Cusco’s Jubilee Month
June is known as the “jubilee month” or “Cusco month,” a period when the ancient capital of the Incan Empire is dressed in festivity and color. During these 30 days, locals and visitors can enjoy more than 200 cultural activities that celebrate the region’s rich historical heritage.
June’s festive calendar in Cusco is one of the most intense and significant in all of Peru, combining pre-Hispanic traditions, Catholic religious celebrations, and contemporary cultural expressions. These festivities not only attract thousands of tourists but also represent a fundamental moment for reaffirming Cusco’s cultural identity.
Celebration Calendar
Beginning of Jubilee Month (June 1)
The month begins with the raising of the Tahuantinsuyo flag (the Incan Empire) in the Main Square. This symbolic act marks the official start of the festivities and is accompanied by traditional music, folk dances, and speeches by local authorities.
Corpus Christi (movable date, usually in June)
This Catholic festival has a unique expression in Cusco, where it merges with elements of Andean religiosity. Its main characteristics are:
- The 15 images: Fifteen saints and virgins from different parishes are carried in procession to Cusco Cathedral.
- The meeting: The images “converse” with each other, representing the union of different communities.
- Traditional dishes: Special dishes are prepared, such as chiriuchu (a multicolored cold dish that combines roasted guinea pig, chicken, dried meat, chorizo, cheese, fish roe, seaweed, and other ingredients).
- Traditional dances: Groups of dancers accompany each image with traditional choreographies.
The celebration lasts a week, with the main procession on Corpus Christi Thursday and the return of the images to their parishes the following Sunday (called “Octave of Corpus Christi”).
Qoyllur Rit’i (movable date, May-June)
This indigenous pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i on Sinakara Mountain (at 15,400 feet above sea level) is one of the most important religious manifestations in the Andes. Thousands of pilgrims:
- Climb for hours along mountain paths
- Perform rituals of pre-Hispanic origin syncretized with Catholicism
- Participate in dances such as the ch’unchus (representing jungle inhabitants) and the ukuku (half-man, half-bear characters)
- Collect sacred ice from the glacier (although this practice is being modified due to the glacier’s retreat)
The pilgrimage was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2011.
Cusco Week (June 18-24)
The week before Inti Raymi is full of activities:
- Staging of the legend of the Ayar brothers: Theatrical representation of Cusco’s founding myth
- Corso of Friendship: Grand parade with floats and traditional dance groups that travel through the main streets
- Night of Light: Night show with fireworks and artistic performances
- Gastronomic festival: Showcase of Cusco’s rich culinary tradition with dishes such as kapchi de habas (fava bean stew), timpu (similar to puchero stew), pepián de cuy (guinea pig stew), chicha de jora (fermented corn drink), and more
Cusco Day (June 24)
June 24 coincides with two important celebrations:
- Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun): The recreation of the ancient Incan ceremony honoring the Sun god that marks the winter solstice.
- Saint John the Baptist: Catholic festival that in rural areas of Cusco includes:
- Ritual baths at dawn in rivers and springs
- Preparation of special dishes such as puchero (stew)
- Nighttime bonfires
Festivities in Rural Communities
In addition to the major celebrations in Cusco city, rural communities have their own festive expressions in June:
Ch’allpa Tusuy (Dance of Strength)
In communities like Paucartambo and Chumbivilcas, men perform this dance that demonstrates strength and endurance, jumping and stomping for hours while carrying heavy objects.
T’inka of Livestock
Ancestral ceremony where livestock is “married,” decorating them with colorful ribbons and offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth) to give thanks for the animals and ask for fertility for the next season.
Alasitas and Affagate
Mini fairs where miniatures representing desires (houses, cars, university degrees) are sold with the belief that by buying them and performing the appropriate rituals, these wishes will materialize.
Music and Dance in June Festivities
The sound of June festivals in Cusco is marked by:
- The Quena and Zampoña: Andean wind instruments that produce mystical melodies
- The Waqrapuku: Instrument made from cattle horns
- The Pututo: Wind instrument made from seashells that announces the beginning of important ceremonies
- Tinku: Musical genre that accompanies warrior dances
- Cusqueñan Huayno: Regional style of this popular Andean genre
Among the most representative dances we find:
- Qhapaq Qolla: Represents merchants from the Qollasuyo region
- Contradanza: Colonial dance that satirizes European dances
- K’achampa: Pre-Incan warrior dance with vigorous movements
- Saqra: Represents the struggle between good and evil with masked characters
- Majeños: Dance representing liquor merchants from the lower areas
Festive Gastronomy
During June festivities, Cusco’s gastronomy reaches its maximum expression:
- Chiriuchu: The quintessential “cold dish” of Corpus Christi festivities
- Kapchi de habas: Fava bean stew with cheese, milk, and yellow chili
- Roasted guinea pig: Ceremonial dish present at all major celebrations
- Timpu or Puchero: Hearty soup with meat and vegetables, ideal for the Andean cold
- Chicha de jora and frutillada: Traditional fermented drinks based on corn
Tips for Visitors
If you plan to visit Cusco in June:
- Book in advance: It’s high season and accommodations sell out quickly
- Dress warmly: June nights in Cusco are very cold (can drop below freezing), although during the day the sun is intense
- Participate respectfully: Many celebrations have deep religious and cultural significance for locals
- Carry cash: Many fairs and rural festivities don’t accept cards
- Acclimatization: Cusco is at 11,150 feet above sea level; take one or two days to acclimatize before participating in intense activities
Cultural Significance
June festivities in Cusco are not mere tourist spectacles; they represent the very essence of Cusco’s identity, combining:
- Incan and pre-Incan heritage
- Spanish colonial influence
- Andean cultural resistance
- Religious adaptation and syncretism
- Communal celebration of agricultural cycles
For Cusco locals, these celebrations are moments of cultural reaffirmation, connection with their roots, and transmission of ancestral knowledge to new generations.
Visiting Cusco in June means immersing yourself in a world where past and present intertwine in an explosion of color, music, devotion, and joy. It means witnessing millennial traditions that remain alive and in constant evolution, maintaining the essence of one of the most fascinating cultures in the Americas.
