Holidays in Peru can be an extraordinary experience, and Inti Raymi is at the top of the list! Occurring in late June, this festival recreates the original Incan festival from six centuries ago. Performed in three different beautiful outdoor locations with around 800 participants, Inti Raymi features an Incan king and queen, elaborate costumes, and breathtaking dancing.
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Now let’s talk about Inti Raymi!
What is Inti Raymi?
Inti Raymi means “Festival of Inti” in Quechua, the most widely spoken indigenous language in Peru. As god of the sun, Inti was the most important religious figure of the well-developed Inca civilization, which particularly thrived during the fifteenth century. Since Inti was the sun god, Inti Raymi is the Festival of the Sun.
Nowadays, this festival honoring the Incan tradition is held on June 24 in Cusco, Peru, a city named on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It attracts about 70,000 visitors! As one of the most significant Peruvian holidays, Inti Raymi takes place on three stages and includes dance, music, and acting—all performed in gorgeous indigenous clothing of bright colors and intricate stitchwork. Check out these impressive photographs and experience the excitement of the celebration in the video below!
How was Inti Raymi celebrated during Incan times?
This festival was celebrated in Cusco, the capital of the Incan Empire from 1412 to 1572. As an empire, the Incas controlled a wide swath of territory, and in 1430, the emperor Pachacutec established the ceremony as a way to control those who lived in his territory. Each year, they traveled to the capital to offer goods as tribute.
After the arrival of the Spanish in 1532, the last official Inti Raymi was held a year later and prohibited altogether within four decades. However, clandestine ceremonies still occurred into the eighteenth century, sometimes overlapping with the Corpus Christi celebration.
Inti Raymi was held (and continues to be held) on the winter solstice. Since Peru is in the southern hemisphere, the solstice happens on June 21. Because the Incas believed they were sent from the sun, the festival was a reminder of their origins as well as the start of the new year and longer days of sunlight.
Lasting a couple of weeks, the festival was celebrated with dancing, animal sacrifices, ancestor worship, and processions—including the procession of mummified former Incan kings!
In 1944, a recreation of Inti Raymi was performed based on the work of a Spanish-Incan chronicler from the sixteenth century, and the date of the celebration was permanently changed to June 24. Since then, the festival has occurred every year.
How is Inti Raymi celebrated today?
Occurring in three acts and three locations in Cusco, Inti Raymi is now the most important festival of Peru. It begins at the Qorikancha Temple then moves toward the main square while most visitors await the principal ceremony at Sacsayhuman*. Over 100 other related events occur before and after Inti Raymi around this time of year. The dancing, costumes, and setting are just some of the things that make Inti Raymi so special.
Take a look at this beautiful video highlighting some of the moments of Inti Raymi.
*Note that the spelling of these indigenous names may vary slightly across sources! This occurs in part because the written standardization of these languages is a slow process.
Qorikancha Temple
The festivities begin around 9:00 a.m. at the Qorikancha Temple. Since the ceremony represents the gathering of peoples from the former Incan Empire, which was divided into four realms called suyu, participants dressed as soldiers represent each suyu from the north, south, east, and west. Actors playing the part of flower handlers and female spiritual practitioners also appear. Meanwhile, musicians play drums and flutes as others dance and sing.
Then, the actor playing the ruler (el Inca) performs the sun salute and directs the group to move on to the next setting. An actress representing his wife (la Coya) also appears, emphasizing the important political role she played. Lastly, el Inca’s generals show up. Others representing the imperial entourage accompany them and later carry el Inca and la Coya on litters or palanquins as everyone proceeds to walk to the main square.
Cusco Main Square
About two hours after the ceremony begins, the procession arrives at Cusco’s main square known as Huakaypata in Quechua and la Plaza de las Armas in Spanish. This act is known as el Encuentro de los Tiempos (the Encounter of Times) during which el Inca asks the Cusco mayor to care for the matters of the region. Incan priests are present to do a reading of the cacao leaves, which the priest then discusses with fellow priests and generals.
Sacsayhuaman
Around 1:30 p.m. the main ceremony takes place on a preconstructed usnu (or ushnu), a type of pyramidal platform, at an archaeological site. As the entourage arrives, they speak Quechua.
Four regions present what is in effect their annual report before the rituals begin. These involve fire, the simulated sacrifice of a llama, and chicha de jora, an ancient corn-based fermented drink considered to be sacred, which is different from the popular chicha morada (purple chicha). Finally, there’s the Q’ochurikuy, an outburst of popular praise.
Tips for attending Inti Raymi
Although it is possible to view the event from the free bleachers, we recommend buying a ticket in advance. For 2023, tickets were cheaper for Qorikancha, with a cost of about $25 USD for foreigners. For Sacsayhuaman, tickets were divided by color and cost $160 for the orange or red zone, and $105 for the green zone. It is also possible to buy tickets that allow you to attend both the first and third acts. Tickets are available through multiple companies, some of which include transportation, or through this Cusco municipal organization.
For the Cusco festival, all visitors must present identification. Foreigners will need to show a passport. Please check with the authorities if you want to take your passport card instead, as 2024 rules have yet to be published.
Aside from the above, we recommend taking the following:
- Sunscreen or a hat: Even though it will be wintertime, you’ll still be close to the equator and at a high altitude, so protect yourself from the sun!
- Warm clothes: It may be chilly early in the morning, so layer up.
- Comfortable shoes: You’ll be walking a lot!
- Water and snacks: Though there will be vendors, crowds are big, so you might want to bring a few things along.
- A little cash: It’s always good to have a little cash on hand in case credit card machines are down.
Some great news: Festival organizers have made an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the festival by prohibiting products sold in plastic or styrofoam!
Do I need to know Spanish to understand the ceremonies of Inti Raymi?
There are over fifty languages spoken in Peru, most of which are indigenous and include Quechua, a language that has influenced Peruvian Spanish and even a few English words. While the three official languages are Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara, you’ll mostly hear the first two while visiting Cusco.
The Inti Raymi ceremonies will be held in Quechua, but don’t worry! You may find some vendors selling pamphlets that explain the story. Also, starting in 2019, Inti Raymi began providing a pre-recorded translation in English, French, German, and Spanish by way of an application available on electronic devices, so you don’t need to understand Quechua or Spanish to enjoy the events. Besides, the expert acting and movement are quite expressive and able to explain much of the context without language. That said, we’d still recommend learning some Spanish before your trip!
>> Get a jump on your Peruvian adventure by learning some basic Spanish phrases and vocabulary today!
What other Incan festivals are still held today?
Inti Raymi is not the only Incan festival held in Peru or other parts of South America. Remember that the Incan Empire covered parts of the countries we now call Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.
While the biggest Inti Raymi festival happens in Cusco, smaller celebrations take place in other former Incan territories. One of the most well-known ones, placing a large emphasis on ritualistic dancing, is held in Shuracpamba (Sarapamba) in Ecuador.
Other Incan festivals in Peru include:
- Warachikuy: Originally a test of physical skills for young men, this festival, held near Cusco in September, currently features competitions, dancing, and rites.
- Raymi Llaqta: For this celebration known as the Fiesta del Pueblo (Celebration of the People), congregations from the Amazon region meet in Chachapoyas for albazo (traditional band music), a procession, regional food, and fireworks.
- Quyllurit’i: Also occurring around the time of the winter solstice and held near Cusco, this festival incorporates indigenous and Catholic religious acts to celebrate the stars and the harvest. Dance and music are the highlights of this celebration.
- Pachamama Raymi: This festival honors the Earth Mother goddess on August 1 in both Peru and Ecuador. On this day, farmers stop working to prepare food to be offered to Mother Earth. An Andean priest then holds a ceremony. Traditional songs and dances are performed, and exquisite textile exhibits are on display for visitors.
Learn Spanish to explore Peru and beyond
Attending Inti Raymi in Cusco can be an unforgettable experience. With its Incan origins, intricate textiles, and magnificent theatrics, it’s a festival like no other in the world. Moreover, Peru as a country offers everything from sophisticated cities to beautiful beaches along with, of course, Machu Picchu and delicious food.
Aside from facilitating your understanding of Inti Raymi, you can enrich your trip and engage with the locals in meaningful ways if you learn even basic Spanish before you go. Not only can Rosetta Stone ease you into Spanish with immersive learning, but every lesson includes TruAccent, providing instant feedback on your pronunciation!
Written by Rowena Galavitz
Rowena Galavitz is a Spanish translator, bilingual copy editor, and language and literature instructor with three master’s degrees who loves Spanish and all things Mexico.
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