This content is updated every year with new events and specific date changes.
Welcoming the New Year in Cusco is a truly unique experience. This city offers celebrations for every taste, from massive street parties in the Plaza de Armas to Andean rituals high up in the mountains. The navel of the world also offers: camping under the stars, cultural tours, special dinners, and experiences that mark the beginning of a new cycle with intention and joy.
For travelers seeking a destination full of history, flavor, energy, and adventure, Cusco becomes the perfect place to start the year. Whether you are traveling with family, friends, or on your own, here you will find exciting, spiritual, festive, and nature-based alternatives to close the old year and welcome the new one with the right foot and good vibes.
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On the night of December 31st, Cusco comes alive like few cities in the world. In the heart of the Historic Center, the Plaza de Armas fills with music, lights, and thousands of people ready to celebrate. As midnight approaches, tradition calls for at least one clockwise walk around the square, while the sky lights up with fireworks launched from different points across the city. It is one of the most unforgettable postcards for those who choose to spend the last night of the year here.
It is also worth noting that, over the years, the use of fireworks in the city has been increasingly regulated, especially to avoid disturbing people with autism, sensory hypersensitivity, or mental health conditions, as well as pets that can be affected by loud noises. This growing collective awareness aims to protect everyone’s well-being, promoting more inclusive and harmonious celebrations.
For those who prefer a more exclusive celebration, there are private parties on rooftops, in hotels, and nightclubs. Venues such as the halls of Palacio del Inca or Casa Andina Premium, as well as clubs like Chango Club, or Inkateam, offer themed parties with DJ, live shows, open bars, gourmet dinners, and privileged views of the illuminated city.
If your style leans more toward the alternative, you will also find spiritual or underground celebrations in creative spaces throughout the Sacred Valley or even within Cusco itself. These include retreats with temazcals, sound circles, despacho rituals, and more intimate celebrations connected to the earth and silence. Some events are announced on social media, while others spread by word of mouth among the traveler and local communities.
A magical and original way to say goodbye to the year is camping under the Andean sky. Near Cusco, there are several ideal spots for those seeking a peaceful night, a breathtaking sunrise, or a celebration more closely connected to nature.
One of the most popular spots is Sacsayhuamán, which offers privileged views over the entire city. Although it is only a 15-minute drive or a short hike from the center, its altitude of 12,139 feet above sea level makes it a perfect natural viewpoint. Bring warm clothing, as nighttime temperatures can drop to 37°F (3 °C).
Other nearby options include Tambomachay, Qenqo, and Puca Pucará, ideal for travelers who want to combine short hikes with tranquility. More adventurous visitors choose to camp in the Sacred Valley, in places like Pisac, Lamay, or Urubamba, where nature completely surrounds you.
Welcoming the New Year surrounded by living beings with soul and spiritual power, such as the Apus (protective spirits of sacred mountains), is undoubtedly a deeply immersive experience. The choice lies in truly feeling which type of experience you want to embrace to begin the new cycle.
For all these locations, it is recommended to bring: a cold-resistant tent, thermal sleeping bag, flashlight, water, snacks, warm clothing, and always respect the environment—do not leave trash behind, avoid unauthorized campfires, and respect the tranquility of sacred spaces.
Taking advantage of the first days of the year to go on a tour in Cusco can be the best way to start 2026 with adventure. If you are already excited about living a great experience, remember that at CuscoPeru.com we have created the New Year’s Tour 2026, with everything you need to recharge your energy and fully embrace the year ahead.
Among the most popular tours are:
If you prefer to explore on your own, there are also self-guided routes you can choose, such as the popular viewpoints in Cusco (San Cristóbal, Cristo Blanco, San Blas Viewpoint). You can also enjoy short walks through traditional neighborhoods or even take a local bus excursion to the South Valley (Tipón, Pikillaqta, Andahuaylillas) at an excellent price.
For all of the above—and everything you can imagine—remember that CuscoPeru.com is your greatest ally. We will be happy to design the ideal, tailor-made package for you. Happy travelers are our motto, because if you welcome the New Year with joy, we also start the year with the best vibes.
In Cusco, this month isn't only felt on December 31st, but also in the atmosphere that builds during the weeks leading up to it. One of the most emblematic Christmas events is Santurantikuy, a traditional fair held every December 24th in the Plaza de Armas. There, artisans from across the region display nativity scenes, saint images, carvings, ceramics, candles, incense, and traditional Andean products that are also used in New Year rituals.
In many churches—especially the Cusco Cathedral and San Blas—special end-of-year and thanksgiving masses are held. There are also celebrations that blend the religious with the ancestral, such as flowering baths guided by Andean healers, energetic cleansings with plants like rue, muña, or eucalyptus, and collective incense rituals on hills and plazas.
At home, people often follow traditions such as:
Celebrating New Year’s in Cusco is also an opportunity to enjoy its exquisite cuisine. During special dinners or lunches on January 1st, dishes such as oven-roasted pork with Cusco-style tamales and chicken or lamb broth are commonly served. The latter is especially popular in the early hours of January 1st, as it revives anyone or to start the year fully satisfied.
These delicious dishes are best accompanied by hot herbal infusions such as muña, or coca leaf tea, or stronger drinks like a good pisco sour, sparkling wine, or a traditional ancestral herbal beverage.
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