3 Tips for Surviving Cusco City-Wide Holidays

It is no secret that Cusco loves to celebrate.

Whether it's an ancient Incan festival such as the Inti Raymi in June, a Catholic holy day like the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in September, or a national holiday such as Independence Day in July, Cusqueños and tourists alike constantly find reasons to be in the streets dancing, playing instruments and singing, selling holiday food, setting off fireworks, consuming spectacular amounts of beer, and taking the day off from their normal work schedule.

While the jubilance is contagious, holidays can cause some unexpected difficulties to tourists and locals alike.


Food:

Rows of closed doors...

Nevermind.

Not at all surprisingly, the people of Cusco would rather take the holidays off than work in their shops, so if you venture more than a few blocks from the main plaza, you will find more and more closed doors. (And some that make you think they're open only to make a fool out of you when you get closer...)

One solution is to stay in the plaza where the tourist restaurants are open even on holidays. But if you're looking for a cheaper, more authentic option, you;d best take a chance on the street vendors who set up shop within a 2-block radius of the plaza. You can find unique, cheap, and traditional food, but then again, you never know how safe it is... So - eat at your own risk.

Stocking up on bottled water and snacks beforehand is always an option as well. Stands such as the one shown above can be found on nearly every street corner. They are full of every kind of Peruvian snack - sweet and savory. Plus other things like toilet paper, cell-phone recharging, etc. Never a dull day at the stand.


Traffic:

Bumper-to-bumper holiday traffic here is really not *that* much different than normal traffic. But to a highly time-conscious human, (not referring to myself here) the change is noticeable and important.

Here are a few helpful thoughts to keep in mind when braving Cusco holiday traffic: first, everyone else is also late; second, the time schedule here is quite relaxed; and finally, if you're really a stickler for being early, just make sure to leave 15 minutes early.


Sleep:

Those of you who've spent more than a few hours in Cusco know what I'm referring to when I bring up the inexplicable fire crackers that seem to go off at any time of the day or night. You may also be familiar with the random and spontaneous concerts - the ones that seem to go on all night. (Do people not sleep here?)

It's not easy to sleep through these celebrations, and sometimes the best thing you can do is sit back and enjoy the experience. Just remember that life will likely start a few hours later in the morning as no one else slept much more than you did.

Fiesta days in Cusco are colorful, upbeat, cultural experiences, and you certainly wouldn't want to miss out due to a lack of preparation or by stressing the small things. The best option is just to look in tourist guides, or ask around to find the date of the upcoming festivals, buy a few snacks the day before, relax, and soak up the jubilation surrounding you!