Cusco, Peru

Cusco in December

Peru Updated 2026-07-01

Deep in the rainy season, December is saved by one of the finest markets in the Andes filling the main square on Christmas Eve.

Is December a good time to visit Cusco?

December is a middling month in Cusco — crowds around 54/100. Not the worst, but February is noticeably calmer.

What’s on in December

  • Santurantikuy — the Christmas Eve craft market on the Plaza de Armas
  • Christmas and New Year bring a short domestic bump

Best days in December

Weekdays are almost always calmer than weekends.

Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Tue is normally the calmest day of the week.

Best hours in December

The daily rhythm, hour by hour.

Calmest 9AM
12AM6AM12PM6PM11PM

The 9:00 AM window is usually the calmest of the day.

Weather in December

Typical highs, lows and wet days.

J 19°
F 19°
M 19°
A 20°
M 20°
J 20°
J 20° -1°
A 21°
S 21°
O 21°
N 21°
D 20°
Average high Average low Wet days

How December compares

Every month in Cusco, ranked by how calm it is.

Quieter alternatives

If your dates are flexible, these months are calmer in Cusco.

Book things to do

Tours and tickets in Cusco, from our booking partner.

Affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes a crowd score or the order of our recommendations.

Frequently asked questions

Is December a good month to visit Cusco?

December is a middling month in Cusco — crowds around 54/100. Not the worst, but February is noticeably calmer.

How crowded is Cusco in December?

Cusco sits at roughly 54/100 in December on our crowd scale, which is 7 points below the yearly average. The quietest month is February.

What is the weather like in Cusco in December?

Expect highs around 20°C and lows near 7°C in December, with about 15 wet days across the month.

Other months in Cusco