Exciting & Chaotic New Year’s Eve in Cusco

New Year’s Eve in Cusco is chaotic and exciting, marked by free concerts, uncontrolled fireworks and drinking, fun traditions and local superstitions. Learn why the former imperial city of the Incas is the most popular city in Peru to celebrate the festivities…

Vendors line the streets, hawking food and festive yellow accessories emblazoned with the year. Yellow is considered the luckiest color for the New Year, so the oversized hats, flower necklaces, confetti, and sunglasses on sale are mainly this color. Yellow underwear is also a very popular purchase at this time, since everyone wants to have a lucky year when it comes to their private life! The color yellow has been considered lucky since the time of the Inca. Since it references passion, red is another popular color for underwear, and candles are sold in all colors, each promising to bring fortune, whether in love, with money, or fame.

Like many other countries, Peru has its share of superstitions related to the new year. Aside from underwear and candles, other goods on sale include miniature US dollar bills and incense. Grapes are abundant, although much more expensive than they would be on any other day of the year, because it’s considered lucky to eat twelve of them at the stroke of midnight, one each time the cathedral bell strikes to proclaim the hour. Piles of dried lentils are sold so that you can keep them in your pocket throughout the night.

Fireworks and firecrackers are everywhere. Everyone is selling, everyone is buying, and everyone is shooting them off. Around midnight, the main square of Cusco is engulfed not just by the official fireworks, but by the many individual fireworks shot off by those in the crowds. Thousands of fireworks go off on the hillsides surrounding the city, and although they aren’t impressive as the official fireworks are, because they’re smaller, the mass numbers alone serve to light up the night.

The chaos of fireworks set off in very crowded circumstances and with no concern for safety can be disconcerting for travelers. You’ll want to stay alert to ensure that nothing hits you, and that no one takes advantage of distractions and crowding to pick your pocket- some might lunch a firework or firecrackers very close to you as part of an attempt to rob you. Unfortunately, pick pockets run rampant on days like Christmas Eve, so it’s best to not keep your wallet and small electronics in outside pockets. That way you can celebrate without worry.

There aren’t any restrictions enforced when it comes to lighting fireworks in public (nor with public drinking, as you will notice), but we don’t recommend you get into the action. Animal lovers point out each year that pets and street animals suffer due to extreme amount of unauthorized fireworks, so we think it’s best to enjoy the lights and not add any of your own.

The municipality of Cusco hosts a public concert in the main square, or Plaza de Armas, from 9pm to midnight. Somehow, you can even spot barely-clad dancers during the show despite the fact that this is quite a cold night! Bundle up and enjoy the free show.

The most famous Cusco New Year’s Eve tradition is the run around the main square, or Plaza de Armas. When the clock strikes midnight, the crowd will start to circle, and with so many closely packed people in motion, you need to start moving with it! Depending on the speed of your neighbors, you might be walking slowly or you might be running quickly. You’re supposed to circle the square three times.
It’s hard to find a hostel in Cusco for New Year’s Eve if you wait until December. Of the four hostels that Pirwa has in Cusco, three are already completely booked for this year’s holidays, as Peruvians know about the great demand and book up to a year in advance. Knowing that foreign travelers aren’t aware of this and sometimes have trouble saving lodging, we’ve held off on selling rooms in Pirwa Colonial Hostel, located in Plaza San Francisco, two blocks from Cusco’s main square. We’ve still got availability for most room types- make sure to make your reservation soon, though, so you don’t miss out!