The Holy Week in Cusco | Top 10 Experiencies to enjoy in Cusco

During the Holy Week in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire transforms into a stage of religious fervor, ancestral traditions, and unique festivities found nowhere else in the world. Here, the  Catholic faith blends with Andean rituals, creating a cultural experience unlike any other. From colorful processions to sacred feasts, this blog—thanks to Kantu Peru Tours—reveals the 10 things you’ll only see in Cusco during these dates, along with seasonal characteristics, weather, and practical tips to make the most of your stay in 2025. Keep reading!

What is the holy week in Cusco?

Holy week in Peru and many other countries is one of the most important Christian celebrations, commemorating the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. But in Cusco, this festival takes on a unique twist, attracting not only the faithful but also thousands of tourists:

→ Religious syncretism: Catholic processions blend with offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth).
→ Sacred gastronomy: Dishes prepared only during these dates, like the 12 dishes of Good Friday.
→ Spectacular processions: Religious statues carried by devotees dressed in traditional attire.

Señor de los Temblores – Cusco en Semana Santa

10 Unique Experiences in Cusco During Holy Week

1. Palm Sunday: The Ritual of the Blessed Palms

As part of the Cusco’s festivities calendar 2025, on this day, in front of Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, devotees gather at the Cathedral of Cusco from early morning, carrying crosses intricately woven from palm leaves brought from the warm valleys of Q’osñipata. After a solemn Mass, the Archbishop blesses these palms around 5:00 AM.

According to records from the Archbishop’s Archive, this tradition dates back to the 16th century. The blessed palms are later placed on doorways as protection—a custom that merges Christianity with ancient Andean beliefs about safeguarding the home.

Domingo de Ramos en Cusco

2. Holy Monday: Procession of the Lord of the Earthquakes

On this day, the image of the Cristo Moreno (dating back to 1650) travels through the streets starting at 3:00 PM, departing from the Cathedral and winding through the historic center. What makes this day special—aside from the massive crowds—is the attire of the “Taytacha de los Temblores“, who wears only a half-body garment. Research from San Antonio Abad University reveals that its pigments come from cochineal dye, symbolizing the blood of Christ.

Another tradition unique to Cusco during Holy Week is gathering or buying ñucchu flowers (Salvia oppositiflora), a red medicinal Andean plant that blooms during the transition from rainy to dry season.

The Holy Week in Cusco – Procession of the Lord of the Earthquakes

3. Holy Tuesday: Candles in Colonial Churches

Though there’s no procession on this day, you can witness 1,200 beeswax candles illuminating the Church of the Society of Jesus as part of a local tradition. While the church’s lighting system was designed to highlight Baroque altarpieces without damage from smoke, it’s said that year after year, the Lord of the Earthquakes—originally painted in light tones—grows darker. Many devotees now refer to him as the “Dark Christ.”

4. Holy Wednesday: San Pedro Market

Don’t miss the delicious manjar blanco-filled empanaditas, a traditional dessert only found in Cusco during Holy Week. Local bakeries stack lamb-shaped breads, hand-decorated and ready to be blessed and shared with family. These treats, inherited from colonial times, are an essential part of the celebrations—a sweet example of Cusco’s cultural syncretism, available at the San Pedro Market fair.

Mercado San Pedro Cusco

5. Maundy Thursday: Flower Carpets

The day begins early with preparations for the procession of the Cristo Moreno, therefore, a unique feature of Holy Week in Cusco is how the residents of Santa Clara use local flowers like kantutas, chilcos, and carnations to create intricate floral carpets along the procession route. If you visit, you’ll witness how this tradition has preserved the syncretism since the Spanish conquest. Research from DDC Cusco shows that these carpets combine Spanish processions with the Inca’s ancient flower-adorned paths along the Qhapaq Ñan.

6. Good Friday: The 12 Dishes

In Cusco, Good Friday is celebrated with the traditional 12 dishes, honoring the apostles with unique flavors like sopa de chochoca, chupe de pescado, fried trout, and classic arroz con leche. This gastronomic experience, documented by Gastón Acurio, blends Catholic tradition with Andean ingredients. You can enjoy it in Cusqueño homes or local restaurants, even in the San Pedro Market—a true sacred feast exclusive to these dates.

12 platos tradicionales en Cusco

7. Holy Saturday: Silence

At exactly 3:00 PM, when Cusco commemorates Christ’s death, something extraordinary happens: the entire city falls into absolute silence by municipal decree (No. 025-2001). The bustling traffic stops, markets pause, and even tourists stand still. This “civic minute” is one of the most awe-inspiring moments of Holy Week in Cusco—a collective pause where time seems to stop, uniting locals and visitors in a spiritual respect unique to Peru.

8. Easter Sunday: The Mass in the Andean Language

As holy Week concludes, San Cristóbal Church holds a bilingual Mass where Quechua Collao, the Cusco dialect, resonates. Beyond being a cultural spectacle, attendees receive blessed bread made with a 16th-century recipe known as “ch’uspillu”, its anise-infused dough perfuming the ancient streets. The most moving part? This tradition keeps the language of the Incas alive.

Misa de Semana Santa en Cusco

9. The Carguyocs: Guardians of a Millennial Tradition

The bearers of the floats display extraordinary strength honed through rigorous training with stones from Sacsayhuamán. UNMSM’s Anthropology School research documents that these men can carry up to 120 kg while executing a peculiar zigzag run. Interestingly, this technique is directly inherited from the Inca chasquis, showing how pre-Hispanic traditions fused with Catholic rituals.

10. Q’ochutaki: The Secret Feast That Closes the Celebration

When the official Holy Week ends, hidden courtyards in neighborhoods like San Blas come alive with Q’ochutaki. According to IEP research, these intimate gatherings preserve ancestral dances like the “Qachampa” and culinary rituals like the “huatia”, where potatoes are roasted in earthen ovens. What seems like the end is yet another example of how Cusco transforms religious traditions into unique cultural experiences.

Carguyoc woman during the Holy Week in Cusco

Features of Cusco in the Holy Week

Visitor influx and crowds

During Holy Week, Cusco welcomes a large number of domestic and international tourists, creating a festive yet crowded atmosphere in the historic center. Major processions, such as that of the Señor de los Temblores (Lord of the Earthquakes), can draw over 10,000 people to the Plaza de Armas. To avoid overcrowding, it’s best to visit iconic sites early in the morning or explore less crowded churches like San Cristóbal or San Blas.

A group tour to the Rainbow Mountain

Prices and costs during the season

Holy Week marks one of Cusco’s peak tourist seasons, and the changing weather also impacts prices. To secure the best rates, it’s advisable to book accommodations and activities 2-3 months in advance:

→ Hotels increase rates by 20-30%
→ 12-dish menu in restaurants: S/50 – S/120 per person
→ Specialized tours rise by around 15%

Procession of the Lord of the Earthquakes

Iconic Places to Experience the Tradition

During major processions (especially on Holy Monday and Good Friday), traffic restrictions and road closures are implemented in the Plaza de Armas, Av. Sol and San Pedro Mrket, but the peatonal places that are  must for your experience are the following ones:

→ Cusco Cathedral – Center of the main ceremonies
→ San Pedro Market – Try traditional sweets
→ Santa Clara Street – Most impressive floral carpets
→ San Blas Church – More intimate celebrations
→ Nearby communities – Andahuaylillas offers authentic experiences

Begining procession of the Lord of the Earthquakes

What’s the weather like during the Holy Week in Cusco?

Cusco’s weather during Holy Week features sunny days with temperatures between 15°C and 18°C (59°F – 64°F), but frequent drizzles in the afternoon. Nights, regardless of the season, are quite cold, dropping to around 5°C (41°F). Given the city’s altitude (3,400 meters / 11,150 ft), proper acclimatization to avoid Altitude Sickness in Cusco is essential—expect unpredictable weather as part of the unique experience of celebrating Holy Week in this Andean wonder.

Una mujer local dentro de la catedral orando a Jesucristo

Tips to enjoy the Holy Week in Cusco

✔ Carry cash (many vendors don’t accept cards).
✔ Dress in layers (cold at dawn, warm at midday).
✔ Try chiri uchu (a traditional Holy Week dish).
✔ Avoid Plaza de Armas on Good Friday (peak crowds).
✔ Respect processions (don’t interrupt or take intrusive photos).

Lechón degustation finishes the Holy Week in Cusco

Traveling to Cusco in the Holy Week means immersing yourself in a multisensory experience where devotion, history, and Andean culture intertwine. From vibrant processions to the 12 symbolic dishes that carry centuries of syncretism, every moment leaves an unforgettable mark. The scent of incense mixed with ñucchu flowers, the sound of Quechua in Mass, the taste of freshly baked blessed bread, and the awe of watching carguyocs (float bearers) defy gravity—all create a one-of-a-kind experience found nowhere else in the world.

Ready to be part of this magic? If this blog inspired you to visit Cusco for Holy Week, leave a 👍 like and share it with fellow adventurers! Still have questions about planning your trip to Peru? At Kantu Perú Tours, we’re happy to help!