Carnivals in Cusco: Dates, Traditions, Dances and Celebrations in the Andes

Carnival in Cusco are much more than a festival: they are an explosion of color, music, ancestry and community union. In 2025, this cultural celebration once again promises to bring together Cusqueños, national and international visitors in a magical mix of typical dances, water games, yunzas (decorated, ceremonial trees) and regional gastronomy.

If you are planning to travel to Cusco or simply want to better understand this Andean tradition, here we tell you everything: dates, origin, typical activities and recommendations to fully enjoy the Cusco Carnival 2025.

When are the Carnivals celebrated in Cusco 2025?

The Cusco Carnival 2025 will be celebrated on Sunday, March 2, coinciding with the Catholic liturgical calendar, just before Ash Wednesday.The celebrations are not limited to a single day. They begin at the end of February and extend for a week, with activities that include comparsas (dance troupes), contests, parades, yunzas (decorated, ceremonial trees) and musical events in different districts.

Traditions that give life to the Cusco carnival

1. Typical Dances

The comparsas prepare for weeks to present dances such as:

• Qhapac Negro
• Cusco Carnival
• Saqra (festive devils)

Tijeras (influence from the southern Andes) Each group wears colorful handmade costumes, embroidered with golden threads, feathers and masks.

2. The Yunza or “Corta Monte” (Tree Cutting)

The yunza, or Carnival tree cutting, is one of the central events. A tree is adorned with gifts, fruits, toys and streamers. Participants dance around it while cutting the tree with an axe to the rhythm of the music. The person who fells the yunza arranges the next celebration.

3. The Water and Paint Game

This Carnival game is a fun, but controversial custom. In many neighborhoods, people throw water, foam, talcum powder and even vegetable paint at each other. It is recommended to wear old clothes and protect cameras or cell phones.

4. Typical Gastronomy

During the carnival, Peruvians usually eat: 

• Roast suckling pig
• Tamales
• Puchero (pot of different meat with vegetables)
• Chicha de jora and frutillada (ancestral beverages)

Key places to experience Carnival in Cusco

• Plaza de Armas of Cusco: epicenter of the main parades.
• San Jerónimo and San Sebastián: districts with the most traditional yunzas.
• Calca, Pisac and Urubamba: in the Sacred Valley, carnivals with their own identity are also celebrated.

Tips to enjoy the Cusco Carnival 2025

• Arrive early to find a good spot at the parades.
• Bring waterproof and spare clothing.
• Use sunscreen and a hat: the Andean sun can be strong.
• If you do not wish to participate in the water game, stay away from the most boisterous areas or carry a white handkerchief (symbol of “peace”).

Cultural tourism on the rise

Cusco carnivals attract more and more international tourists interested in experiential and cultural tourism. Many communities offer lodging and direct experiences such as:

• Dressing in traditional costumes
• Participating in the yunza
• Learning traditional dances
• Cooking local dishes

This form of sustainable tourism strengthens the local economy and keeps traditions alive.

Conclusion

The Carnivals in Cusco 2025 will be a unique opportunity to witness the syncretism between the Andean and the Western, in one of the most emblematic cities of Peru. Whether dancing, eating or simply observing, every moment will be an experience full of living culture.

If you want to reconnect with ancestral traditions and celebrate with joy, Cusco awaits you with open arms, food, drink, and music!