From the second half of February to the first week of March Peruvian carnivals are marked by the festive character of Andean areas, which regularly break with their solemn traditions.

Historically, Cajamarca is one of the most important regions of Peru. The Spanish conquest of its capital, also called Cajamarca, marked the downfall of the magnificent Inca Empire and the beginning of the colonial era.
Spanish chroniclers of the 18th century described the capital city as "large and beautiful". That has not changed, despite the bloody stain left by the Spanish conquest of this region. Visitors to Cajamarca cannot avoid hearing about the demise of the Tahuantinsuyo, as the Inca Empire was known.

Carnival time in Cajamarca city is among the most famous festivals in February in Peru. The townspeople are an easy-going, amiable folk, and carnival time involves entire neighborhoods and institutions until the end of the festival, when the participants symbolically bury Ño Carnavalón, the king of the carnival. The celebrations go on for around a month, but there are eight main days, when participants are often doused with water.

While every town and village in the country, regardless of size, celebrates carnival, Cajamarca is undoubtedly the Peruvian capital of this worldwide phenomenon. Preparations begin months in advance. In fact, participants have no sooner finished with one year's celebrations until they have to start thinking about those of the following year.

Nine full days (and nights) of madness and mayhem mean that you certainly shouldn't go into this with your eyes closed. You will need all your wits about you to fully appreciate the craziness that carnival in Cajamarca has become since the celebrations first began over seventy years ago, and to enjoy the traditional food and drink which is synonymous with the festival. Go easy on the chica, however, it's a lot stronger than people originally think and it's certainly an acquired taste.

The town literally comes alive with its many bands playing coplas, the traditional music of the northern Andes , similar to the huaynos of Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Cusco , and other Andean cities. Face painting, water throwing, and brilliantly colored streamers, floats, and costumes turn the streets into an explosion of color and activity. At a few key spots in the city, people take turns chopping down a capuli (cherry) tree loaded with gifts. The person with the winning chop organizes the next year's tree in this tradition called palos cilulos.