New Year in Peru, parties, traditions, and best places

Home / Travel Blog / New Year in Peru, parties, traditions, and best places

New Year Peru: the beginning of a new year. New plans, good intentions and new promises are usually made, with the intention of correcting everything that we consider negative or changing our strategy in everything that caused us problems. For each culture in the world, the beginning of a new year has a particular and distinct but at the same time similar implication, and each of them receives the year in different ways.

Each country has its own traditions to celebrate the end of the year. As is logical, in Peru we also have our corresponding superstitions, cabals and rituals to dismiss the old year and that the coming year comes loaded with much hope.

In Peru, on the night of December 31, many people attend a party, others receive it at home. After the exquisite New Year's Eve dinner, the radio and television count down. When it is midnight, everyone embraces and expresses good wishes. All this takes place in an atmosphere of great rejoicing while offering a champagne, wine, pisco sour, etc. Music, fireworks, firecrackers and rockets accompany this celebration. Unlike Christmas dinner, New Year's dinner is very varied. There are large banquets where the favorite dishes are turkey, baked pork, salads and rice.

New Year traditions:

New Year's in Peru is full of customs that mix good luck rituals with popular celebrations.

The 12 lucky grapes
During the countdown, 12 grapes are eaten (six green and six purple), making a wish with each one. This cabalistic ritual symbolizes prosperity for each month of the year.

The yellow underwear
Wearing yellow underwear is the most popular tradition to attract good energies. It is recommended to put it on backwards until midnight and then change it to the right side to enhance its effect.

The burning of dolls
At midnight, dolls made of clothes, cardboard, paper, and wood are burned, representing the elimination of the negative of the old year. Many times they are personalized with names of political or public figures, which adds a satirical touch to the celebration.

However, this practice has also generated problems, as some people burn tires or other highly polluting waste, affecting the environment and health.

Did you know?

Municipalities fine those who burn toxic materials such as tires, plastics, or polluting waste. These fines seek to protect air quality and avoid health risks. Despite these restrictions, on every December 31, burnings are still seen in different neighborhoods, although environmental awareness campaigns are gaining strength.

Other popular customs:

Going around the block with an empty suitcase, if what you want is to go on a trip next year.
Change of clothing to strengthen the relationship with the couple.
Receive the year with a bundle of tickets in your hand, or inside the shoes, to attract economic prosperity.
Pour rice under the door frame of the room as an omen of an upcoming wedding.
Wear white clothes, to ward off diseases.
Have a lit candle to receive the new year, to ensure peace and harmony in the home. The candle must be on until it is completely consumed.
To have economic prosperity, some people wash their hands, at midnight, with champagne and sugar.
Take a bath of essences to purify the soul.

Most of the young people gather as a group to continue enjoying the night. Meanwhile, adults stay at home enjoying a toast, music, dancing and conversation.

Where to spend the New Year in Peru:

New Year on the beach
Since it is summer in Peru during the holidays, people go straight to the beaches. The most popular beaches are south of Lima: Punta Hermosa, Asia, Pulpos, Punta Negras, San Bartolo and El Silencio. These beach towns are relatively safe and some places like Asia are luxurious and turn into small cities for only four months of the year.

As a rule, any site south of kilometer 41 on the Panamerican south.Another option is the north of Paracas, a good place to spend the New Year if you do not want to go that far from Lima. If you prefer to spend the New Year outside of the capital, you could also go to one of the beaches in Mancora or Punta Sal in northern Peru. A completely different option would be to spend it in Cusco. Christmas and New Year in Punta Sal, Peru
New Year in Cusco
Cusco is by far the city of craziest parties in Peru and in the New Year it is no exception. People from all regions meet at the Main Square for the New Year count. Thousands of people go to Square to see the large number of artificial games that take place every year and after the bars, the clubs are full until the morning of the next day.
New Year in the Sacred Valley
If you are in the Sacred Valley on the first of January, you can participate in the "Sinkuy" celebration that takes place in the beautiful central square of Ollantaytambo, where a game similar to bowling is held. Traditionally the mayor and his wife throw the first ball. People from all regions gather in costumes, bringing chicha, meats and bread shaped like animals

This time of the year is always special, but if you are lucky to be in Peru, these parties can be the most remembered. Peru is the perfect mix of Andean and Christian traditions when it comes to Christmas and if you have the opportunity to spend with a Peruvian, we are sure that you will have a great time.

Other experiences near Cusco

Beyond the majesty of Machu Picchu, the surroundings of Cusco offer a variety of experiences that allow you to get to know the culture, history, and landscapes of Andean Peru up close. From traditional towns to little-explored natural wonders, there is a lot to discover just a few kilometers from the imperial city. If you are looking for new adventures outside the usual, here we present the places you can't miss: