Santurantikuy Christmas Fair

In real life  Every year on December 24 · All day into the evening

Next: Thursday, December 24, 2026

A Christmas Eve craft fair where Andean artisans fill Cusco's main square with carved saints, nativity figures and altarpieces. Entry is free.

Santurantikuy is a Christmas Eve craft fair held every December 24 in Cusco's Plaza de Armas. The name comes from Quechua and roughly means "to buy oneself a saint." Peru's National Institute of Culture declared it National Cultural Heritage in 2009.

Artisans fill the square with handmade religious figures and folk art, especially saints and nativity pieces. It suits anyone spending Christmas in Cusco who wants to see, or buy, Andean craft. The fair mixes Quechua language and custom with Catholic Christmas tradition, and you can visit without buying anything.

What to expect

• Stalls filling Cusco's main square
• Carved saints, nativity figures and other religious folk art
• Handmade crafts from Andean artisans
• A busy, festive Christmas Eve atmosphere

Tips for going

• Bring cash in soles for purchases.
• Go early in the day for the best selection, and expect it to get very busy.
• Cusco is at high altitude and gets cold after dark; bring warm layers.

Questions people ask

When is it?

December 24 every year.

Is it free?

Yes, entry to the square is free; you pay only for what you buy.

What does the name mean?

It comes from Quechua and roughly means "to buy oneself a saint."

About Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the Inca citadel on a mountain saddle above the Urubamba, with Huayna Picchu's peak rising behind it.

Getting there: Trains run from Cusco and Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, and buses climb from there to the site. Entry tickets are timed and limited, so book ahead.

More about Machu Picchu and its 3D version →

Also in Machu Picchu

Details checked against en.wikipedia.org. Organizers change plans, so confirm there before you go.