Reshaping Travel to Cusco: Night Flights This Year & New Airport Underway
Dual measures could reshape travel to Cusco. One is the outfitting of the current Velasco Astete Airport to allow for evening and nocturnal flights, which is being considered to allow for more visitors- 300,000 additional visitors by the end of the year. This would just be until the second measure is completed: the new airport planned to be constructed in Chinchero just outside of Cusco, which is already underway and will allow for Cusco to receive international as well as night flights.
Published on 11-09-2012, por Inca World
Last month a compensated land expropriation bill for the new Cusco airport previously announced by President Ollanta Humala passed the Peruvian Congress, smoothing the way for a project which has been rumored for years but with little advancement- an international airport for Cusco, located in the tiny rural town of Chinchero just outside of Cusco. The government investment thus far foreseen is US$460 million, but the payoff will be far greater: more tourists, modernization and jobs for Chinchero and other the surrounding communities of Cusco.
The current airport, Velasco Astete, is incapable of handling either major international flights or nighttime flights due to its size, equipment, and a location surrounded by hills. For these reasons, the airport currently accepts only domestic small-aircraft flights, between the hours of 6:00am and 5:00pm.
Carlos Canales, the President of the National Tourist Chamber known as CANATUR, is now indicating that he is seeking permission for the Velasco Astete Airport to receive nighttime flights while the new airport is being constructed. He indicated that Cusco could receive 300,000 additional visitors by the end of the year through nocturnal flights if the airport is outfitted with radio navigatin systems and beacons, allowing for flights to arrive between 5:00pm and midnight.
"With this we could have between 15 and 20 additional daily flights and a tourist coming from the United States could connect directly with Cusco without disembarking in Lima and waiting for their connecting flight the following day" he stressed. This measure is currently under consideration.
Dual measures could reshape travel to Cusco. One is the outfitting of the current Velasco Astete Airport to allow for evening and nocturnal flights, which is being considered to allow for more visitors- 300,000 additional visitors by the end of the year. This would just be until the second measure is completed: the new airport planned to be constructed in Chinchero just outside of Cusco, which is already underway and will allow for Cusco to receive international as well as night flights.
Published on 11-09-2012, por Inca World
Last month a compensated land expropriation bill for the new Cusco airport previously announced by President Ollanta Humala passed the Peruvian Congress, smoothing the way for a project which has been rumored for years but with little advancement- an international airport for Cusco, located in the tiny rural town of Chinchero just outside of Cusco. The government investment thus far foreseen is US$460 million, but the payoff will be far greater: more tourists, modernization and jobs for Chinchero and other the surrounding communities of Cusco.
The current airport, Velasco Astete, is incapable of handling either major international flights or nighttime flights due to its size, equipment, and a location surrounded by hills. For these reasons, the airport currently accepts only domestic small-aircraft flights, between the hours of 6:00am and 5:00pm.
Carlos Canales, the President of the National Tourist Chamber known as CANATUR, is now indicating that he is seeking permission for the Velasco Astete Airport to receive nighttime flights while the new airport is being constructed. He indicated that Cusco could receive 300,000 additional visitors by the end of the year through nocturnal flights if the airport is outfitted with radio navigatin systems and beacons, allowing for flights to arrive between 5:00pm and midnight.
"With this we could have between 15 and 20 additional daily flights and a tourist coming from the United States could connect directly with Cusco without disembarking in Lima and waiting for their connecting flight the following day" he stressed. This measure is currently under consideration.
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Explore the latest from our Cusco travel blog. Get practical guides, Machu Picchu updates, and fresh trekking and culture recommendations. Everything you need to travel Cusco safely and stylishly in 2026. Your next Andean story starts here!
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.
Are you planning to visit
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.
Digital Check-In and Biometric Verification
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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Explore the best of our land
Explore the breathtaking diversity of the Central Andes. From ancient archaeological wonders and surreal high-altitude landscapes to world-class gastronomy and Amazonian adventures, our updated 2026 guides showcase the very best of this premier global destination.
