Destination Spotlight: Peru & Ecuador, A Warm Christmas and a World of Wonder

I’m dreaming of a warm Christmas, just like the ones far to the south…
Where flip-flops replace snow boots, the air smells of sunshine instead of frost, and holiday lights sparkle across ancient plazas rather than pine trees. In Peru and Ecuador, December feels less like winter and more like the world’s most charming plot twist - a festive season dressed in colour, culture, and soft adventure.
It’s the kind of Christmas that invites you to wander, taste, explore, and breathe, whether you're watching blue-footed boobies dance in the Galápagos or listening to Andean carols drift over a dusky Cusqueñan sky. And if you’re not travelling during the holidays themselves, both destinations shine beautifully into January and beyond.

Peru doesn’t hold Christmas quietly, it glows with it.
Cusco: Where Tradition Becomes Theatre
Come December, Cusco transforms into a warm, lantern-lit celebration of Andean artistry. The iconic Santurantikuy market on Christmas Eve fills the Plaza de Armas with artisans selling hand-carved Nativities, colourful retablos, Andean textiles and festive sweet treats. You’re not just shopping, you’re stepping into a living cultural tapestry.
At midnight, families gather for Misa de Gallo (the Rooster’s Mass), often followed by fireworks echoing in the crisp mountain night. It’s a celebration that blends Catholic customs with ancient Quechua rituals, a reminder that Peru’s soul has many layers.
Traditions on the Table
Peruvian Christmas tastes like comfort and celebration:
• Panetón sliced thick and shared generously
• Rich, spiced hot chocolate, made thick with local cacao
• Roasted turkey or pork, depending on the region
• Warm “chocolatadas,” community Christmas gatherings filled with food, gifts and music
And Then... The Adventure Begins
If December in Peru is a festival, January is its gently glowing after-party. Trek through the Sacred Valley, explore lesser-visited ruins, wake early for cloud-soft views over Machu Picchu, or simply stay in boutique lodges offering Andean calm and crisp mountain sunshine.

Ecuador’s Christmas is joyful without hurry — a season of candlelit streets, cultural traditions and nature that feels impossibly alive.
Quito’s Warm, Golden Glow
December in Quito feels like stepping inside a historic postcard. The UNESCO-listed old town lights up with carols, small nativity displays and the beloved Novena, a nine-day celebration leading up to Christmas Eve. Homes fill with singing, storytelling and community, the kind of warmth that lingers long after you leave.
A Taste of Ecuadorian Christmas
Expect tables filled with:
• Hornado (slow-roasted pork with crisp golden skin)
• Aromatic tamales wrapped in plantain leaves
• Pristiños, delicate flower-shaped pastries drenched in sugarcane syrup
It’s festive comfort food with a Latin heartbeat.
For the Wild at Heart: Galápagos in December
If you dream of wildlife instead of winter snow, December in the Galápagos is unforgettable. Expect:
• Baby sea lions lounging on warm sand
• Courtship displays from blue-footed boobies
• Penguins darting through calm waters
• Snorkelling as clear as summer glass
Christmas here takes place under wide skies, turquoise seas and the friendliest wildlife on the planet.
For the Quiet Traveller: The Cloud Forest
If you prefer greenery and birdsong, Mindo’s lush cloud forest offers peaceful lodges, butterfly sanctuaries, hummingbirds at arm’s length and walking trails wrapped in soft mist, blissfully warm, blissfully still.

Peru and Ecuador offer Christmas with soul. Traditions passed through generations, landscapes that shine in soft sunlight, wildlife encounters that feel dreamlike, and food that celebrates community. Whether you’re travelling in December or planning a New Year escape, the season here feels warm, welcoming and wonderfully different.

Ready to plan your warm Christmas journey? Let Great Excapes design it your way.