Come discover the incredible and traditional Inti Raymi in the historical capital of Peru!
The Festival of the Sun, better known by its Quechua name, Inti Raymi, is one of the main festivities in the city of Cusco. This celebration is filled with chants in Quechua, traditional dances, and colorful costumes from the Inca period.
This annual festival is held during the winter solstice and is one of the most anticipated dates in Peru.
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Inti Raymi is an ancient Inca religious celebration in which worship was paid to the Sun god, or Inti, in Cusco. During the Inca period, Inti Raymi lasted about 15 days, during which sacrifices were performed and dances were presented to worship Inti. The last Inti Raymi held in the presence of the Inca emperor took place in 1535, one year before the Spanish conquest.
Today, Inti Raymi is a theatrical reenactment attended by thousands of people from Cusco and visitors from different parts of the world, who gather to take part in this important cultural and traditional expression of Cusco.
The sun was, and still is, the main object of worship in Inti Raymi, as it represents its essence and source of life. For the Inca Empire, it was the supreme god and one of the most important celestial bodies in the Andean world. In this celebration, the sun marks the beginning of a new yearly cycle, which is why offerings and rituals were dedicated to it, so that the Inca kingdom would prosper throughout the year.
The term Inti Raymi comes from Quechua; Inti means sun and Raymi means festival or celebration, so Inti Raymi translates as “festival or celebration of the sun”.
Inti Raymi was the largest and most important celebration held during the time of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire. Their religion was based on the worship of the sun, which was established in the 15th century by the Inca Pachacútec as a religious reform.
This ceremony included the acllas, the ayllus, the imperial Inca army, representatives of each suyo, and other authorities, bringing together nearly the entire population of Tahuantinsuyo.
The entrance of the Inca into the Plaza de Armas or the esplanade of Sacsayhuamán was a solemn moment. The ceremony was preceded by the acllas, who scattered flowers, and by the pichaq, men who, using straw brooms, drove away evil spirits. In his public appearances, the Inca was accompanied by his kumillo (a hunchbacked dwarf), who held the achiwa, a parasol made of colorful feathers.
During the conquest, Inti Raymi continued to be celebrated in secret. Later, the mestizo Inca Garcilaso de la Vega preserved the memory of this celebration in his work Royal Commentaries.
Different peoples of the Andes were already observing the sky, the solstices, and the equinoxes to organize agriculture. For that reason, the Incas inherited this solar tradition and took it to its highest expression during the government of Pachacútec. In addition, this celebration was also a political tool to unify the four suyos around Cusco and legitimize the Inca as the “son of the Sun”.
This celebration evolved until it became the most important festival of the empire, as a ritual of the Andean New Year and as a renewal of the pact between the Sun, the Inca, and Tahuantinsuyo. During the colonial period, the Spanish considered it an “idolatrous” rite and banned it as a public celebration. In 1944, artists from Cusco recreated Inti Raymi based on chronicles such as those of Garcilaso, and the theatrical version we know today was born.
The staging of Inti Raymi began with the proposal of Humberto Vidal Unda, an initiative to recreate an Inca ceremony, which until that time had only been a small theatricalization of an Inca celebration.
That was how, in 1944, a performance was held for the first time, which today we know as “Inti Raymi”. Likewise, June 24 of every year was established as Cusco Day.
The first Inti Raymi celebrated after the Spanish conquest featured don Faustino Espinoza Navarro, the first actor to portray the Inca, a writer and actor from Cusco and founder of the Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua.
In 2001, Inti Raymi was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation and an Official Act of National Identity.
| Inti Raymi | Inca Inti Raymi | Modern Inti Raymi |
|---|---|---|
| Description | A festival full of color, dance, and devotion, as well as rites and offerings to the Sun God. | A celebration that revalues the traditions and customs of our Inca ancestors. |
| Duration | 15 days before the winter solstice | 1 day, June 24 |
| Year | 1430 - 1532 A.D. | 1944 - Present |
| Attendance | 50,000 inhabitants of Tahuantinsuyo | 100,000 to 150,000 attendees from different parts of the world and approximately 1,000 actors, including musicians, dancers, etc. |
Inti Raymi is celebrated every June 24. This day not only represents the celebration of the sun, but it is also Cusco Day, and throughout the month many performances take place, especially on the main day, June 24, with the reenactment of Inti Raymi, where hundreds prepare to deliver their best artistic performance.
In 2026, the celebration of Inti Raymi will once again take place on June 24, with music, traditional dances, and an unforgettable theatrical performance.
Today, Inti Raymi is celebrated with great color and tradition. Everything begins very early, when the entourage of the Inca and the Qoya (his wife) set out in procession.
In the gardens of Qoricancha, a ceremony greeting the sun is held with the music of quenas and drums. This is the most spiritual moment, with the sun rising over the mountains.
Later, they head toward the Plaza de Armas, where the Inca arrives carried by his warriors, and, in the same way, the Qoya, the Inca’s wife, also arrives.
From an elevated platform, the Inca delivers a speech to the people in Quechua, asking the Sun for protection and announcing prosperity. Then, the traditional dances of Cusco begin.
The most anticipated moment of the day takes place in Sacsayhuamán, the main site where the Inca, the Qoya, the priests, the warriors, and the regional delegations gather to carry out the main ceremony in honor of the sun, with a parade of the four suyos in their own costumes, feathers, and dances.
Every June 24, this Inca tradition begins in the morning. The first staging takes place at the Temple of the Sun, Coricancha or Santo Domingo; then it continues in Cusco’s Main Square and, finally, moves to the esplanade of Sacsayhuamán, where the performance lasts approximately 2 hours. It usually ends around 3:30 p.m., although it may continue for a few more minutes.
| Place | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| First part: | Qoricancha - Temple of the Sun | 9:00 a.m. |
| Second part: | Huacaypata - Plaza de Armas of Cusco | 10:30 a.m. approx. |
| Third part: | Fortress of Sacsayhuamán | 1:00 p.m. approx. |
The traditional Inti Raymi route takes place across three historical settings in Cusco.
This is where the “Greeting to the Sun” ceremony takes place. Everything begins with the sound of the pututos and the entrance of the acllas, musicians, and dancers, followed by the appearance of the Inca. This first part lasts approximately 45 minutes.
This is where the ceremony called the “Meeting of the Times and Coca Leaf Ceremony” takes place, in which the Inca and his entourage stand on the great ushnu, or ceremonial platform. Most of the audience watches standing up, and this part lasts approximately 1 hour.
This is where the central Inti Raymi ceremony is held. Most of the reenactment is concentrated here, beginning with the entrance of the Qoya and the Inca, accompanied by dances, music, and chants, and then giving way to the main act. The Inca leads the offering ritual, represented by the symbolic sacrifice of a llama. This part lasts around 2 hours.
It is known that the role of women in the Inca Empire was very important and necessary, since they were a symbol of abundance and fertility.
The central female figure in the empire of the Incas was the Qoya, a figure who represented leadership and the ability to handle crisis situations in Tahuantinsuyo. She was the companion of the Inca, his advisor, and his right hand in government. When the Inca died, she took charge of the Panaca, the “noble descendants of the Inca”.
In Inti Raymi, the Qoya was a highly relevant figure, as she accompanied the Inca throughout the course of this ceremony, demonstrating sovereignty and power.
The Qhapaq Ñan was a network of Inca roads interconnected through the huacas, a road communication system among all the peoples that made up Tahuantinsuyo. This system was of great importance because, during the Festival of the Sun, it was used to reach Cusco.
If you are interested in attending Inti Raymi, we remind you that the reenactments at Qorikancha and the Main Square are free, so it is recommended to arrive early due to the large number of spectators. In contrast, for the ceremony at Sacsayhuamán, it is necessary to buy admission tickets.
The VIP area is made up of three grandstands, which offer the best views to enjoy this celebration.
The 3 grandstands offer a unique view of Inti Raymi, since the esplanade of Sacsayhuamán is a large and open place; therefore, you should not worry too much about it.
At CuscoPeru.com, with the help of our sales agents, you not only get your tickets, but also the best recommendation so you can enjoy the ceremony to the fullest, as well as complete the route calmly, with all the prior organization, transportation, and a box lunch.
The best place to watch the ceremony in Sacsayhuamán is the orange grandstand, as it is located right in front of the stage, although it is also more expensive.
Happy passengers