Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco
Inti Raymi is a vibrant and ancient Inca festival celebrated during the winter solstice in Cusco, Peru. This grand event honors the sun god, Inti, and marks the Inca New Year. The festival is a mesmerizing display of colorful costumes, traditional music, and captivating ceremonies that reenact ancient Inca rituals.
Inti Raymi celebration begins in the morning at the Coricancha Temple as the sun rises over the sacred site. There is a symbolic ceremony and ritual salutation to the sun. During this time, Inca performers will dance and sing in Quechua, asking for the sun’s blessings and celebrating the sunrise at the Temple of the Sun. This ceremony is known as the “Awakening of the Festival and Greeting of the Sun.”
Then, the festival moves to Cusco’s main plaza, where the “Meeting of the Two Worlds” takes place. This event symbolizes the fusion of Andean and Spanish cultures. The main ceremony is finally held at the Sacsayhuamán fortress, where participants dressed in elaborate Inca costumes gather to witness and take part in ancient rituals, such as the Chicha Rite, the Sacred Fire Rite, the Llama Sacrifice, divination rituals, and the Sacred Bread Rite. The Inca emperor offers prayers and thanks to the sun god, asking for blessings for a prosperous agricultural year. The ceremony concludes with an outburst of joyous celebration where tourists mingle with performers, creating a unique, unforgettable experience.
The 2026 Inti Raymi Festival tour is now available for travelers who wish to take part in this historic Festival of the Sun, celebrated every year on June 24. Book your experience now to live this unique cultural tradition firsthand. Availability is limited, so reserve your spot early.
INTI RAYMI Itinerary
Inti Raymi Day Tour
Morning – Hotel Pick-up and Transfer
In the morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Avenida El Sol, where the esplanade of Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) is located. This is where the first stage of the Inti Raymi Festival takes place.
Inti Raymi follows a carefully prepared script based on historical chronicles. The reenactment unfolds at some of Cusco’s most iconic locations, including Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), Hawqaypata (today’s Plaza de Armas), and the esplanade of Sacsayhuamán, where the central and most important rites are performed.
9:00 a.m. – Qorikancha (Golden Enclosure)
Beginning of the Reenactment
At this magnificent temple—once the spiritual center of the Inca Empire and the point from which the roads to the four regions of Tawantinsuyo departed—the sacred ceremony of the Wilka Nina (Sacred Fire) was traditionally performed. The fire was ignited by the Sun’s rays, concentrated through a golden disk, causing white vicuña wool to catch fire. This sacred flame was then carried by priests to temples and shrines throughout the empire.
In the modern reenactment, Inti Raymi begins at 9:00 a.m. on the Qorikancha esplanade. The Inca, accompanied by the Qoya and the royal court, offers a ritual salutation to Inti, the Sun God, invoking blessings and prosperity for the sacred city of Cusco.
After this brief ceremony, a grand procession of approximately 800 participants begins. Accompanied by the sounds of pututus, tinyas, and quenas, the performers move toward the Plaza de Armas, passing through Santo Domingo Square, Pampa del Castillo, and Loreto Street, all filled with spectators, especially international visitors.
10:00 a.m. – Plaza de Armas (Hawqaypata)
This stage of the ceremony takes place in the Plaza de Armas, around a large ceremonial platform known as the usnu. The Inca gathers with his generals and warriors to receive the oath of new soldiers, who pledge loyalty to the Sun, the Inca, and the Tawantinsuyo. Ritual homage is paid to the weapons of the Sun and the imperial standards.
Due to the large number of spectators, visibility in this area can be limited. However, visitors can still appreciate parts of the ceremony and listen to the ritual chants and music.
Midday – Transfer to Sacsayhuamán
After the ceremony at the Plaza de Armas, we continue our itinerary with tourist transportation to Sacsayhuamán. Upon arrival, a box lunch is provided while we await the arrival of the Inca and the beginning of the main ceremony.
1:45 p.m. – Esplanade of Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park
Main Inti Raymi Ceremony
At 1:45 p.m., the Sinchi (Great General) enters the usnu located at the center of the Sacsayhuamán esplanade, marking the start of the central ceremony. He summons the representatives of the four Suyos of the Inca Empire, who arrive from different directions accompanied by music and traditional dances.
Once the esplanade is fully occupied, the ñustas, aqllas, royal entourage, the Qoya, and finally the Inca, carried on his ceremonial litter, make their grand entrance. Following a greeting to the Sun, a sacred hymn is performed and then chanted by the entire cast.
Each regional leader—Qollasuyo, Antisuyo, Chinchaysuyo, and Kontisuyo—presents reports and offerings. The most solemn rites of the ceremony then take place, accompanied by traditional dances:
- Chicha Rite
- Sacred Fire Rite
- Simulated Llama Sacrifice and Divination Rituals
- Sacred Bread Rite (Sankhu)
The ceremony concludes with a vibrant celebration, where visitors and performers come together, creating a truly unique and unforgettable cultural experience.
At the end of the festival, our guide will assist you back to the tourist transportation for the return journey to Cusco, with drop-off at your hotel.
Included