Cusco festivals: a month-by-month calendar

Cusco is in festival mode for much of the year. Many celebrations blend Catholic tradition with Andean roots, with dances, music, parades and processions filling the Plaza de Armas and the valley towns. This calendar sums up the main ones; bear in mind several are movable (tied to Easter) and exact dates and programmes are published each year, so confirm before you travel.

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Start here: Cusco tips · things to do in Cusco

January to April

• January: New Year celebrations in the Plaza de Armas; many locals wear yellow for good luck.
• February–March: Carnival. For weeks there are water, foam and paint fights in the streets, with parades on Sundays. If you don't want to get soaked, avoid some areas in the afternoon.
• March–April: Holy Week. On Holy Monday the Señor de los Temblores (Lord of the Earthquakes), Cusco's patron, is carried in one of the city's biggest processions. On Good Friday it's traditional to try twelve dishes.

May and June: the big season

• 3 May: Cruz Velakuy, the festival of the crosses in neighbourhoods and communities.
• May or June: Qoyllur Rit'i, an Andean pilgrimage to the Sinakara sanctuary near Ausangate, at high altitude with thousands of pilgrims. Demanding and very special.
• June (Corpus Thursday): Corpus Christi, when statues of saints and virgins from different parishes gather at the Cathedral and parade around the Plaza de Armas. Eating chiriuchu is traditional.
• June: the whole month is festive in Cusco, with school, institution and neighbourhood parades in the Plaza de Armas.
• 24 June: Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, with its main re-enactment at Sacsayhuamán. The year's most famous event — book accommodation well ahead.

• Qoyllur Rit'i: the Andean pilgrimage below Ausangate (dates and how to attend)
• Corpus Christi in Cusco: dates, the saints' procession, chiriuchu and tips
• Inti Raymi in Cusco: date, schedule, tickets and how to experience the Festival of the Sun

July to September

• Mid-July (around 15–18): Virgen del Carmen in Paucartambo, one of the region's richest festivals for dances and masks. The town fills up; many visitors combine it with the Tres Cruces sunrise.
• 28–29 July: Fiestas Patrias, Peru's independence, with parades and national holidays. Peak season for domestic travel.
• 1 August: offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth). Throughout August, many families and communities make offerings to the earth.
• September: patron saint festivals in various valley towns.

• Paucartambo and Tres Cruces: the Virgen del Carmen festival and sunrise over the Amazon
• Pachamama in August: offerings to Mother Earth in Cusco

October to December

• 1–2 November: All Saints and All Souls. Families visit cemeteries and prepare tanta wawas (child-shaped breads) and roast pork.
• 24 December: Santurantikuy, a large Christmas fair in the Plaza de Armas where artisans from across the region sell nativity figures, Baby Jesus images and crafts.
• 25 December: Christmas, with community hot chocolate events in many neighbourhoods.

• Cusco's artisan markets: San Blas, Centro Artesanal, Pisac and Chinchero

Tips for travelling at festival time

• Book accommodation and tickets early for June, July and Holy Week: occupancy and prices rise.
• Processions and parades draw big crowds: watch your belongings.
• Ask before photographing dancers or families up close at religious events.
• Some sites, museums or streets may close or change hours for events.
• High-altitude pilgrimages (like Qoyllur Rit'i) require acclimatisation and clothing for extreme cold.

• Is Cusco safe? Real risks and practical tips for a worry-free trip
• Best time to visit Cusco and what to pack
• Cusco weather by month: temperatures, rain and what to expect

Three festivals worth planning a trip around

Inti Raymi (24 June)

The great Festival of the Sun re-enactment unfolds in three settings: Qorikancha in the morning, the Plaza de Armas and, in the afternoon, the Sacsayhuamán esplanade. Seated stands are ticketed; you can also watch for free from nearby slopes by arriving very early.

Corpus Christi (June)

For a week, the statues from Cusco's parishes stay in the Cathedral and parade around the Plaza de Armas with bands and dancers. It's a very local, emotional festival, and the traditional dish, chiriuchu, is sold nearby.

Virgen del Carmen in Paucartambo (July)

Paucartambo is about 3–4 hours from Cusco on a mountain road. For several days, dozens of masked, costumed troupes portray characters and historical episodes. Lodging is very limited: many visitors go on a tour or stay with local families.

• Inti Raymi in Cusco: date, schedule, tickets and how to experience the Festival of the Sun
• Corpus Christi in Cusco: dates, the saints' procession, chiriuchu and tips
• Paucartambo and Tres Cruces: the Virgen del Carmen festival and sunrise over the Amazon

Notice: This guide shares advice and recommendations based on research and local experience. Prices, opening hours and rules may change: always check with official sources and operators. Cusco Tips is not responsible for third-party services, bookings or decisions made using these guides; some links are affiliate links (see our affiliate policy).