1. In this traditional dance, called the cajelo, the ladies swing back and forth displaying their dresses and the men alternate in whipping the ground, meant to symbolize preparing the land for planting. It shows the love/hate relationship with the land (pachamama, also meaning “time” and “the universe), as it provides nourishment as well as stress if the crops are ailing. Of course, the next person I asked said it was a satirical re-enactment of the whip-wielding Spanish landlords after their conquest of the area.

2. In this Aymara group recently exiting the stadium competition to tour through the streets, it´s pretty obvious how much work goes into the costumes. Many individuals will spend a month´s salary or more on a get-up, and their skills on the zampoña (Pan pipes) and bombos (drums) are there to match it.

3. This Quechua group had no problem getting the crowd riled up while playing the pinquillos.

4. The diabladas are among the more notorious costumes of the dances and are quite frightening at first.

5. It’s shocking to see leagues of them sashaying down the street.

6.It´s no surprise these guys are commanding the diabladas through the parade.

7. The ever-popular gorilla costumes are in homage to the bounty of the jungle.

8.The Virgen de la Candelaria makes an appearance in Puno´s main plaza (Plaza de Armas).

9. Making their presence known, the morenadas stop frequently to pop off their helmets for a breather and a beer.

10. These ladies in their trajes de luz look skyward hoping for the crowd to splash them with water under the afternoon sun.