Independence Day in Peru

The holiday and its legal status

Peru’s Legislative Decree No. 713 lists Fiestas Patrias on July 28 and 29 as national holidays. For workers covered by the private-sector labor regime, those dates are paid holidays. The law says these holidays are observed on their respective dates; its following-Monday rule applies to other non-working holidays with a non-national or occupational scope.[1]

If a private-sector employee works on either holiday and does not receive substitute rest, the law provides for payment for the work plus a 100 percent surcharge, in addition to the holiday’s ordinary remuneration. These dates are national holidays rather than compensable non-working days, so the law does not call for recovering the hours later.[1][3]

What the dates commemorate

The act of independence was signed in Lima on July 15, 1821, and its proclamation was set for July 28. The Peruvian Congress’s historical account describes San Martín proclaiming independence that day at Lima’s Plaza de Armas, also known as the Plaza Mayor.[2]

The proclamation was a defining moment in a longer emancipation process. The Congress account places it amid earlier rebellions and the independence movement led by San Martín, and describes the declaration as an important event for Peru and South America.[2]

How Peru marks Fiestas Patrias

The two dates carry distinct civic meanings: July 28 commemorates the declaration of independence, while July 29 is dedicated to Peru’s Armed Forces and National Police. This pairing is a specifically Peruvian feature of the holiday period.[2]

The proclamation ceremony in 1821 took place at several locations in Lima, including the Plaza de Armas, Plazuela de La Merced, the Convent of Los Descalzos and what is now Plaza Bolívar. The historical account records the ceremony; it does not establish a current nationwide schedule of ceremonies or customs.[2]

Practical effects

The paid-holiday rules do not mean every workplace closes: the law provides for work on a holiday with substitute rest or the applicable additional payment. Check opening hours with government offices and banks before you go; shops and transport providers may set their own holiday arrangements, so check directly with the service you plan to use.[1][3]