Holy Week & the Lord of Tremors in Cusco
Cusco expects to receive 25 thousand tourists during this year's Holy Week (Semana Santa) festivities. This is the time of year when the Imperial City of the Incas celebrates its patron saint, the Lord of Tremors (Señor de los Temblores), also known as the Black Christ, with feasting, dancing, and processions in his honor.
Published on 10-03-2015, por Inca World
Cusco expects to receive 25 thousand tourists during this year's Holy Week (Semana Santa) celebrations. This is the time of year when the Imperial City of the Incas honors its patron saint, the Lord of Tremors (Señor de los Temblores), also known as the Black Christ, with feasting, dancing, and processions in his honor.
Who is the Lord of Tremors? Originally, he was a neglected statue of the Lord of Good Death, tucked away in one of the chapels of the Basilica Cathedral and darkening slowly over time due to its resinous construction materials and the smoke of candles and incense. On Palm Sunday in 1650, the worst earthquake of Cusco's known history ravaged its colonial buildings, and continued in aftershocks for days. Amidst the crumbling buildings, the faithful pleaded and bargained for forgiveness, with the women covering their faces in ashes and the men dragging heavy chains. When the statue of the Lord of Good Death was taken out in procession and placed in the Plaza de Armas, the aftershocks ceased, and a new cult of belief was born. Each Holy Monday, the processions continue.
Palm Sunday, March 29th
As in the other cities in Peru, Palm Sunday begins with mass in the Basilica Cathedral, followed by religious reenactments, traditional folkloric dances, and a procession of faithful getting their palms blessed. Food stalls pop up in the Plaza San Francisco, while San Jeronimo plaza hosts the Festival de Sabor Andino, a food fair offering traditional Holy Week foods such as roast suckling pig and tamales.
Holy Monday, March 30th
On the evening of this day, you can watch the procession of the Lord of Tremors, whose heavy statue is carried along on a litter. The faithful throw red ñucchu petals, where were once used as an offering to Inca gods and now symbolize the blood of Christ.
Good Friday, April 3rd
At 4am on this day, the faithful begin a cold walk along the Stations of the Cross, beginning at Plaza San Francisco and ending at the White Christ by Sacsayhuaman Archological Complex. Whereas many countries fast, Cusco feasts, with families preparing 12 dishes.
On Easter Sunday, on April 5th, Quechua-language masses are performed in the Basilica Cathedral.
You can expect to find a small food fair around San Pedro Market (half a block from Plaza San Francisco) throughout the week, and a large one in Jardín de la Cerveza. The latter seeks to rescue Cusco's Holy Week tradition of preparing 12 small dishes.
Ready your camera, pack some snacks, and enjoy the fun in Cusco this Easter!
Cusco expects to receive 25 thousand tourists during this year's Holy Week (Semana Santa) festivities. This is the time of year when the Imperial City of the Incas celebrates its patron saint, the Lord of Tremors (Señor de los Temblores), also known as the Black Christ, with feasting, dancing, and processions in his honor.
Published on 10-03-2015, por Inca World
Cusco expects to receive 25 thousand tourists during this year's Holy Week (Semana Santa) celebrations. This is the time of year when the Imperial City of the Incas honors its patron saint, the Lord of Tremors (Señor de los Temblores), also known as the Black Christ, with feasting, dancing, and processions in his honor.
Who is the Lord of Tremors? Originally, he was a neglected statue of the Lord of Good Death, tucked away in one of the chapels of the Basilica Cathedral and darkening slowly over time due to its resinous construction materials and the smoke of candles and incense. On Palm Sunday in 1650, the worst earthquake of Cusco's known history ravaged its colonial buildings, and continued in aftershocks for days. Amidst the crumbling buildings, the faithful pleaded and bargained for forgiveness, with the women covering their faces in ashes and the men dragging heavy chains. When the statue of the Lord of Good Death was taken out in procession and placed in the Plaza de Armas, the aftershocks ceased, and a new cult of belief was born. Each Holy Monday, the processions continue.
Palm Sunday, March 29th
As in the other cities in Peru, Palm Sunday begins with mass in the Basilica Cathedral, followed by religious reenactments, traditional folkloric dances, and a procession of faithful getting their palms blessed. Food stalls pop up in the Plaza San Francisco, while San Jeronimo plaza hosts the Festival de Sabor Andino, a food fair offering traditional Holy Week foods such as roast suckling pig and tamales.
Holy Monday, March 30th
On the evening of this day, you can watch the procession of the Lord of Tremors, whose heavy statue is carried along on a litter. The faithful throw red ñucchu petals, where were once used as an offering to Inca gods and now symbolize the blood of Christ.
Good Friday, April 3rd
At 4am on this day, the faithful begin a cold walk along the Stations of the Cross, beginning at Plaza San Francisco and ending at the White Christ by Sacsayhuaman Archological Complex. Whereas many countries fast, Cusco feasts, with families preparing 12 dishes.
On Easter Sunday, on April 5th, Quechua-language masses are performed in the Basilica Cathedral.
You can expect to find a small food fair around San Pedro Market (half a block from Plaza San Francisco) throughout the week, and a large one in Jardín de la Cerveza. The latter seeks to rescue Cusco's Holy Week tradition of preparing 12 small dishes.
Ready your camera, pack some snacks, and enjoy the fun in Cusco this Easter!
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Lima's greatest devotion also walks through Cusco, departing from San Francisco Square. October dyes Peruvian streets purple with robes, incense, and fervor. We tell you how to follow the official 2026 processions in Lima and experience the Cusco replica from the Andes with practical details.
tags: lord of miracles, cusco, lima, peru processions, religious tourism, purple month
Just 11 kilometers from the Plaza de Armas, the historic district of San Jerónimo celebrates its patron saint every late September: 5 days of processions, 26+ dance troupes, a food fair, and a 16th-century church built on an Inca huaca. In 2016, it was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation. Most tourists don't know it exists; many young locals don't either. This year it starts on Monday, September 28, with the main day on Wednesday 30.
Third Sunday of September. 9 a.m. The pututos sound and 1,500 students from the National School of Sciences of Cusco set off in procession from their school to the Sacsayhuamán esplanade. They are going to compete — for real — in speed, strength, and endurance tests that replicate those the Tahuantinsuyo used to determine who was ready for adulthood. It is not a choreography. It is the Warachicuy, and in 2025 it was declared a Cultural Interest.
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Machu Picchu in 2026?
We would like to inform our travelers that availability for Circuit 1 and 2 for the months of November, December and January is at 85% of capacity. We recommend booking at least 3 months in advance.
New Circuits and Routes
The Ministry of Culture has consolidated the three main tours. As of 2026, Tour 2 (The Royal Route) remains the only one that allows visitors to take the classic photo from the Guardian’s House. We have adapted all our packages to ensure this access.
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Say goodbye to long check-in lines! Starting this season, entry is faster thanks to the new digital check-in system. Our packages include full management of your personalized tickets to prevent errors on the state platform.
| Circuit | Ideal for... | Clasic photo | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit 1 (Panoramic) | High views and photo posts | Yes | Low |
| Circuit 2 (Andean) | Complete circuit through the ruins | Yes | Medium |
| Circuit 3 (Reality) | Persons or reduced movement | No | Very low |
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