Reasons of the month · julio

What to do in Cusco in julio

The best month for Cusco is septiembre — On September 14th thousands of pilgrims walk to the Sanctuary of the Lord of Huanca in San Salvador, 48 km fro…

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Why Cusco in julio

On July 16th the Virgin of Carmen (Mamacha Carmen) takes over nearby Paucartambo: troupes of saqra devils dance across the rooftops in one of Peru's most spectacular fiestas.

Peru's Independence holidays on July 28th-29th fill Cusco with civic parades, food fairs and traveling Peruvians, so book well ahead.

It's the depth of the dry Andean winter: sunny trekking days but freezing nights near 0°C/32°F, with intense midday sun.

Same place, another month

Cusco is worth visiting other months too

enero

January is the heart of the Andean rainy season: the Cusco valley turns emerald green and you'll see Machu Picchu wrapped in mist with only a handful of visitors.

febrero

Cusco's Carnival (February 15th in 2026) fills the Plaza de Armas with yunzas, water balloons and dance troupes; in the villages people dance around a gift-laden tree.

marzo

Holy Week begins in late March (Palm Sunday falls on the 29th in 2026), and on Holy Monday the 30th the Lord of the Earthquakes leads the city's largest procession.

abril

April is the year's sweet spot: the rains have gone but the Sacred Valley stays green, and June's crowds haven't arrived yet.

mayo

May opens the dry season with the clearest skies while the valleys are still green from the rains — the year's best combination for photographing Machu Picchu.

junio

On June 24th Cusco celebrates Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun, with a monumental reenactment on the Sacsayhuamán esplanade before tens of thousands.

agosto

August is the month of Pachamama: on the 1st, communities and families make offerings to the earth with despachos of coca leaves, seeds and chicha before planting season.

septiembre

On September 14th thousands of pilgrims walk to the Sanctuary of the Lord of Huanca in San Salvador, 48 km from Cusco, one of the busiest pilgrimages in the southern Andes.

octubre

October is one of the gentlest, quietest months: mild days, mostly dry skies and Rainbow Mountain free of the high-season queues.

noviembre

On November 1st-2nd, All Saints' fills Cusco's cemeteries and homes with 't'anta wawa' (baby-shaped breads) and roast pork shared among family.

diciembre

On December 24th, Santurantikuy fills the Plaza de Armas with one of the oldest craft markets in the Americas: hundreds of imagineros sell nativity figures, baby-Jesus carvings and ceramics.

Year at a glance