The Inti Raymi (festival of the sun) is a religious ceremony that takes place in the highlands every winter solstice in honor of Inti (deity of the sun) when the sun is at a greater distance from the earth. This famous festival is celebrated at the end of June.
In Inca times
At the time of the Incas, the Intiraymi was one of the most important festivities celebrated in Cusco where generals, princes, rulers and the Inca emperor himself participated, all finely dressed, holding their shields and scepters.
In the darkness, the crowd awaited with great respect and deep silence, the appearance of the sun god.
The Inca priests and the people paid homage to the Sun God for the harvest, thanking him and asking him again to fertilize the earth and continue giving comfort to the children of Tahuantinsuyo.
This game became sacred and the Inca emperor offered the sun also a flame was sacrificed and his internal organs were used to predict the future.
With the arrival of the Spaniards the festival was banned by the Catholic Church, and was only celebrated again in 1942.
Nowadays
Today, Inti Raymi is one of the biggest festivals in all of South America. It is celebrated on June 24 each year and is staged at the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, just outside Cusco.
The celebration takes place in the fortress of Sacsayhuaman and represents the ceremony as it would have taken place in the Inca state, but now in the eyes of the thousands of tourists who travel to Cusco and the surrounding area.
Participants wear feathers, scarves, masks and carry spears. They form figures with rhythmic jumps, shouting in praise of the sun, to the rhythm of flutes and drums. It is a great show, full of energy.
The main character is the Inca, who is chosen through a contest of dexterity and his appearance is striking, in a litter carried by eight subjects, wearing a costume with the colors of the Tahuantinsuyo, gold bracelets and a feather ornament on his head.
The contemporary ceremony repeats, in every detail, the rite of the Inca period. And it gives us a spectacular vision of how it was and the meaning of this magnificent celebration.
Recommendations
Bring warm clothes, since in the month of June it is very cold in Cusco.
If you want to witness closely the ceremony and rituals of Inti Raymi, buy your box on the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman, well in advance.
Before going up to the Sacsayhuaman esplanade, make sure to bring your camera, and make sure your belongings are safe.
secure your belongings.
Cerenomy Schedule
9:00 Hrs Qorikancha: Beginning of the staging. It lasts 30 minutes.
11:00 Hrs. Auqaypata (Plaza de Armas): The Inka and his royal retinue enter through K’ijllu Inti Street. Duration 45 minutes.
13:30 Hrs. Central ceremony. 90 minutes.
Services
To attend the Inti Raymi ceremony, the Municipality-EMUFEC Celebrations of Cusco, will implement the necessary services: fiberglass seats, portable toilets, information center and tourist assistance, first aid and security (Incident Command System), allowing you to enjoy the event with all the necessary guarantees.
How to attend the Inti Raymi
The sequences of the Inti Raymi, the Koricancha and the Plaza de Armas are of free access for the general public. It is recommended to go early in order to have an adequate visual perspective. Admission and location in the stands installed in the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman are through the purchase or prior reservation of tickets and numbered according to the areas specified in the Table of Rates and location map.
Reservation procedure
To request the number of seats or spaces through the Inti Raymi 2012 Reservation System, customers can choose their preferred seats on the website:
