ancient Inca wizards lived is only a few kilomteres from here. There is a wonderful temple with murals by Tadeo Escalante, one of the last masters of Cusquenian school.

On the way to the islands, on the Paracas Peninsula, visitors will notice El Candelabro, a large-scale geoglyph that may have served as a beacon to mariners. The mystery as to the origins of this particular geoglyph is ongoing with much speculation. The visit to the Ballestas Islands is, from an ecotourism point of view, probably the best known along the Peruvian coast.

Although the island is nicknamed the ‘poor man’s Galapagos,’ the Islas Ballestas will be a memorable visit. The only way to get there is with a boat tour, offered by many travel agencies. None of the small boats have a cabin, which is why dressing up warm and weatherproof is a must. The sea can get rough, if you have problems with motion sickness you should take pills before.

Also you should wear a hat (cheap ones are sold at the harbor), as it’s not unusual to receive a direct hit of guano (droppings) from the seabirds. On the  boat journey, which takes about 1½ hours, you can’t miss the famous three-pronged Candelabra geoglyph, a giant figure etched into the sandy hills, which is over 150m high and 50m wide. No one knows exactly who made the geoglyph, or when, or what it signifies, but theories abound. Some connect it to the Nazca Lines, while others propound that it served as a navigational guide for ancient sailors and was based on the constellation of the Southern Cross. Some even believe it to have been inspired by a local cactus species with hallucinogenic properties.

An hour is spent cruising around the islands’ arches and caves, watching large herds of noisy sea lions sprawl on the rocks. The most common guano-producing birds in this area are the guanay cormorant, the Peruvian booby and the Peruvian pelican, seen in colonies of several thousand strong. You’ll also see pelicans, cormorants, Humboldt penguins and, if your lucky even dolphins.

Although you can get close enough to the wildlife for a good look, some species, especially the penguins, are more visible with binoculars. On your return trip, ask to see the Chilean flamingos, which are usually found in the southern part of the bay and not on the direct boat route. The flamingos aren’t always there. The best time to see them is from  June to August. Back on shore, a minibus takes tour groups back to Pisco  just in time for lunch. Another option is to continue your tour to  the Reserva Nacional de Paracas.