Cusco is the best destination in South America and Machu Picchu one of the best in the world. The best part is that many of the most important festivals of the city are celebrated in the capital, not in the Inca citadel, so you can live them before or after your Machu Picchu trip without changing your itinerary: you just need to add one or two days to your trip, either before going up to the Inca wonder or when returning from it.
If you visit Machu Picchu in June, besides seeing the jewel of the Inca Empire, you will be able to enjoy the festivals of Cusco.
Cusco and Machu Picchu are spectacular destinations 365 days a year. However, there are unique dates that turn the trip to the Capital of the Incas into a magical experience: Carnivals, Holy Week, Corpus Christi, Inti Raymi, Christmas and New Year are just some of the most important festivals that the people of Cusco celebrate. Despite being high season, the trip to Machu Picchu during the festivals of Cusco is one of the best experiences you can live. Traveling during the Cusco holidays offers you an unforgettable and unique experience.
If you want to come to Machu Picchu and see the sun party in Cusco, the first thing you have to do is book the Machu Picchu tickets 2027 in advance; we recommend doing it three months before to find availability. If to your experience in Machu Picchu and the parties of Cusco you want to add the Inca Trail; 6 months before you must make your Inca Trail book 2027, it is the only way to get one of these tickets during the festivities of Cusco.
Carnival is a celebration that generally takes place in February (or early March) throughout Cusco and Peru. Sundays are the main days, when people have fun spraying each other with water and talcum powder. Another tradition is to dance around the tree or yunza, decorated with different gifts that people pick up when they cut it down and let it fall. Carnivals are known for their overflowing joy, during which you can taste the delicious traditional dishes of the region.
Keep in mind that February is the rainy season in Cusco and Machu Picchu, so if you plan to combine both experiences, get ready with waterproof clothes and proper shoes. Also, if you want to hike the classic Inca Trail, you must know that it remains closed throughout February for annual maintenance, so it is not possible to do the trek that month. The most recommended thing is to experience the Carnivals first and then visit Machu Picchu by train, leaving the Inca Trail for another date of the year with more stable weather.
Holy Week in Cusco has Holy Monday (the day after Palm Sunday) as its main day, the date when the Patron of Cusco, the Lord of the Earthquakes, goes out in a procession. The custom in this holiday is to taste the twelve different traditional dishes that range from various soups and stews, whether based on dried fish, wheat, and olluco, to delicious desserts like apple, corn, or sweet corn treats.
March is a transition month: the rains begin to decrease, which makes it a good option for the trek to Machu Picchu, since the weather usually becomes stable in the following weeks. Arriving at Machu Picchu in March and experiencing the faith of Peruvians during Holy Week, seeing the processions of the saints in the main squares, and tasting the delicious sweets of the season, is a perfect combination.
One of the most passionate and oldest religious celebrations (more than two centuries old) in the Cusco region is held in the town of Ocongate (Quispicanchis province). The pilgrimage of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i is a religious ritual that gathers thousands of locals and visitors who walk several kilometers to the Sinakara Sanctuary, at 4,600 meters above sea level and at the foot of the snowy Ausangate Mountain. During the pilgrimage, the Christ of that town is worshiped with dances, music and traditional games. On average, the walk takes 5 hours and reaches temperatures of -4 °C.
It is important to clarify that this is a physically demanding experience, with high altitude and extreme cold, so it is not suitable for all travelers; if you are not used to the altitude or long walks in cold conditions, it is a good idea to think about it calmly before adding it to your itinerary.
For those who do want to experience it, Ocongate is located about 3-4 hours by road from Cusco, in the opposite direction of Machu Picchu, so it cannot be combined in the same trip. The recommended thing is to plan the pilgrimage as a separate experience, with at least 2 full days (transfer, taking part in the holiday and return to Cusco), and then resume the trip to Machu Picchu with 1 or 2 days of rest in between to recover from the altitude and physical effort before moving on.
Corpus Christi consists of the procession of the 15 main saints of the city. It is part of the jubilee festivities of the city. The Corpus Christi party begins one day before Holy Thursday, when the statues of the saints, always accompanied by churchgoers with music bands, make their entrance to the Cusco Cathedral. On the day of the procession, they go through the city of Cusco and it ends with a big celebration where food, drinks and music are plentiful. After seven days, each saint returns to their original church.
During this festival, traditional dishes of the region are plentiful, especially the famous "Chiri Uchu", a cold dish that brings together guinea pig, hen, sausage, cured meat, cheese, river seaweed (cochayuyo), corn tortilla, and other Andean ingredients in a single bite. It is, along with the processions, one of the great attractions of the date: trying it is a way to get closer to the culinary identity of Cusco.
Since Corpus Christi (May 27) falls very close to the date of Qoyllur Rit'i (May 25), it is possible to put together a combined itinerary that same week: experience the procession and taste the "Chiri Uchu" in Cusco, and take advantage of the following days to continue to Machu Picchu, either by train or completing a trekking section, without needing to make two different trips to the region.
The Festival of the Sun (Inti Raymi) is the festival that worships the sun, an Inca god, every June 24, at the start of the winter solstice. The sun was one of the most important deities of the Incas. Currently, Inti Raymi has its main stage in Sacsayhuaman; also, other places where the Incas worshiped the sun were the Main Square of Cusco and the Coricancha (Temple of the Sun).
June is the anniversary month of Cusco and the date of Inti Raymi 2027, the sacred festival of the sun. Celebrated on the Inca esplanade of Sacsayhuaman, where you can witness a real Inca ceremony that includes chicha, fire, and llama rituals. Combine your visit to Machu Picchu with the Inti Raymi tour on June 24.
Keep in mind that June is high season in Cusco: Inti Raymi, the dry and clear weather, and the largest influx of visitors of the year happen at the same time. That is why, for these dates it is a good idea to book your Machu Picchu tickets and train tickets at least 6 months in advance, instead of the 3 months that are usually enough at other times. If you plan to combine both experiences calmly, consider between 5 and 7 days of travel: enough time to enjoy Inti Raymi, rest for a day, and then visit Machu Picchu without rushing.
July 7 commemorates the Day of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, in honor of its choice as one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the result of a worldwide vote held in 2007 by the New7Wonders organization with over one hundred million participants. Machu Picchu shares this honor with iconic sites like the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Petra, Christ the Redeemer, the Roman Colosseum and Chichen Itza, a fact that usually surprises even those who already know the fame of the place. The date is remembered with official events and the presence of authorities and international groups in the sanctuary itself.
This anniversary falls just 8-9 days before the Virgin of Carmen (July 15-17) and the National Holidays (July 28-29), which makes the second half of July one of the most complete windows of the year to combine history, faith, and national celebration in the same trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu.
The great festival of the Virgin of Carmen, with its famous parades and folk dances, is experienced in Paucartambo, about 3 hours from Cusco. However, the town of Aguas Calientes itself (Machupicchu Pueblo) has its church dedicated to the Virgin of Carmen, located in the main square, where her date is also celebrated with a smaller and more intimate version: without the 19 parades or the massive staging of Paucartambo, but with a genuine local devotion.
It is worth making this honestly clear to not create wrong expectations: if you are looking for the big experience of dancers, music and fireworks, that is the one in Paucartambo. But if you prefer to live a simple and close religious celebration, without moving from the town where you are already staying to go up to the citadel, the Virgin of Carmen in Machu Picchu Pueblo offers you that same logistical advantage as the district's anniversary: you can witness it on the same day of your visit, with no extra trip.
Peru celebrates its independence on July 28 and 29. During these days, the streets of every city dress in red and white to celebrate Peruvian pride. Throughout the month of July, and especially during the week of the National Holidays, colorful parades, food fairs and various displays of popular art take place.
Visitors traveling during Independence Day will be able to admire the energy of the Peruvian people and join the celebration. Besides tasting the Peruvian food, they will be able to share their experience with people from all over the world.
July is, besides, one of the best months to combine the National Holidays with a visit to Machu Picchu: it is the dry season with stable weather in Cusco and the Highlands, ideal both to enjoy the parades and fairs in the city and to walk the Inca Trail or tour the citadel without the risk of rain. You can live the celebrations of the 28th and 29th in Cusco and continue your trip to Machu Picchu the following days, taking advantage of the good weather of the season.
On October 1, the political creation of the district of Machupicchu is celebrated, the official name of the town that most travelers know as Aguas Calientes, established by Law No. 9396 in 1941. The town was born and grew in the heat of the Cusco-Santa Ana railway, which at the beginning of the 20th century opened the way to the high jungle and, over time, became the mandatory gateway to the Inca citadel. Every anniversary, its streets are filled with a civic parade, the raising of the national flag, and local artistic shows.
This is, of all the holidays on the list, the only one that happens exactly in the same place where you already sleep before going up to Machu Picchu: you do not need to adjust your itinerary or add transfers. You can witness the civic celebration in the town square the same morning or afternoon before your visit to the citadel, without this affecting your travel plans.
One of the traditional holidays in Cusco is All Saints' Day. In our culture, it is celebrated on November 1st and is commemorated by those who still live in this world; while on November 2nd the dead are remembered with pilgrimages to the cemeteries accompanied by music and dances. All Saints' Day in Cusco, on the first of November, is celebrated with the traditional wawa bread and horse bread, as well as visits to the cemetery.
November is low season in terms of tourist crowds, which means fewer people, better prices for lodging and tours, and more availability for Machu Picchu tickets. It is a good chance to experience this holiday in Cusco (with its more local and real atmosphere) and combine it with a quiet visit to the Inca citadel, enjoying a more relaxed and cheaper trip than in the high season.
Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. In Cusco, the Christmas celebration takes on a traditional touch. On December 24th, homage is paid to the Niño Manuelito (Andean representation of Baby Jesus) with the Santurantikuy festival, the largest crafts fair in the region. On the main day, December 25th, families gather around the table to taste the typical food of the region.
Experiencing Santurantikuy and Christmas in Cusco is a charming experience that you can combine with your visit to Machu Picchu, either before the holidays or right after, making the most of the festive atmosphere of the city. However, it is a good idea to check the availability of transport and tour operators on these dates in advance, since some services (trains, buses, and agencies) usually reduce their schedules or frequencies during Christmas Eve and Christmas, so booking ahead avoids last-minute problems.
New Year's Eve in Cusco and Machu Picchu is a party full of joy and happiness. The celebration, hours before the year changes, is similar to the one held in the rest of the world. In Cusco, the food is enjoyed as a family, with typical stews where suckling pig stands out. Among the traditions of the region is the counter-clockwise walk around the Main Square. Tourists and locals celebrate with games and spinning hand in hand in large groups in the square. At midnight, Cusco nights become some of the most vibrant and memorable in Peru.
You can welcome the New Year in the Main Square of Cusco and continue your trip to Machu Picchu in the first days of January, combining the party with the visit to the citadel. Keep in mind that December marks the start of the rainy season in the region, so, if your plan includes the Inca Trail or another trek, it is a good idea to check the weather forecast and bring waterproof gear, as conditions can change compared to the dry season.
Cusco is the best destination for adventure and culture tourism. The Sacred Valley lies in the most important tourist attraction of Cusco. From there you can start the walk to the Inca Trail, explore the Inca sites, or take the train to Machu Picchu: Below find the best trek and tours from Cusco and Sacred Valley.
If you need only to get the Machu Picchu tickets, we recommend you book in advance, there is a limit available every day. In case it is sold out, you can get the tickets in Aguas Calientes, but you should be a day before and wait in line for 2 or 4 hrs approx to get the ticket. If you need a Machu Picchu guided tour. Contact us!
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