The spirit of Cusquenian man, sculpted by art and religion, has given rise to a creative vein that arises in an infinite variety of forms, rhythms and rituals. Year after year, more than 3,000 popular parties, 1,500 musical styles and countless arts and crafts confirm that Peru and is home to one of the most varied folkloric legacies in the world.
In Cusco hundreds of festivals are celebrated, most of them are celebrated in homage to a patron saint and are part of the Christian calendar adopted in colonial times, although they have been mixed with the magical beliefs of ancient forms of worship. The holidays in Cusco such as the Holy Week, Carnival, Corpus Christi and the feast of the Lord of the Earthquakes, have a special meaning for the people of Cusco, becoming a great folkloric expression of their people.
1. Inti Raymi Festival
Saturday, June 24th 2025: Inti Raymi
It is one of the most important festivals in Cusco, it is the maximum expression of the folklore of the Cusco people that occurs on Inti Raymi (June 24). The Cusco Sun Festival was held at the Saqsayhuaman Ceremonial Center, in Cusco and during this celebration, parades and historical performances are held that recall the ancient Inca rituals, as well as, participants dress in traditional costumes and carry out ceremonies in honor to the sun.
Staging that expresses the harmonious ralation betwen man and nature, with the Sun, Celestial Bodies and the Moon, which were among the Incas highest divinitiues. The winter solstice marks the beginning if the new solar cycle which corresponds to a new year on the calendar. According to chronicles, the first ray of the Sun was captured with a gold disc, in order to set a Sacred Fire which would be distributed in torches to the Empire's confines. Today, the festival in Cusco starts in the Qoricancha, continuing on to the Main Square (Plaza de Armas), to fanially get to Saqsayhuamán's Main Esplanade, on a path that zigzags trough the mountain. The staging is organized by Cusco's Municipality which has preferential locations and seats that are previously sold though travel agencies.
Traditional Sun Celebration
The traditional sun celebration, part of the Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco, is an ancestral ceremony that pays homage to the sun god. During this festivity, rituals and ceremonies are carried out where the sun is asked to continue shining brightly and provide a good harvest. Participants wear traditional costumes, make offerings, and recite prayers in Quechua.
Parades and Historical Representations
Parades and historical representations are a prominent part of the Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco. During these parades, participants recreate historical scenes related to Inca culture and the empire that once ruled the Andean region. Additionally, characters dressed in period attire and theatrical representations depicting significant moments of Inca history can be observed. In this way, it can be appreciated that each enactment holds profound significance and is not just an event to entertain the public but also educates about the glorious past of the Inca civilization and the rich cultural heritage that still endures in the Cusco region.
2.Carnival
Thursday, February 1th 2025: Compadres
Thursday, February 8th 2025: Comadres
Sunday, February 10th 2025
Carnivals in Cusco are a celebration full of joy and color that takes place at the beginning of the year. During this festivity, various traditional activities reflecting Cusco's culture are carried out. One of them is the Day of Compadres and Day of Comadres, where a festive day is celebrated in honor of close friends, gathering to share a meal and enjoy the typical music and dance of this celebration. On the other hand, another highlight of the Carnivals is the Water and Foam Games, where people of all ages have fun throwing water and foam on the streets of the city (especially in the Plaza de Armas of Cusco).
It´s one of the most cheerful holidays in Cusco, which is celebrated during a whole week and starts on Intimate Friends. Thursday, with visits amog Intimate Girlfriends. Before the day of Carnival, the festivities are quite colorful and the communities inhabitants come down to the urban center, with youngsters andb adorned with flowers. On Sunday, games, festivals and tipycal dance contest prevail ends with popular parties. Its gastronimy is quite varied, with the Puchero, mushroom, broad bean and cheese Kapchi, along with oven baked lamb, in the Sacred Valley; Pisaq Coya, Calca, Urubamba and the whole region.
Day of Compadres and Day of Comadres
The Day of Compadres and Day of Comadres is a celebration preceding the Carnivals in Cusco. On this day, compadres and comadres gather to share a meal and celebrate their friendship. It's a special occasion to strengthen emotional bonds and reaffirm the commitments of compadrazgo. During this festivity, typical dishes like Chiriuchu are shared, and traditional music and dances of the region are enjoyed. The Day of Compadres and Day of Comadres is an opportunity to enjoy the company of loved ones and keep Cusco traditions alive.
Water and Foam Games
The Water and Foam Games are a fun and typical tradition that is part of the Carnivals in Cusco. During this celebration, the streets become scenes filled with joy and camaraderie, where people of all ages participate in these games, throwing water and foam as a sign of joy and fun. Additionally, the festive atmosphere is felt as all participants throw water balloons, foam, and buckets of water. This celebration makes everyone have fun soaking friends and strangers alike.
3. Easter (Holy Week)
Sunday, March 24th 2025: Palm Sunday
Monday, March 25th 2025: Procession of the Lord of Tremors - Gastronomic Festival. Presentation of colonial balconies
Thursday, March 28th 2025: Holy Thursday
Friday, March 29th 2025: Holy Friday
Sunday, March 31th 2025: Easter Sunday of Resurrection.
Festivity that expresses deep religious fervor and wich is celebrated on Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Thrusday and Friday, Holy Saturday (Saturday of Glory) and Easter Sunday (Resurrection Sunday). Its gastronomy is based on the degustations of the -12 Sweet and Salted Dishes-, symbolizing the 12 apostles and which are prepared with seafood and fruit of season, as no red meat is consumed on that day, in the whole region.
Also during this week, various religious processions are held in the main churches of the city. These processions are accompanied by thousands of faithful who carry religious images and walk through the streets of Cusco in an atmosphere of fervor and devotion. In addition to the processions, representations of the passion of Christ are also carried out, where local actors represent the most important moments of the life and death of Jesus.
Religious processions
During Holy Week in Cusco, different religious processions are held that are part of the city's traditions. These processions are organized by the different religious brotherhoods and travel through the main streets of the historic center. Likewise, the participants, dressed in traditional costumes, carry religious images and live music accompanies the journey, and all the processions are moments of great devotion and solemnity, where the faithful express their faith and devotion towards each saint during the course of this procession festivity.
4. Corpus Christi, in the City of Cusco
Thursday, May 30th 2025: Corpus Christi festival
The Corpus Christi festival in Cusco is a very important religious celebration that takes place every year in June, and during this festival, the Procession of the 16 Saints takes place, where the most revered religious representations of the city come out in procession. This procession runs through the main streets of Cusco, allowing the faithful to show their devotion and participate in this act of faith, but in addition to the procession, various dances and traditional music are also performed that are part of the festivities.
Procession of the Images (statues) of 16 Patron Saints highly venerated in the city. Musical bands and folkloric groups are part of the procession and that festivity's classsical typical dish is the Chiri Uchu (Oven baked guinea pig with sundried salted chicken, cheese, algae, sausage, fish eggs and corn omelet).
Procession of Saints
The Procession of Saints is an outstanding tradition that is part of the Corpus Christi festivity in Cusco. During this procession, the most revered saints of the city come out in procession, this is a moment of great devotion and faith, where the faithful gather to accompany the images on their journey through the main streets of Cusco. Likewise, each saint has its own history and meaning for the community, which is why this religious act is of great importance for the people of Cusco.
Traditional dances and music
Traditional dances and music are an essential part of the Corpus Christi festivities in Cusco, since, during this celebration, various artistic manifestations are carried out that reflect the cultural and folkloric identity of the region, so you can see dances typical different representative dances. Likewise, these dances are performed by groups of dancers dressed in colorful traditional costumes, accompanied by musicians who play melodies with native instruments.
Gastronomic fairs
The gastronomic fairs are one of the most acclaimed events of these festivities in the city of Cusco, since, during this date, various fairs are held where you can enjoy the rich cuisine of Cusco, offering the opportunity to taste typical dishes such as guinea pig chactado, rocoto stuffed, pachamanca and chiriuchu, among others. These fairs offer a variety of culinary options that represent the tradition and gastronomic diversity of the Andean region.
5. Festivity of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i
Thursday, May 30th to Saturday, June 8 2025: Festival of the Lord of Qoyllor Riti
Pilgrimage of Qoyllority to the top of the snow-capped Mount Sinaqara, in the District of Ocongate, Province of Quispicanchis, Cusco. The journey is undertaken in a mass procession, with dances, muscial bands Ukukus, fireworks and the symbolic -alasitas- market (Handicraft fair of miniatures that represent the goods theb pariticipants desire and which are requested to the Apu).
This fetivity unites two traditions: The Andean and Catholic, as the Andean people celebrates the painted two apparition of Christ's image on a massive rock, at an altitude of 4,750 masl. On the nearby snow-covered mountain tops, the natives practice ancestral rites, such as worshipping the Apu Ausangate; Cusco's Tutelary Mountain Spirit. The pilgrimage is the only example that subsists in the region, of Andean resistance and ideology of the Incario (Incan myth and ptophesy) and from there, another pilgrimage starts to Tayancani, with the participation of the Nations, in the vicinity of Sinaqara.
Pilgrimage to the top of snow-capped Sinaqara
The Pilgrimage to the top of the snow-capped Sinaqara is the central point of the Festival of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i. During this pilgrimage, thousands of people travel a long and difficult path to reach the top where the image of the Lord De Qoyllur Rit'i is located; Likewise, this walk is an act of faith and sacrifice, where pilgrims face the cold, the height and the adversities of the terrain. However, when you reach the top, the panoramic view and the feeling of having completed the journey are worth the effort.
Dances and music in honor of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i
The dances and music in honor of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i are a fundamental part of the festival. During these days, numerous traditional dances are organized where participants dress in colorful costumes and perform coordinated movements to the rhythm of music. These dances also represent different cultural and religious aspects of the community. In addition, groups of musicians play traditional instruments to accompany the dances and create a festive atmosphere.
Thank you rituals and requests for wishes
The Rituals of gratitude and requests for wishes are an essential part of the Feast of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i. Therefore, after the pilgrimage and dances, the faithful gather around the sacred image of the Lord De Qoyllur Rit'i to express their gratitude and make their requests. Ancestral rituals are performed where food, flowers and other offerings are offered, and candles are also lit and prayers are performed.
Amazing Tours in Cusco
Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
- Salkantay Trek
- 5 Day Inca Trail
- Inca Quarry Trail
- 2 Day Inca Trail Tour
- 2 Day Inca Trail with Camping
- 3 Day Inca Trail
- Vilcabamba Hike to Machu Picchu 6 days
- Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu 9 days
- Ausangate trek 7 days
If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.
When is the best time to hike to Machu Picchu?
The best season is during the dry season, which covers the months April to the end of September. In October the rains begin and you can find Machu Picchu covered by clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend you to book the Inti Raymi 2025 Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes.
