A young boy descends the Qullqip'unqu mountain looking out at the tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered to celebrate the three-day festival Qoyllur Rit’i, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star, in the Andean Sinakara Valley, in Peru's Cusco region, on May 24, 2016. #

Men dressed as mythical half-man, half-bear creatures called “Ukukus,” watch as their leader whips a pledge during an induction ceremony on the Qullqip'unqu mountain glacier as part of the festival Qoyllur Rit’i, on May 24, 2016. #

Men dressed as mythical half-man, half-bear creatures, known as an “Ukukus,” descend the Qullqip'unqu mountain accompanied by a receiving party of women and children, on the last day of the three-day festival Qoyllur Rit’i on May 24, 2016. #

A pilgrim carrying his son on his back, plays a traditional Andean flute known as a quena, as he walks the five miles to the Sanctuary of the Lord of the Qoyllur Rit’i. #

An ukuku pledge places his hands on the ice of the Qullqip'unqu mountain glacier, kneeling before a cross as he is whipped three times by an ukuku leader, in an induction ceremony, as part of Qoyllur Rit’i, on May 24, 2016. New recruits promise to make the pilgrimage three years in a row. #

Ukukus light candles on the glacier of the Qullqip'unqu mountain, during Qoyllur Rit’i, on May 24, 2016. In recent years, the pilgrims have noted a decline in the size of the glaciers because of warming trends. In hopes of preventing additional ice melting, the ukukus no longer use the large candles that were once common in the ritual. #

Men dressed as ukukus huddle together to keep warm, as they take a break from their spiritual trek to the top of the Qullqip'unqu mountain, as part of Qoyllur Rit’i, in Peru’s Sinakara Valley on May 24, 2016.  #