How Papa León XIV’s Visit Affects Travel in Cusco

Pope Leo XIV will visit Cusco on Sunday, November 15, 2026. For security reasons, Cusco’s airport and some tourist attractions will temporarily close. If you’re planning to visit Machu Picchu or Rainbow Mountain, or hike Salkantay or the Inca Trail around this date, plan ahead.

Pope Leo XIV with his hands clasped, wearing red and gold vestments in front of burgundy curtains — Robert Francis Prevost, his first appearance as Pope Leo XIV

Church of the Society of Jesus overlooking the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, with twin bell towers, gardens and a fountain — Church of the Society of Jesus in Cusco main square

Whether you’re in Cusco to visit Machu Picchu, hike the Classic 4-Day Inca Trail, or head to Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, you may need to make a few adjustments to your plans during Pope Leo XIV’s visit. The pope will be in the former Inca capital on Sunday, November 15.

Pope Leo XIV’s Schedule in Cusco

Cusco has strong Catholic traditions, and preparations for the visit will begin several days in advance, particularly around the Plaza de Armas and Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park. Both are stops on the traditional Cusco City Tour. If you’re taking this tour on Sunday, November 15, or in the days leading up to it, check visiting hours with your tour operator. If Sacsayhuamán or the Plaza de Armas is closed, ask which places you’ll visit instead.

Sacsayhuamán: Address by Pope Leo XIV

At 10:30 a.m., the pope will meet with worshippers and senior local church leaders. Admission is free, but entry requires a ticket. A total of 75,000 free tickets have been made available for the event on the esplanade to help manage crowds and keep everything running smoothly. You can get your free ticket through Joinnus.

Cusco’s Plaza de Armas: Angelus Prayer

At 11:45 a.m., Leo XIV will lead the Angelus prayer in front of Cusco Cathedral, joined by worshippers from across the city. Admission is also free, with 30,000 tickets to be issued through Joinnus platform to help manage attendance.

If you’re heading to the Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu, or hiking the Inca Trail or Salkantay, your tour should be unaffected, as these routes and destinations are outside the city.

Infographic showing Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Cusco on November 15, 2026, with times and stops along the route

Cusco Airport Will Temporarily Close During Pope Leo XIV’s Visit

The pope is scheduled to arrive in Cusco at 10:00 a.m. and depart at 1:05 p.m. that same day. For security reasons, flights at Cusco’s Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport will be temporarily suspended from 7:45 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.

If you’re flying into or out of Cusco on Sunday, November 15, check your flight schedule in advance. If you booked through a travel agency, contact them to confirm your flight times.

Pope Leo XIV in Peru

In addition to Cusco, the pope will visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cajamarca, and Pucallpa between November 11 and 16. Peru’s National Chamber of Tourism estimates that his visit could attract up to 400,000 international visitors. Around 1.5 million people are also expected to travel within the country to attend papal events. This could give tourism in Peru a boost during what is usually a quieter season. The visit is also expected to increase tourism in Cusco, already considered Peru’s tourism capital.

If you’re planning to visit Machu Picchu or Choquequirao, or hike the Inca Trail or Salkantay around November 15, plan ahead so you don’t miss any of the places you want to see.

Infographic showing Pope Leo XIV’s Peru itinerary from November 11 to 16, 2026, with daily activities and destinations

Take note:
To arrange other tours in and around Cusco during these dates, contact TreXperience. Their team will be happy to help you plan your trip and answer any questions.

By TreXperience

Published: 07 Nov 2026 | 13:56.

Reviews

Michael C November 5, 2026

An Unforgettable 5-Day Inca Trail Experience with the Best Crew! Jaime, Jampol, Luis, Raul, Yo und David 💪

We booked the 5-day Inca Trail Slow Version and were absolutely blown away by the entire experience! The trek itself was breathtaking, and everything was perfectly organised from start to finish. Our guide, David, was simply outstanding! He was incredibly knowledgeable, shared so many interesting stories and insights about the Inca history and culture, and always took the time to answer our questions. What we appreciated most was how he adapted everything to our pace and needs. We never felt rushed or pressured and could truly enjoy every moment of the journey. The food was another absolute highlight! Our chefs prepared incredibly delicious and varied meals every single day, even in the middle of the mountains. They also took great care of our dietary requirements, including vegetarian food, lactose intolerance and our preference for non-spicy meals. A huge thank you also to our four amazing porters! It was unbelievable how much they managed to carry and how efficiently they worked. Everything was always perfectly prepared, clean and organised. Their hard work and dedication truly impressed us. A massive thank you to Jaime, Jampol, Luis, Raul, Yo and David! 🙏 You made this adventure so special and unforgettable for us. We genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The best tour, the best crew and some of the best days of our entire trip! We would 100% recommend this experience to anyone considering the Inca Trail. Absolutely worth it! 🇵🇪🏔️

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Donald November 1st, 2026

Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mountain – 8 Days

★★★★★

My entire experience with this company during my trip to Peru to travel the Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain was very positive with only one small exception - the hotel selection in Ollantaytambo (this was very poor). The guides were excellent throughout as were the cooks and porters.

Kevin M Nov 07, 2026

Kevin Merrigan - balance - TS26015081

We had a great time! Jacob was an amazing guide. We appreciate his knowledge, humor, and friendliness. The trip was well organized, with amazing food and sites to see. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Nicolas Sommer October 11, 2026

We completed the 5-day, 4-night Salkantay Trek. It was a wonderful experience that I highly recommend! TreXperience organised the entire tour exceptionally well. Our guides, Abelardo and Wilbert, were wonderful and deserve a huge thank you! Throughout the trek, Abelardo shares fascinating insights into how the Andes were formed and their natural environment. He speaks with great enthusiasm about the culture and history of the Incas and Peru. Listening to him is a real pleasure! Abelardo manages to turn a group of travellers who have never met before into a team whose members quickly support one another, show consideration for each other, and have plenty of fun and laughter together. Abelardo is a wonderful guide whom we grew very fond of in such a short time. He takes great care of the entire group. He is always cheerful, has a great sense of humour, and continually gives everyone renewed energy and strength for the physically demanding hike at high altitude. Along the way, he brings the world of the Incas to life through small ceremonies, helping us appreciate just how special these moments are. Standing at over 4,600 metres, you feel deeply grateful for the opportunity to experience this trek! But the group is accompanied by more than just two guides. Two horsemen and their horses carry the group’s luggage over the Andean passes. A team of three cooks transports cooking equipment and food through the mountains, treating us to delicious meals throughout the trek. The cooks therefore deserve special praise. While everyone is still asleep in their accommodation, the team prepares a fantastic breakfast and wakes us with hot coca tea. Every morning and evening, a bowl of warm water is provided for each participant to wash with. Before we set off, everyone receives a snack for the day. When we arrive at 4,600 metres as the first group, the team is already waiting for us with hot tea and a bread roll. A little later, we have lunch, followed by a generous dinner in the evening. At every meal, you wonder how they managed to prepare so many delicious dishes so quickly! You really appreciate how good their cooking is when you visit a restaurant back in town. By then, you are already wishing you could have Barbin’s cooking again! On one occasion, the team cooked for us in the traditional Peruvian way. Large stones were heated in a fire and then placed in a deep pit in the ground. Different varieties of potatoes, vegetables, meat, and fruit were carefully wrapped and placed on the stones, covered with hessian sacks and palm leaves, and then buried under earth. While our lunch was cooking, we roasted coffee beans and brewed our own coffee. Another highlight was spending the night with a view of Machu Picchu. We enjoyed the sunset from outside our tents and watched the sunrise the following morning. At breakfast, the cooking team even surprised us with a freshly baked chocolate cake. I couldn’t bake a cake like that even in my own kitchen at sea level! Then came the final hike to Aguas Calientes. Along the way, we swam in a river—a wonderfully refreshing dip in beautiful surroundings. The following day, we visited Machu Picchu together. Everything was perfectly organised throughout the trip. We would do it again in a heartbeat and highly recommend this trek with Abelardo and his team! The nights in the Andes were wonderful. Afterwards, lying in our hotel bed, we immediately wished we were back on the hard mattresses in the simple huts and tents in the mountains! A huge thank you to Abelardo, Wilbert, Balbino, Eziquiel and the entire team for this amazing trek! Tupanantiskama!!!

Clare K November 5, 2026

A one in a lifetime trip made super special by some amazing staff

It’s hard to put into words how fantastic this trip was. The landscapes took our breath away, but the staff were what brought it all together. David was our guide through the Lares and his gentle, encouraging way is what got us through some physically challenging sections, and his immense knowledge of the area, the history and the spiritual significance brought a profound sense of energy and connection to our stunning surroundings. All with a great sense of humour. The chefs - Freddy, Olinda and baby Gabriella - rustled up delicious banquets of food every meal and we’ve know idea how as facilities were very limited. It was culinary miracle to be honest, but we loved every morsel. And our horseman - Julian, worked so hard looking after the animals carrying our stuff, putting up our tents and was a welcome wake up call in the morning with hot tea. The trek itself took us through outstandingly beautiful landscapes and allowed us to camp by a lagoon and on a remote Ilama farm where we met a native family. We also enjoyed hot springs and the remove Maris salt mines. We then joined a different group for the short Inca trail through the jungle area up to the sun gate. This time we had knowledgeable commentary around circuit 3 from Amdeo and encouragement on the trek from Danny and Raoul. All the Trexperience staff were and absolute pleasure to spend time with and I’m very grateful for the experience they gave us. I was with two friends and my 14 year old son and it was honestly the best trip I’ve been on and would recommend it to anyone.

LILY October 8th, 2026

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days with Hot Springs

we have a wonderful trek at Lares tre k

Flavio H Nov 06, 2026

Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu 4 Days - Flavio Hoffmann x3

Der 4-tägige Inka Trail war einfach unbeschreiblich schön – ein absoluter Traum, der für mich in Erfüllung gegangen ist! 😍🏔️ Von Anfang bis Ende war alles perfekt organisiert. Ein riesiges Dankeschön an das gesamte Team und ganz besonders an unsere großartigen Guides Daniel, Beltram und Rodri, die mit ihrer Herzlichkeit, ihrem Wissen, ihrer Motivation und ihrem Humor diese Tour zu etwas ganz Besonderem gemacht haben. Auch die Porter waren einfach unglaublich! Mit so viel Einsatz, Herzlichkeit und Leidenschaft haben sie uns den Weg erleichtert und einen riesigen Beitrag zu diesem unvergesslichen Erlebnis geleistet. Die atemberaubende Natur, die beeindruckenden Landschaften, die tolle Stimmung in der Gruppe und die perfekte Organisation haben diese vier Tage zu einem Erlebnis gemacht, das ich für immer in meinem Herzen tragen werde. Ein riesiges Dankeschön an das gesamte Team! Ich kann diese Tour von ganzem Herzen weiterempfehlen. Wenn Inka Trail, dann unbedingt mit euch! ❤️

Leïla Simão October 10, 2026

Une expérience incroyable avec nos guides Javier et Ade et notre groupe. On recommande fortement cette agence, tout était parfait.

Ole F November 4, 2026

Absolute highlight of every Peru trip

The Inca Trail with Trexperience was the highlight of my South America trip so far. Particularly noteworthy is the excellent organization surrounding our guides Roger and Danillo as well as the entire Porta team. Chef Senobio also cooked excellently for us 3 times a day. In summary, I could not have wished for a more beautiful experience on the Inca Trek.

Carolina September 14th, 2026

Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu with Vistadome Train

It has been a wonderful experience—both from a sporting perspective, due to the physical challenge of the trek, and on a personal level, because of what we experienced and shared. Special mention goes to the team of porters and cooks for their tremendous effort and for making our stay so comfortable, as well as to the lead guide, José Abad, and the assistant guides, Alejandro and Lourdes, who led the group splendidly and helped us with every detail we needed. A 10 out of 10.

Roberto L Nov 06, 2026

Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Tour 2 days - Roberto Littardi x2

Magnífica experiencia y mejor guía. Pam explicó perfectamente todas las maravillas que vimos

Loes Bolster October 9, 2026

De Salkantay trek van 4 dagen was zeer geslaagd. Complimenten aan onze guide Royer. Hij is een enthousiaste guide, vertelt veel en regelt alles goed. Het eten tijdens de trek was heerlijk en altijd vers met dank aan Jheymi en Jamie. Zeker een aanrader.