Between May and June, one of the biggest festivities is celebrated in Peru, we are talking about the Corpus Christi in Cusco. This celebration was recongnized as National Cultural Heritage in Peru in 2004, and until today is one of the most important feast in Cusco, the one that brings a lot of people to visit this city.
The Corpus Christi is a mix of the two spiritual cosmovisions that coexist in Peru, the catholic religion one and the Andean traditional beliefs. It consists in a whole week celebration with a main day, where a procession of catholic images such as saints and virgins takes place in the center of the city, but the celebration is centered on the Eucharist, wich is the real presence of Christ in the sacrament.
Many tourists decide to visit Cusco during this celebration not only to understand more about their culture, but also because it happens during the best season to travel to Peru, and it won’t be different this year. If you want to know more about the Corpus Christi in Cusco 2025, keep reading.
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History of Corpus Christi in Cusco
The origin of Corpus Christi in Cusco starts back to the Spanish conquest of the Incas, because when they came to Peru, they wanted to envagelize the people and turn them into catholics, because for them that was the only valid religion. In order to do that, they took some of the Inca’s celebrations and adapted them to their catholic beliefs.
The celebration that “turned” into what today is Corpus Christi in Cusco, was the procession of the mallquis, the mommified bodies of the Incas, they used to decorate them with all kinds of clothes and other important elements. When the Spanish people saw that, they banned that traditional procession and in 1572 and replaced it with the procession of the fifteen catholic figures, but keeping the part of the decorations to these figures.
When is the Corpus Christi in Cusco?
The Corpus Christi in Cusco is always celebrated on a Thursday, specifically the Thursday following Holy Trinity Sunday. This Sunday, in turn, takes place one week after Pentecost. Thus, the festivity occurs 60 days after Easter Sunday, following the Catholic liturgical calendar. This moving date varies every year, but always maintains this precise relationship with Easter and other religious celebrations, marking a moment of great devotion and tradition in the imperial city.
However, this is only the date to the main procession, because the whole celebration starts sometime before and ends a week after. The Corpus Christi in Cusco 2025 will be celebrated on June 19th, this will be the day of the main procession.
Corpus Christi in Cusco 2025: 4 key dates of the celebration
The celebration of the Corpus Christi in Cusco unfolds through several key moments, here we’ll explain each one of them and the dates for this year.
1. Entrance of the Saints:
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
The festivities begin early in the morning with the solemn procession of sacred images of Cusco’s patron saints and virgins. These statues are brought from their respective churches, dressed in exquisite traditional garments embroidered with gold and fine textiles. The saints gather in the main square, the Plaza de Armas, where people from all over the city come to witness their arrival. This entrance symbolizes the unity of the city’s religious communities and the deep respect for their protectors.
The fifteen images that are taken to the procession are the next ones:
- San Antonio from the parish of San Cristóbal.
- San Jerónimo from the parish of the district of San Jerónimo.
- San Cristóbal from the parish of San Cristóbal.
- San Sebastián from the parish of the district of San Sebastián.
- Santa Bárbara from the parish of the district of Poroy.
- Santa Ana from the parish of Santa Ana.
- Santiago Apóstol from the parish of Santiago.
- San Blas from the parish of San Blas.
- San Pedro from the parish of San Pedro.
- San José from the parish of Belén.
- Virgen de la Natividad from the parish of Almudena.
- Virgen de los Remedios from the church of Santa Catalina.
- Virgen Purificada from the parish of San Pedro.
- Virgen de Belén from the parish of Belén.
- Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción, also known as “La Linda,” from the Basilica Cathedral.
2. The Procession
Thursday, June 19, 2025
The highlight of the celebration is the grand procession that starts in the Plaza de Armas. The statues of the saints, including the main image of the Corpus Christi (the Blessed Sacrament), are carried on beautifully decorated platforms. The procession follows a historic route through the city’s streets, accompanied by traditional bands playing Andean music with drums, flutes, and brass instruments. Dancers perform traditional dances like the “Qolla Suyu” and “Saqras,” adding color and symbolism to the event. Thousands of faithful and visitors walk along, offering prayers, flowers, and incense.
3. Octave Days
From Friday, June 20 to Wednesday, June 25, 2025
The religious celebration continues for eight days after the main procession, known as the “octave.” During this period, each neighborhood hosts masses, prayers, and smaller processions dedicated to their patron saints. This extended celebration reinforces community bonds and provides an opportunity for reflection and thanksgiving. Many locals participate in rituals that mix Catholic prayers with Andean offerings, maintaining a rich cultural syncretism.
4. The Descent (La Bajada)
Thursday, June 26, 2025
The festival concludes with “La Bajada,” the ceremonial return of the saints to their home churches. This event is marked by another procession, where the sacred images are carried back through the streets, often accompanied by blessings and traditional music. The descent symbolizes the closing of the spiritual cycle and expresses gratitude for protection and blessings received during the year. It also signals the return to everyday life, enriched by the spiritual renewal of the festival.
Chiriuchu: traditional dish during the Corpus Christi celebration
Chiriuchu is a traditional dish of Cusco gastronomy, especially prepared and consumed during the Corpus Christi festivity in Cusco. Its name in Quechua means “cold food” or “cold”, since it is typically served at room temperature or cold.
This dish is an emblematic sample of the fusion between Andean cuisine and Spanish influence. It is composed of a variety of ingredients typical of the region, including:
- Cold meats such as cooked or dried cuy (guinea pig), chicken, charqui (dried llama or alpaca meat), and sometimes fish.
- Potatoes and ocas in different presentations, which are traditional Andean tubers.
- Fresh cheese and Serrano cheese.
- Aromatic herbs and local spices that enhance their flavor.
- Choclo (tender corn) and broad beans.
- Hot sauce or chili specially prepared to accompany.
Chiriuchu is not only a dish, but also a symbol of identity and tradition, reflecting the cultural and culinary richness of Cusco. During Corpus Christi, it is served as part of the offerings to the religious images and then shared among the participants, strengthening community ties and the celebration of faith.
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Is going to the Corpus Christi in Cusco worth it?
Many people say it’s a 100% worth it, this feast is celebrated during June, the best season to travel to Cusco. Most of the tourists go on these dates because the dry season starts and the weather is perfect to traveling to different places in the Andes of Peru and also perfect for activities in nature.
For example, going to a Salkantay Trek 4 days tour would be an amazing option to travel in this month, and a lot of visitors use the time of the octave days to take that kind of tours, and then, they return to experience the end of the Corpus Christi celebration also known as La Bajada.
Conclusion
Attending a celebration with so much meaning behind like the Corpus Christi in Cusco has, is an experience you should have at least once in your life. You will connect with the culture of Cusco, their faith and spiritual connection to their beliefs, and if you are catholic, of course this celebration would also have so much personal meaning to you.
Cusco shows its culture in every tradition they have, don’t miss out on the opportunity of living it by yourself, plus, going on June would be going on an amazing season to also visit places like Machu Picchu.
