A trip to Peru is made even more unforgettable if you get to visit during Inti Raymi. The celebration recreates an Incan festivity honoring the Sun God, brought to life by hundreds of performers across three breathtaking locations in Cusco.
This is an opportunity to witness one of the most well-documented pre-Hispanic traditions in the Andes, dating back over 600 years and officially recognized as Peru’s National Cultural Heritage. In this guide, find out what to expect from Inti Raymi and all you need to know to experience it at its best.
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What is Inti Raymi?
The Inti Raymi festival is an annual celebration held in Cusco, Peru. It honors an ancient Incan ceremony established by the ruler Pachacútec in the 1430s, later banned by Spanish colonizers, and finally revived in 1944.
The name of the festival, Inti Raymi, might not sound familiar even if you speak Spanish fluently. That’s because it comes from Quechua, one of the many languages spoken in Peru and one of the country’s three official languages, alongside Spanish and Aymara. Literally translated, Inti Raymi means “Festival of the Sun,” as Inti was the most revered deity in Inca sun worship, due to his vital role in agriculture and seasonal cycles.
When is it celebrated?
The Inti Raymi festival is celebrated every year on June 24.
How is Inti Raymi celebrated?
Among all festivals in Peru, Inti Raymi is one of the most significant, both culturally and as a tourist attraction. It is deeply cherished by residents as an important part of their cultural heritage and draws nearly 200,000 visitors to Cusco every year.
The current celebration is an explosion of vibrant colors, music, and dance, with massive parades and performers dressed in traditional costumes who reenact ancient rituals while speaking Quechua.
The festival features numerous events across the city, but the main ceremonies take place at three significant locations: the Qorikancha Temple, Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, and Sacsayhuamán.
Qorikancha Temple: The greeting to the sun
Qorikancha was one of the most important temples of the Inca civilization, almost completely dismantled by Spanish conquistadores to build the Convent of Santo Domingo. The only surviving parts are the impressive stone walls, yet it remains a deeply symbolic site for the start of the Inti Raymi celebrations.
Around 9:00 a.m., performers begin gathering in the temple’s gardens, dressed as soldiers, flower bearers, and other figures symbolizing the suyus, the four regions of the Inca Empire. The highlight of this 45-minute ceremony is the arrival of the Inca (the ruler), accompanied by the Coya, his queen.
From the ancient temple walls, the Inca performs the saludo al Sol (greeting to the Sun), chanting prayers and offering blessings and symbolic gifts to Inti. He is then joined by the orejones, members of the Inca nobility, and carried by porters on a processional gold seat toward Cusco’s Plaza de Armas.
Plaza de Armas: The encounter between past and present
Inti Raymi’s second act takes place in Cusco’s central square, known in Quechua as Huacaypata and in Spanish as the Plaza de Armas. The celebration lasts one hour and unfolds through three key moments.
- Ritual de la hoja de coca (coca leaf ritual): During the reading ritual, the Inca and the High Priest use coca leaves to foresee the future of the empire.
- Encuentro de los tiempos (encounter of times): The Inca gifts the city’s mayor with a khipu, an ancient Inca recording tool made of knotted cords (the word khipu literally means “knot” in Quechua). The present symbolizes the transmission of ancestral values, known as Munay (love and will), Yachay (knowledge), and Llankay (work).
- Dances of the Tahuantinsuyo: The ceremony concludes with traditional dances performed by representatives of the four regions of the Inca Empire to honor Inti and the Inca.
Sacsayhuamán: The main show
The festival closes at its most scenic site: Sacsayhuamán, an archaeological site located about two kilometers (1.24 miles) from Cusco. If you’ve ever attended a large historical reenactment or cultural parade, imagine that, but set among ancient Inca ruins: It is stunning.
The event begins around 1:00-2:00 p.m with each regional group performing a traditional dance. Then, on a reconstructed usnu (or ushnu), a type of pyramidal ceremonial platform, actors perform sacred chants, reverential offerings, and even a symbolic sacrificio de una llama (“llama sacrifice”—don’t worry, the animal is not real).
During the show, which lasts around two and a half hours, you can witness different rituals:
- Rito de la chicha, a ritual during which the actor who plays the Inca drinks chicha de jora, a fermented corn-based beverage considered sacred.
- Rito del fuego sagrado (ritual of the sacred fire), which involves igniting wool by focusing the sun’s rays through a golden bracelet.
- Rito del Sankhu: a corn bread symbolically sanctified with the llama’s blood and served to the Inca and his entourage.
Note: The entire event is performed in Quechua, but attendants can access a pre-recorded translation in English, French, and Spanish via a QR code.
Origins of Inti Raymi
Inti Raymi has a clear religious dimension, but did you know it is also tied to a smart political move? In the 15th century, the ruler Pachacútec created the festival so that representatives from all territories of the empire would be obliged to travel to the capital each year, thereby strengthening control over them.
The celebrations used to last 15 days and included dances, animal sacrifices, and even processions of mummified former Inca rulers! And there is more. While Inti Raymi marked the winter solstice, another major festival, Cápac Inti Raymi (la fiesta del Gran Sol = the festival of the Great Sun) was celebrated during the summer solstice on December 21.
Under Spanish rule, pagan rituals were banned, and Inti Raymiceased to be celebrated after 1572, although clandestine ceremonies continued for centuries. It wasn’t until 1944 that it was officially revived, based on a description in a 16th-century Spanish-Inca chronicle.
Since then, the festival has been celebrated every year, becoming one of Peru’s most important cultural events.
Tips for attending the festival
Attending Inti Raymi in Peru is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but before traveling, there are a few important tips to keep in mind.
Tickets to Inti Raymi in Cusco
First of all: tickets. Plaza de Armas is the only free-entry location of the festival, so arriving early is essential to ensure a good viewing spot around the square.
To attend the ceremonies at Qorikancha and Sacsayhuamán, you’ll need to purchase tickets. Seats are limited, and the best sections sell out quickly, so it’s better to buy them online in advance. You can check the latest Inti Raymi ticket prices on the official website.
Things to bring with you to the festival
In addition to tickets, there are a few essentials you should definitely make room for in your bag.
- Passport: All visitors must present identification; make sure to bring a passport.
- Sunscreen and a hat: It’s wintertime in the Southern Hemisphere, but you’ll still be close to the equator, and at a high altitude, so sun protection is essential.
- Warm clothes: Dress in layers; early mornings in Cusco can be chilly.
- Comfortable shoes: A must-have because you’ll walk a lot throughout the day.
- Water and snacks: While there will be vendors, crowds are large and events last for several hours, so bringing a few supplies is a good idea.
- A little cash: It’s always helpful to have some Peruvian soles (the local currency) at hand in case ATMs are unavailable.
- A little Spanish: The festival is tourist-friendly and attracts visitors from all over the world. However, starting to learn Spanish can really help you connect with locals, as it’s the native language of most Peruvians.
And some great news for the planet: Inti Raymi is plastic-free to reduce the environmental impact.
Traditional food to try at Cusco’s Inti Raymi
Trying Peruvian food is a way to join the local culture. Below are some traditional dishes you can enjoy at Cusco restaurants during the festival.
- Chiri uchu (cold chili): A signature dish that combines chicken, pork, fish roe, corn, and ají peppers.
- Huatia (or pachamanca): Potatoes, corn, and beef cooked under hot stones using an ancient slow-roasting technique that is still performed as a ritual.
- Cuy al horno or cuy chactado (roasted or fried guinea pig): A traditional delicacy from the Andean regions.
- Chairo and quinoa soups: Two hearty winter soups. The first is made with chuño (freeze-dried potatoes), meat, vegetables, and grains, while the second is prepared with quinoa and vegetables.
- Mazamorra morada (purple pudding): A traditional purple corn dessert often served with fresh fruit.
Incan festivals still held nowadays
The Incan Empire covered parts of the countries we now call Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile, so there are more Incan festivals held across South America.
Even though the largest Inti Raymi takes place in Cusco, there are three other Inti Raymi festivals that deserve a mention:
- The Andean-Amazonian New Year, as the festival is called in Bolivia.
- Otavalo’s Inti Raymi Ecuador, which is celebrated from June 21 to 28.
- The Inti Raymi of Cayambe, also in Ecuador. This last one is slightly different and includes ceremonial baths and the figure of the Diablo Huma (“Huma Devil,” the spirit of the water).
Other Incan festivals include:
- Warachikuy: Originally a test of physical skills for young men, this festival near Cusco takes place in September and features competitions, dancing, and rites.
- Raymi Llaqta: Known as the Fiesta del Pueblo (Celebration of the People), this event at the end of May brings together more than 60 indigenous communities from the Amazon in Chachapoyas (Peru) to celebrate with albazo (traditional band music), processions, and fireworks.
- Quyllurit’i: At the beginning of June, this festival in the Sinakara Valley, near Cusco, blends indigenous and Catholic rituals to celebrate Jesus Christ, the Apus (mountain spirits), and the Pachamama (Mother Earth).
- Pachamama Raymi: Peru and Ecuador also celebrate Mother Earth on August 1 with food offerings and ceremonial fires.
Frequently asked questions about Inti Raymi
Want to travel even more prepared? Here are answers to the most common questions travelers ask.
What to expect from the Inti Raymi festival?
Expect a vibrant open-air spectacle filled with colorful costumes, traditional music, ceremonial dances, and powerful reenactments of ancient Inca rituals. Here is a video of the Inti Raymi festival in Cusco to see what the celebration looks like in real life.
What is the altitude of Inti Raymi in Cusco?
Cusco sits at about 3,400 meters (11,150 feet) above sea level. The final show takes place at the archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán, which is slightly higher, at around 3,700 meters (12,140 feet).
How far in advance should I buy tickets for Cusco’s festival?
Tickets to the main show in Sacsayhuamán are in high demand, so it is best to buy them at least two months in advance.
Do I need to know Spanish to understand the ceremonies?
Not necessarily. The shows are in Quechua and, thanks to the rituals’ visual nature, you can enjoy the experience even if you don’t know this indigenous language.
That said, having a basic knowledge of Spanish words and expressions is very helpful when traveling around Peru.
If you want to learn some Spanish before your trip, you can try a method like Rosetta Stone’s courses, which focus on Latin American Spanish or Spanish from Spain and are designed in short, easy-to-follow 10-minute lessons.
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