June is the official month of celebration in Cusco. If you’re lucky enough to visit this timeless city this summer, you should feel fortunate. You’ll have the opportunity to get to know the Andean culture profoundly and to share the joy of all Cusquenians that fill the streets of the historical center to celebrate.
We’ve revised the official program of activities that will take place in Cusco in June and, of 175, we’ve chosen 5 you can take advantage of during your time here. Are you ready?
1. Competition of traditional dances of Cusco organized by secondary school students
- Wednesday, June 12
- Starting at 10:00 AM
- Plaza de Armas of Cusco
Photo by: La República.
The festivals of Cusco are characterized by impressive parades. So almost daily, thousands of Cusquenians get together in the Plaza de Armas to watch dozens of groups in the parade who demonstrate the best traditional dances of the region, all dressed in colorful Andean costumes. Every day you will see different categories: kindergarten, elementary schools, secondary schools, institutes, and universities. However, the most impressive parade is usually from secondary schools. Schools of young people between 14 and 17 years old compete for first place. The competitiveness between schools can be really intense, and this guarantees an incredible spectacle.
2. Cusco Lights and Sounds
- Saturday, June 15
- Starting at 7:00 PM
- Plaza de Armas of Cusco
Photo by: @ivangavancho
This is the largest outdoor concert in the city. In the Plaza de Armas, in front of the cathedral, a huge stage is built where various bands and artists play live music. Crowds fill the Plaza de Armas of Cusco to see the concert and the spectacle of fireworks that are visible from many places in the city.
3. Parade of gigantic sculptures by the Art School of Cusco
- Sunday, June 16
- Starting at 10:00 AM
- Plaza de Armas of Cusco
Photo by: @purinquichu10
This is one of the most interesting activities of the whole month. The students of the Art School present dozens of giant sculptures that not only make people laugh, but they also contain profound messages of criticism of the political and social situation of Peru. After the parade, the best sculptures usually are exhibited in the Plazoleta Espinar so you can take photos of them.
4. Andean Corpus Christi
- Thursday, June 20
- Starting at 11:00 AM
- Plaza de Armas of Cusco
Photo by: @edson_alfaromartinez
The ancient Andeans transmitted many encrypted messages in the traditions that the Spaniards imposed on their arrival to this territory. A clear example of this is the festival of Corpus Cristi that, in spite of seeming Catholic, in reality, has a profound Andean meaning. They say that the Incas used to have processions of their emperors’ mummies, and the Spaniards, seeing this, imposed Catholic saints to destroy this important tradition, replacing it with another. Besides this, during the celebration, you can enjoy a typical dish called Chiri Uchu, a cold meal containing unusual ingredients of various regions of the country, as well as a cold beer.
5. Inti Raymi
- Friday, June 21
- Starting at 10:00 AM
- Temple of Qorikancha, Plaza de Armas, Saqsaywaman
Photo by: @dizsalas
Every year, the Winter solstice is June 21st. This means that the planet is found in its position farthest from the sun. According to the Andean culture, this was the opportune moment to bring the sun back. Because of this, so it didn’t keep escaping, they tied it to the earth with a ritual ceremony. In actuality, this ceremony is played out by thousands of actors and musicians who come out together with the Inca and the Qoya from the Temple of Qoricancha toward the Plaza de Armas. There, the Inca talks with the governor of the city about the future of the town of Cusco. After that, they leave toward Saqsaywaman to sacrifice a llama. Don’t worry; in the actuation, no animal is harmed.
Featured image: Municipalidad del Cusco
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