Peru public holidays and festivals: dates and closures

Peru's holiday calendar mixes fixed national dates with Catholic and Andean festivals that move each year. The fixed ones are the same every year: 1 January, 1 May, 28 and 29 July, 1 November, 8 December and 25 December. Everything else — Easter week, carnival, Inti Raymi — shifts with the lunar and liturgical calendar, so check the exact dates for your travel year before you book.

Two periods change how the country moves. The first is Semana Santa (Holy Week) around Easter, when Peruvians travel domestically and buses and hotels fill. The second is Fiestas Patrias, the Independence Day holiday on 28–29 July, which is the biggest domestic travel week of the year. In Cusco, Inti Raymi on 24 June draws crowds and closes parts of the historic centre to normal traffic.

Inti Raymi, held in Cusco on 24 June, is the festival most visitors plan around. It re-enacts the Inca winter solstice ceremony, with the main event at the Sacsayhuamán ruins above the city and a smaller procession in the Plaza de Armas. Tickets for the stands are sold in advance and the good seats go early. Even without a ticket, the city is worth being in that week — but expect higher hotel prices and a crowded centre.

Carnival is the other big one, and it is regional rather than national. Cajamarca in the northern Andes and Puno on Lake Titicaca both put on large celebrations, usually in February or early March. This is the rainy season in the Andes, so plan for wet roads and slower buses. On the coast, Lima's carnival is smaller and more neighbourhood-based.

Semana Santa, the week before Easter, is a quieter option for travellers who want processions and church ritual rather than crowds at ruins. Arequipa and Cusco both hold processions. Because it is also a domestic holiday, transport and accommodation need booking ahead.

On the main public holidays, banks, government offices and many private offices close. Larger supermarkets, chain pharmacies and restaurants in tourist districts of Lima and Cusco usually stay open, sometimes with reduced hours. Small shops and local markets may shut for the day, especially on 1 January, 25 December and the Fiestas Patrias dates.

Museums and archaeological sites often follow their own schedule rather than the national holiday list. Many museums in Lima and Cusco close on Mondays year-round, and some close on public holidays as well. Machu Picchu operates on timed entry with a daily cap, and it can sell out on holiday weeks — book the ticket and the train together, well ahead.

Long-distance buses and domestic flights also run fuller in holiday weeks. If your trip overlaps Fiestas Patrias or Semana Santa, buy bus and train tickets early rather than assuming you can decide on the day.

If you want the big festivals, build the trip backwards from the date. For Inti Raymi, be in Cusco by 22 June, with Machu Picchu either before or after the festival week rather than during it. For Fiestas Patrias, either book everything two to three months out or travel in a different week — the difference in price and crowding is large.

If you would rather avoid crowds, the shoulder weeks just outside the holiday periods are the easiest. Late April to early June and September to October usually mean fewer domestic travellers, though weather varies by region. The Andes dry season runs roughly May to September, which is also when Cusco and the Sacred Valley are busiest.

Altitude is the other planning factor. Cusco sits at about 3,400 m, and festival days involve long hours standing and walking. Give yourself two or three nights low in the Sacred Valley before moving up, and keep a buffer day in case of transport strikes or road blockades, which can happen around protest periods.

Peru uses the sol (PEN). Prices in tourist areas rise during holiday weeks, and some hotels require prepayment or a minimum stay. Carry some cash for small towns and markets, where card machines are less common, especially on public holidays when banks are shut.

Spanish is the main language, with Quechua and Aymara widely spoken in the Andes. A few phrases help in markets and small restaurants. Tipping is not obligatory but 10 percent is common in restaurants in Lima and Cusco.

Travel insurance is worth arranging before you go, particularly if your trip includes trekking or high-altitude areas. Check that your policy covers the activities you plan and any medical care at altitude.