The Inti Raymi or “Festival of the Sun” has a deep connection to the local culture and traditions. For centuries it was banned by the colonizers, but since 1944 it was revived based on the chronicles from Garcilaso de la Vega. Nowadays it is considered as a deeply cultural and touristic event.
History and Relevance.
The celebration traces back to de 1430’s. When Pachacutec, the 9th Inca, started this festivity to honor the celebration on the Inti Raymi (1 of the 4 main celebrations of the Inca Cosmovision).
Its rituals used to be:
- Fasting and purification baths for the nobles.
- Processions with mummies of the Inca Ancestors, considered to be a connection to their deities, to honor their memory.
- Sacrifices of Llamas, to read omens in their entrails.
- Other rituals in sites like Qoricancha (The Temple of The Sun).
It was banned by the Spanish in 1572, as it was considered to be a pagan celebration.
It revived in 1944 by a collaborative effort of 2 Cusqueño intellectuals, Faustino Espinoza and Humberto Vidal. The former was in charge of writing the script and represent the Inca, the latter led the proposal through American Institute of Art.
Its relevance is tied to the celebration of the most important deity of the Incas, Inti (The Sun), the thanks giving for the last harvesting season and asking for a prosperous next harvest, and a demonstration of gratitude to Pachamama (Mother Earth). Nowadays, is a deep expression of the Andean cosmology, identity and resistance.
Modern Inti Raymi.
The modern version of the Inti Raymi is not an exact replica. But it is inspired by the chronicles of Garcilaso de La Vega. The structure of the celebration is as close as possible to the original. As it is celebrated in Qechua (The Inca language). The costumes and music are inspired in the chronicles, but incorporate current techniques. The celebration takes place every 24th June and it has 3 stages:
- Qoricancha: In the morning it starts with the Inca leading a ritual of gratitude to Inti.
- Plaza de Armas: A representation of the Inca meeting the 4 Suyos, the 4 territories of the empire. It symbolized the unity of the empire and its peoples.
- Saqsaywaman: A theatrical representation of all the rituals including: Sun offerings, llama sacrifices, warrior dances and Sun worship rituals.
Nowadays, the animal sacrifices are staged.
This celebration is the most popular cultural event along the year, over 100000 visitors attend every year divided between locals and foreigners. We recommend planning your visit with months in advance, including a visit to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.
Pro traveler tips.
- Tickets, availability and pricing:
- Tickets usually are available about 3 months before.They start from $80 and depending on area they can go up to $290
- You can check availability and prices here: www.entradaintiraymi.com
- Accommodation:
- The best area to stay in your Cusco visit is the Centro Historico, the colonial town. It will be close to any of the activities and attractions in the city.
- We can arrange a custom plan, including accommodation and visits. Contact us.
- Size your visit with a Tour to Machu Picchu:
- Many options are available to visit Hidden City of the Incas, but we are the experts.
- Contact us (info@69explorer.com) and plan your 2026 Peru vacation including Inti Raymi, Machu Picchu, The Sacred Valley and more.
