Cusco Festivities: What are the main activities?
Every June, Cusco celebrates its jubilee month. The parties are characterized by music, dance and delicious cuisine. The most important activities are the serenade to Cusco and the ceremony of the Inti Raymi or Fiesta del Sol. What other activities are there in that month? Meet the main activities that are carried out every year.
- Pachamama Offering Ceremony
- Procession of the Virgin of La Merced ‘La Peregrina’
- Chiri Uchu gastronomic festival
- Traditional eighth of the Feast of Corpus Christi
- Parade of typical dances of Cusco
- Sacred and Huaynos music concerts
- Greetings to Cusco
- Mega event of light and sound of Cusco
- Parade of allegories of the National University Diego Quispe Tito
- Welcome to the Andean New Year
- Civic parade in honor of Cusco
- Inti Raymi – The Feast of the Sun
Pachamama Offering Ceremony
The ceremony of the offering to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) begins the Jubilee Festivities of Cusco. This ceremony of thanks to the ancient Inca gods. Andean priests specialized in this ceremony participate.
- Place: Plaza de Armas.
- Entry: Free.
Pututeros welcoming the Andean New Year
Procession of the Virgin of La Merced ‘La Peregrina’
The procession in honor of the virgin of ‘La Merced’ takes place every June 24 in the city of Cusco and other cities of Peru. The ceremony is presided by the army authorities. It is characterized by the use of fireworks as well as the demonstration of faith of local people.
- Place: Historic Center of Cusco.
- Entry: Free.
Chiri Uchu gastronomic festival
This gastronomic activity is one of the most important in the region. Chiri Uchu is the flag dish of Cusco. Its main ingredient is the guinea pig or guinea pig of the Andes.
- Place: San Francisco Square.
- Entry: Free.
Traditional eighth of the Feast of Corpus Christi
This religious activity ends the traditional Corpus Christi of Cusco. The 15 saints and virgins of the city congregate in the Cathedral of Cusco and return to their respective churches in a massive procession. It is one of the most popular acts of faith in Peru.
- Place: Plaza de Armas.
- Entry: Free.
Devotees carrying one of the virgins on the feast of Corpus Christi
Parade of typical dances of Cusco
Throughout the jubilee month, the various institutions of initial, primary, secondary education as well as universities and institutes of the city perform typical dances of the region in the middle of the square.
- Place: Plaza de Armas.
- Entry: Free.
Dancers celebrating the festivities of Cusco
Sacred and Huaynos music concerts
Every year a sacred music show is held as well as huaynos contests where the Andean music of Peru is revalued. The date is variable but the place is the auditorium of the city’s municipal theater.
- Place: Municipal Theater ‘Daniel Estrada Pérez’.
- Entry: Free.
Typical dances presented in the main square of Cusco
Greetings to Cusco
The authorities of all the provinces of the department of Cusco perform a parade with a show of dances and music around the Plaza de Armas of the city. The event begins with the raising of the flag of Cusco and Peru.
- Place: Plaza de Armas.
- Entry: Free.
Mega event of light and sound of Cusco
This traditional event is also known as the ‘Serenata to Cusco’. It consists of a show of lights, music and fireworks in the Plaza de Armas. The music starts from 6 in the afternoon.
- Place: Plaza de Armas.
- Entry: Free.
Night of lights and sound in the Plaza de Armas of Cusco
Parade of allegories of the National University Diego Quispe Tito
This picturesque event is one of the most fun in Cusco. The young artists of the city prepare their best works of art as allegories and traditional prints.
- Place: Route from El Sol Avenue to the Plaza de Armas.
- Entry: Free.
Welcome to the Andean New Year
All winter solstices, the Incas celebrated the Inti Raymi ritual with a great religious and festive ceremony. For them, a new stage of harvesting and planting began. Because of this, currently the Andean regions such as Cusco celebrate the Andean New Year by that date. The celebration is characterized by a ritual in honor of nature.
- Place: Route from El Sol Avenue to the Plaza de Armas.
- Entry: Free.
Civic parade in honor of Cusco
The various public delegations, civilians as well as members of the army and police perform the civic parade in honor of the city of Cusco through a music and dance show. The event takes place every year from 9 in the morning in the Plaza de Armas of the city.
- Place: Plaza de Armas.
- Entry: Free.
Inti Raymi – The Feast of the Sun
The Inti Raymi is considered the largest cultural and tourist celebration of Cusco. It has been celebrated since 1944. Currently, an immense staging is organized with hundreds of actors that revive the Inca traditions. That day is a holiday in the region.
- Place: Coricancha Temple – Plaza de Armas – Sacsayhuaman Fortress.
- Entrance: Free in Coricancha and Plaza de Armas. With entrance in Sacsayhuaman.
Inti Raymi or Fiesta del Sol Celebration
Advice from people who have been there
By: Joan M.“Beautiful“
“In the month of June, throughout the month, the Main Square is closed as there are parades every day at all times. You see many people especially at night. The parades are very nice. Around the square there are thousands of businesses and restaurants. It is very nice to walk there and visit Cusco that month.“
By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 15, 2024