Machu Picchu Events and Festivals

(Machu Picchu, Peru)

The sheer wonderment and breathtaking appeal is more than enough for most tourists visiting Machu Picchu, although if you time your visit correctly, you will likely be able to also enjoy some Inca festivals or religious events. Many of the things to do around Machu Picchu tend to take place in or around nearby Cusco, and are often quite a spectacle.

The festivals and events of Machu Picchu and Cusco tend to be especially seasonal, with the Easter celebrations during Holy Week (Semana Santa) being very memorable and exciting. The Moray Raymi Festival of the Sun (Inti Raymi) in June is also hard to beat and attracts crowds of around 100,000 people to the Cusco area.

Machu Picchu Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015: General Information

Other annual things to do around Machu Picchu include the El Senor de los Temblores (Lord of the Earthquakes) in April, the Festival of the Crosses (Fiesta de las Cruces) each May, and the Corpus Christi celebrations in June.

Soon after the Corpus Christi events, the Qoyllor Ritt' I festival is held at the very icy Ausangate Peak, close to both Machu Picchu and Cusco. Also of note are the national holidays of All Saints Day (Todos Santos) on November 1st, All Souls Day (Dia de los Muertos) on November 2nd, and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Fiesta de la Purisima Concepción) on December 8th.