Cusco in December: Weather, celebrations, things to do and more!
December is arguably both one of the worst times to be in Cusco, but also one of the best!
If you end up super unlucky, you could experience the full force of the Peruvian wet season, which could limit your activities. On the flip side, there are also a few different celebrations in Cusco during this time which offer a unique perspective on the city.
We spend a good chunk of December in Cusco ourselves, and Sara and I both believe that you shouldn’t let the potential weather scare you off.
For example, we spent Christmas with our Peruvian family hosts, we managed to visit a lot of different places and participated in tons of activities.
So we want to explain to you the upsides and the downsides of Cusco in December, as well as offer recommendations of what to do!
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Why is December a great month to visit Cusco?
Personally, we had such an amazing time in Cusco during December that we don’t think this time of year is something that should put you off visiting.
There are so many festivities to get stuck into this month that we were able to really form a bond with Cusco and its people.
At the start of the month, celebrations kick off with the Fiesta de Concepción Inmaculada on the 8th until the 11th of December. This is a holy celebration which includes different masses and a procession of a state of the virgin Mary through the town. On the final two days of the festivals, expect local dance competitions and plenty of food stalls.
And then there’s obviously Christmas and New Year’s Eve in December. We had such a good time with our host family during these celebrations, who welcomed us into their home and taught us their traditions. We actually covered this in detail in our Christmas in Cusco guide!
Finally, we think December is a great time to visit Cusco because, outside of these celebrations, the city is pretty empty. You can wander the streets and attractions without the usual summer crowds!
What’s the weather like in Cusco in December?
The weather in Cusco in December can be touch and go. The rainy season in this region starts from November onwards, and can really ramp up in December.
However, we spent a lot of time in Cusco in December and January, and although, yes, we did experience rain, it wasn’t all that bad.
There were the odd days where rain became an issue and the weather didn’t ease up for most of the day. But for the most part, the city stayed fairly dry for us. At no point did we feel hindered in our adventures by the weather. So we don’t think that the rainy season is any reason to not visit Cusco at this time.
Then on the plus side, the temperature in Cusco during December is super mild. On average Cusco can reach highs of 20°C (68°F) and lows of 7°C (44°F). This is generally what we experienced too. On the days the sun is out, Cusco even reached into the low 20’s, which was glorious!
Is there hot water and heaters in Cusco?
When I asked Sara if there was anything she would Google before visiting Cusco in December, she said if there’s hot water or heaters. So we’re going to answer that question too!
Yes, there is hot water in Cusco. Most of our experiences of showers in South America are these electric shower heads that heat the water as it comes out. They look a bit… dodgy but they get the job done. The stronger you make the water the colder it is and the weaker the water the hotter.
On the other hand, we found that heaters aren’t all that common. If you book a nice hotel then you’ll probably get A/C, but we tend to stay in Airbnb’s. Cusco can get pretty chilly, especially at night, so we recommend a good jacket. We use the North Face lightweight down jackets, which we swear by!
Don’t forget, you need travel insurance!
Sara and I have been using Safety Wing for over two years now! They specialise in nomad travel insurance, so whether you’re travelling long-term or on a short trip, they got you covered!
What’s Christmas like in Cusco?
Thanks to the Spanish, Peru is actually a super religious country, favouring Catholicism. Therefore, Christmas in Cusco is a huge affair!
We spent the week leading up to Christmas exploring giant Christmas markets across the city. It’s also the time of year where a lot of families come to visit relatives in Cusco, which turns the city into a whole new vibe.
On Christmas Eve, families get together for drinks in the evening and traditional foods like roast turkey and chicken soup. At midnight, everyone in the city is outside lighting fireworks or playing with sparklers, the whole celebration just brought huge smiles to our faces!
What’s New Year’s Eve like in Cusco?
New Year’s Eve in Cusco is much like the NYE in the rest of the world… a giant party!
From the evening, it seems like the entire city flocks to Plaza de Armas with drinks in hand to watch the fireworks, and we were no different.
After finding a cute little pizza place where we indulged in a pizza and red wine deal they had going on, we followed up by a visit to a bar near the plaza for some pisco sours.
Then we found a spot around 11:30pm to watch the fireworks at midnight, which was super cool! There were also people selling giant roman candle-like fireworks too, which I had to use… the health and safety here is kind of non-existent.
There’s a couple of NYE traditions too. If you want to attract money in the new year, then wear yellow. You’ll find 99% of others wearing yellow too. There are other colours for different things like love, purity, health, etc, but the people of Cusco don’t seem to overly care about them!
And after midnight, it’s tradition to run (but it’s more like a slow shuffle) around the plaza seven times for good luck.
Can you visit Machu Picchu in December?
Yes, you can visit Machu Picchu in December. In fact, Machu Picchu is even open on Christmas eve and Christmas day!
Actually, if you’re not too bothered about Christmas celebrations then the 25th of December could be a great time to visit. It’s likely that there will be minimal crowds and you’ll have a much more peaceful time.
Other things to do in and around Cusco in December
Like we mentioned before, we spent a lot of time in Cusco during the rainy season but didn’t let that stop us from exploring. The following activities are all things we undertook while in Cusco and rain didn’t affect us at all!
Visit a rainbow mountain
Despite what it may look like on Instagram, there are actually multiple rainbow mountains in the region of Cusco. They form over time as different density minerals form different coloured layers. Then tectonic activity pushes these layers upwards until they’re visible in the mountains.
The main rainbow mountain you see all over social media is Vinicunca. But actually we wouldn’t recommend coming here. Even though it’s the tallest and brightest of the accessible rainbow mountains, it’s also by far the busiest, with over 3,000 visitors daily.
Instead, we’d suggest visiting Palcoyo. It’s slightly smaller and the colours are a bit more dull, but it only receives around 300 visitors per day. We booked a tour with Viator and when we arrived, our group was the only one at the summit!
Also, the hike is shorter and less steep, which is great when you’re at 5000m above sea level!
Tour the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley is a large region around Cusco that’s full of Incan history and architecture. We decided to book onto a Get Your Guide tour which took us to several destinations all in one day.
The tour starts off at the Chinchero archeological sites and the local artist and weavers market nearby. Followed by stops at Moray, Maras Salt Mines, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and Pisac.
We learnt so much from our guide over these days at all these different archeological sites. It’s crazy what the Incas were able to achieve over 500 years ago!
Hike up to the Temple of the Moon and Cristo Blanco
Now for something a little bit closer to town. The Temple of the Moon is kind of a hidden gem in Cusco. Not many people have recommended it to us and when we visited we were the only ones there!
It’s about a 45-minute walk north of the city, but it’s quite an elevation gain so be prepared.
Then not too far from the Temple if the Moon is Cristo Blanco. A giant statue of Jesus that overlooks the entire city of Cusco. It’s a super popular viewpoint from which you can see all across the Cusco valley.
Eat delicious Peruvian food
If you do find yourself with a couple of rainy days, then obviously you need to head out and try the local food!
One of the best, higher quality restaurants we ate at was Morena Peruvian Kitchen. They offer a range of dishes around the local cuisine and we were truly taken aback by how good it tastes!
Other recommendations are KION (a Chinese-Peruvian fusion) and Chakruna Native Burger for some of the best smash burgers.
We also tried eating guinea pig too, which is a delicacy in this region. But honestly, unless you just want the bragging rights to say you’ve eaten cuy, then it’s generally not worth the money.
Embark on a multi-day trek
Being in the heart of the Andes mountains, Cusco is the perfect base for a few multi-day treks.
The most famous being the Inca trail or the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. These treks take between 4 and 6 days depending on which tour you book onto.
Another popular trek to Humantay Lake. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to hike this particular trail, but we’ve heard some great things!
Tour Cusco’s museums and historic sites
But what we did have time to do is explore a whole range of attractions in the city itself.
The first place in Cusco we highly recommend you visit is the sun temple. This is the only preserved Inca temple in the historic centre, and it’s found inside a church. When the Spanish invaded, they attempted to convert all the Incas to Christianity by tearing down their temples and building churches in their place. So head into Santo Domingo Church and Convent to check it out.
After the sun temple, there are a few different museums in the city that are worth visiting. We enjoyed the likes of the Inca Museum, the Regional Historical Museum of Cusco and the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Municipality of Cusco.
We also had a great time at a chocolate making workshop in the ChocoMuseum too!
Where to stay in Cusco
If you’re planning to base in Cusco for a while, here are a few great spots in the historic centre to stay!
Hostels:
- Wild Rover Cusco ($7-15/night) ← Cusco’s party hostel.
- Viajero Kokopelli Hostel Cusco ($15-40/night)
- Cusco Rock Hostel ($16.50/night)
Budget Hotels:
- Eco Bunnu Inn ($23/night)
- Cochito Cusco ($28/night)
- Andean Valley Hotel ($26/night)
Mid-Range Hotels:
- Amaru Colonial ($57/night)
- Casa Montes San Blas ($49/night)
- Hotel Hacienda Cusco Centro Historico ($56/night)
Luxury Hotels:
- Union Hotel Cusco ($100/night)
- Auka Boutique San Blas ($74/night)
- Anahuarque Hotel Boutique ($72/night)
Final thoughts on Cusco in December
We can’t repeat ourselves enough. Although December is technically the peak rainy season in Cusco, we really hope that doesn’t put you off visiting during this time.
The holidays awaken this city in December and the warm welcoming of the locals make it all the better to visit.
And remember, the advantage is that there’ll be less crowds in places outside of Cusco, despite Cusco getting crowded towards the end of the month for Christmas. It’s also the time of year that a lot of tour companies and accommodations offer great deals due to the lower traffic of tourists.
So, if you do visit, let us know what you think!
Check out our other Cusco guides:
- Is Cusco safe to visit in 2024? Everything you need to know
- What’s the rainy season in Cusco like? – Peru Travel Guide
- Cusco Weather in January: A good time to visit?
- Spending Christmas in Cusco: Things to do and how to celebrate!
- One day in Cusco: The perfect 24 hour itinerary!
- 2 Days in Cusco: The best way to see everything quickly!
- 3 days in Cusco – a full itinerary and everything you need to know!
- 4 days in Cusco: A full itinerary and everything you need to know!
- 16 Completely FREE things to do in Cusco!
- How to avoid altitude sickness in Cusco and Peru!
- Visiting the Temple of the Moon in Cusco: Everything you need to know!
- 9 Easy things to do in Cusco while acclimating
We hope that our guide covered everything you need to know about visiting Cusco in December. We always strive to offer the most accurate and up-to-date information we can but if you think something we’ve said is wrong, please let us know!
