Santurantikuy: Cusco's Christmas market in the Plaza de Armas

If you spend Christmas in Cusco, there's one event you shouldn't miss: Santurantikuy, the big Christmas crafts fair that fills the Plaza de Armas in the days before Christmas Eve. Thousands of nativity figures, images of the Niño Manuelito, retablos, ceramics and decorations spread across the square while Cusco families and travellers stroll between the stalls. It's one of the city's best-loved traditions and a unique chance to buy folk art directly from the people who make it.

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What Santurantikuy means

The name mixes Spanish and Quechua and can be translated as buying or selling saints. The fair began so families could get the images and figures for their nativity scenes, which are the centrepiece of Christmas decoration in Cusco. Over time it became a great showcase of folk art, selling both religious pieces and crafts of all kinds.

At the heart of the tradition is the Niño Manuelito, Cusco's depiction of the Christ Child, with Andean features and clothing, whom many families dress and renew every year.

When it's held

Santurantikuy is traditionally held in the days before Christmas, with 24 December as the main day. In 2025, for example, the fair ran from 22 to 24 December in the Plaza de Armas, with more than a thousand artisans and exhibitors. Dates, hours and stall layout are set by Cusco's municipality each year, so check official information before your trip.

• The 24th has the best atmosphere but also the biggest crowds.
• The days before are more comfortable for browsing and buying calmly.

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What you can buy

• Images of the Niño Manuelito and his tiny clothes, chairs and accessories.
• Nativity figures in ceramic, plaster, wood or paste, from simple pieces to very elaborate works.
• Retablos from Ayacucho and Cusco, small boxes with religious or everyday scenes.
• Ceramics, including the famous little bulls and decorative pieces.
• Moss, plants and natural elements to decorate nativity scenes.
• Textiles, carvings, traditional toys and other crafts.

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Atmosphere and traditions

The square fills up early and the mood is festive and family-friendly. You'll see families buying figures to complete their nativity scene, musicians, food and hot-drink stalls, and long queues at the most popular stalls. At night, with the cathedral lit up, the square feels very special.

During December, Cusco also has the tradition of chocolatadas, where hot chocolate and panettone are handed out, especially to children in communities and neighbourhoods.

What a Cusco nativity scene looks like

Cusco nativity scenes are much more than a manger. Besides Mary, Joseph and the Child, they usually include shepherds, llamas, sheep, mossy mountains, paper rivers and figures from everyday Andean life, such as market vendors or musicians. Many families spend days building them at home and keep them up until January. That's why the fair matters so much: every year new pieces are added and broken ones replaced.

How to avoid the crowds

• Go early in the morning, when stalls have just been set up.
• Choose the days before the 24th if you want to shop calmly.
• Bring a sturdy bag to protect fragile pieces.
• Agree a meeting point if you're in a group.
• Be patient: at peak times, walking across the square can be slow.

Safety and tips

• Watch your belongings: crowds attract pickpockets.
• Bring cash in small notes; not all stalls take cards or app payments.
• Ask for ceramic or plaster pieces to be well wrapped.
• Always ask the price first and bargain respectfully, without overdoing it.
• If you're flying with pieces, keep them in your hand luggage or well protected.

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Christmas in Cusco: what else to do

December is rainy season in Cusco, so bring a rain jacket. Besides Santurantikuy, you can attend midnight mass at the cathedral or other churches in the centre, see the churches' nativity scenes and enjoy a Cusco Christmas dinner, where roast pork and hot chocolate take centre stage. If you like craft markets, for the rest of the year you can visit San Blas and the artisan markets in the centre.

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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).