Inti Raymi: The Timeless Festival of the Sun

Inti Raymi, celebrated on June 24, is one of the most significant and iconic cultural events in Peru, recognized as the second-largest festival in South America. This festival honors the Sun God and draws thousands of visitors from around the world to Cusco's Historic Center. Participants enjoy a vibrant day filled with cultural activities that celebrate and preserve the Inka heritage.

Each year, during Inti Raymi, the city of Cusco comes alive with vibrant dances, music, and history, creating a colorful spectacle rich in tradition. Since 2001, the festival has been recognized as a Cultural Heritage of the Nation, making June a particularly special time to visit Cusco and experience its unique charm.

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The sun festival and the Inka New Year

The Inti Raymi is the most significant and solemn event in the Inka calendar, dedicated to Apu Inti or Apu P'unchao, the Sun God. This festival takes place during the winter solstice, marking the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Some chroniclers note that the celebration of the Sun also marked the end of the agricultural year.

The celebration started on the winter solstice and lasted fifteen days, drawing leaders and pilgrims from the Inka Empire. During this time, fasting and abstinence were observed, and the Tahuantinsuyo stopped their daily activities to honor the Sun God.

How did this celebration start?

Some historians believe that Inti Raymi was established by the Inka Pachacutec in the 1430s to give thanks to the Sun and Pachamama for abundant crops and to ensure a prosperous year ahead. It was the grandest celebration in Cusco, honoring the Sun to ensure it would not abandon the Earth and would continue to provide the essential warmth needed for agriculture.

Inca Garcilaso de la Vega recorded that the celebration was intended to ensure a prosperous year in the Tahuantinsuyo. In his chronicles, Guaman Poma de Ayala mentioned that Pachacutec established the celebration to honor the Sun God, known in the Inka Empire as Apu Inti.

Inti Raymi is not limited to Cusco; many Andean communities celebrate this festival on June 24 in countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, northern Argentina, and Colombia.

Photography: Avi Multimedios / PROMPERÚ

Luxury cast

Over 800 people, including actors, dancers, and musicians, come together for the grand production of Inti Raymi. The show features lively dances, captivating performances, and heartfelt praises, all held in iconic spots like the Qorikancha temple, the Saqsaywaman archaeological park, and Cusco's Main Square.

The Inka and the Coya are the central figures of the festival, representing the highest nobility of the empire in ancient times. They are joined by the ñustas, the pallas, and the representatives from the four suyos. The Inka makes his appearance carried on shoulders on a gold-plated platform, accompanied by the orejones. Typical dances such as the Carnival of Ccatcca, Qhapaq Qolla, Qhapaq Chuncho and many more, add color and joy to the celebration.

Photography: Avi Multimedios / PROMPERÚ

Three locations

The Inti Raymi happens in three historical and natural locations:

1. Qorikancha: The celebration begins in this temple, the main spot for worshiping the Sun during the Tahuantinsuyo. Here the contemporary ceremony takes place before the retinue heads down Loreto Street towards the Main Square.

2. Main Square: Previously called Auqaypata or Plaza del Guerrero, this place is where the Coca ritual and the Encounter of the Ages occur between the Inka and the city's mayor. During this encounter, the mayor is given the khipu symbolizing three essential powers: munay (love), yachay (knowledge), and llankay (work).

3. Saqsaywaman: The most important part of the day. Here, the Inka and his entourage honor the sun by reciting a prayer in Quechua and simulating a camelid sacrifice for a shaman to predict prosperity for the coming year. In this impressive archaeological center, various rituals are performed, including the sacred fire, chicha (sacred drink), and Sankhu (sacred bread).
 

Photography: Avi Multimedios / PROMPERÚ

Flavors of celebration

During Inti Raymi, many families in Cusco prepare traditional dishes like "huatias," which are made from potatoes. Throughout June, the streets of Cusco transform into a vibrant fair where dozens of cooks serve Chiriuchu, a signature regional dish. Chiriuchu includes boiled chicken, baked guinea pig, charqui (dried meat), tortillas, toasted corn, cheese, blood sausage, seaweed, chorizo (pork sausage), fish roe, and rocoto pepper.

Another standout dish is chairo, a thick and nutritious soup made with potatoes, chuño, lamb, dried beef, peas, carrots, beans, and various herbs. Another traditional favorite is Pachamanca, which features a mix of tubers, herbs, and meats cooked underground, allowing all the rich flavors to meld together.
 

Photography: Avi Multimedios / PROMPERÚ

5 curious facts about Inti Raymi

1. The Inti Raymi festival was featured in the movie "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts," directed by Steven Caple Jr., and it drew two million viewers in Peruvian theaters.

2. The celebration takes place alongside the Day of the Peasant and the Saint John the Baptist Festival.

3. During the Inka era, around 50,000 people came to Cusco for the festivities, which went on for roughly 15 days.

4. Today, the event attracts nearly 100,000 people every year.

5. June 24 was officially declared as Cusco Day, emphasizing the significance of this celebration for the imperial city.
 

Photography: Avi Multimedios / PROMPERÚ

How to attend Inti Raymi 2024?

The Inti Raymi is the highlight of the Cusco Festivities, put together by the Provincial Municipality with the help of the Municipal Company of Festivities and Tourist Promotion of Cusco (EMUFEC). To attend, it is possible to make reservations through this link.

In the Qorikancha, there will be a grandstand for 300 spectators, while access to the Main Square is free and early arrival is recommended. For the staging at Saqsaywaman, tickets can be purchased for the grandstands, which offer good visibility and comfort.

Do not miss the opportunity to live this unique experience and immerse yourself in the Inka culture through the Inti Raymi.