The Festival of The Sun - Inti Raymi - The Only Peru Guide

24/5/2021 The Festival of the Sun - Inti Raymi - The Only Peru Guide
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The Festival of the Sun – Inti Raymi

Each year on June 24 (the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere) Cusco celebrates the Inca Festival of
the Sun – Inti Raymi. Created by Inca Pachacutec, Inti Raymi was a tribute to the venerated Sun God Inti.
Nowadays, the festival draws thousands of local and international visitors to the ancient Inca capital – Cusco –
to celebrate one of the most important events of the calendar year.
Peru’s Covid-19 cases drop to record lows!

Remember, when traveling around Peru, Peru Hop is the only company offering flexible date changes
until 2024 at NO extra cost. No airline, bus company or tour company offers such flexibility, on top of
our stringent covid-19 protocols and safety procedures.
During Inca Times

During Inca times, approximately 25,000 people would gather in Cusco to celebrate the festival of Inti Raymi.
The Sapa Inca, nobles, priests and headmen of the Inca Empire would gather in Haukaypata to a witness a
parade of cloth wrapped ancestral mummies that were brought from nearby temples and shrines. As many as
200 hundred llamas would be sacrificed during the festivities and the Haukaypata ran with sacred blood and
plentiful chicha (the Inca beer). The festivities took place from dawn to dusk. There were special dances and
coca leaves were read and burnt in great quantities. Inti Raymi was the greatest Inca festival of the year and
everyone who attended became drunk with spiritual communion.
Inti Raymi Today

The modern day re-enactment of Inti Raymi still retains all of its majestic glory, albeit without the procession of
ancient mummies and just 1 animal sacrifice at the culmination of the day’s celebrations. The celebrations
start in the morning on the large open cancha at the front of the Inca Temple of the Sun – Korikancha. With the
arrival of representatives from the four suyos of the Inca Empire (Qollasuyu, Kuntisuyu, Antisuyu y
Chinchaysuyu), the Sapa Inca opens the festivities with invoking praise to the sun god – Inti. From Korokancha
the royal entourage continues the short distance to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas. A ceremonial reading of the
sacred coca leaf then takes place to foresee the fate of the Inca Empire for the up-coming year. The ancient
Inca archaeological site of Saqsayhuman is where the final part of the re-enactment is played out. Thousands
of local spectators crowed the surrounding hills for a glimpse of the ceremony, whilst premium grandstand
seats are available in the main arena of Saqsayhuman. Dressed in full costume, the Inca delivers his final
words in Quechua before a ritual sacrifice of a llama. The festival finishes as the air fills with the sound of
horns, panpipes and beating drums.
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Watching Inti Raymi

At Korikancha
There is no official seating for viewing the festivities at Korikancha, only public standing room. The festivities
take place in the gardens outside of Korikancha which is located along one of Cusco’s principle roads –
Avenida El Sol. Locals arrive early (early hours of the morning) to the best viewing spots.
In Plaza de Armas
Nearly all of Plaza de Armas is cordoned off for the festivities, with just space in the colonial arcades around
the outside of the plaza available for public viewing. Due to the limited viewing areas in the plaza, on looking
spectators can often form crowds of 4 or 5 people deep to catch a glimpse of the action. The best vantage
points are found on second floor balconies in the many bars, cafes and restaurants surrounding the plaza. If
you plan to view Inti Raymi from a balcony, make sure that you contact the bar owner a few days before to
guarantee your spot.
At Saqsayhuman
Many local Peruvians who cannot afford the high prices of the grandstand seating within the grounds of
Saqsayhuman choose to watch Inti Raymi from two hills that overlook the festivities. One is located within the
park of Saqsayhuman and the other is adjacent just outside the park perimeter. Although the main ruins of
Saqsayhuman are closed to visitors during the day of Inti Raymi, general entrance to the surrounding hills
(within the park) are free to all foreign and local visitors. Be warned that both hills get very crowed from early in
the morning, many hours before the festivities take place. Go prepared with something to sit on, plenty of food,
liquid refreshment and sun protection. Arrive at as early as 8am to get the best viewing spots.
Grandstand seating within the arena of Saqsayhuman is the best option to watch Inti Raymi. These seats are
premium seats and are sold on a first come first served basis. There are two price bands for Inti Raymi Tickets:
Orange and Blue seating (the best) which costs US$ 140 per adult* and the slightly cheaper Green seating
which costs US$ 100 per adult*, a 50 % reduction applies for children under 12 years old. For the best and
most informative experience it is always best to go with a guided or as part of an organised tour group.
*Prices are based on 2014 published rates.

Getting Around During Inti Raymi

On June 24, the entire centre of Cusco is closed to regular traffic including local buses and taxis. Only
approved tourist vehicles are allowed to transport tourists from Cusco to Saqsayhuman. If you are attending
Saqsayhuman independently, then you can expect to walk to Saqsayhuman from Cusco, which takes
approximately 1 hour with the increased crowds and street vendors you’ll encounter along the way.
Streets that are closed include: Avenida el Sol, Plaza de Armas, Calle Plateros, Calle Sapi and Calle Don
Bosco (the road that leads from Cusco to Saqsayhuman). Other peripheral approach roads to the centre may
also be closed.
THE ONLY PERU GUIDE TRAVELING TIP: Peru Hop buses are the best and safest way to get to and
from Cusco, home of Machu Picchu.
Other Festivals in Peru

Peru is also home to several other festivals such as Fiesta de la Candelaria in Puno, Festival Internacional de
la Vendimia held in Ica and Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen held just outside Cusco. If you’re interested in
experiencing a few different elements of Peruvian culture rather than simply seeing Lima and Cusco, we
recommend you take a bus rather than flying straight. There are some fascinating, unexplored destinations that
you can visit to experience authentic Peruvian culture. For this, we strongly suggest taking Peru Hop‘s route
along the coast. This route also ascends gradually which will give you some important time to acclimatise to
the thinner air and help prevent altitude sickness in Cusco. For the majority of travellers, especially those who
take time to acclimatize, the effects of altitude will be limited to some shortness of breath and a mild headache.
However, should any of these conditions become worse or fail to diminish after a few hours, it can be a very
serious even life threatening issue, and should not be treated lightly. Some additional planning should be made
to ensure you protect your health.
Photos
Inti Raymi – Cusco Inti Raymi – Cusco Inti Raymi – Saqsayhuman Inti Raymi – Saqsayhuman
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Peru Hop is the only company offering flexible date change until
2024 at NO extra cost.
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24/5/2021 The Festival of the Sun - Inti Raymi - The Only Peru Guide

The Festival of the Sun – Inti Raymi

Peru’s Covid-19 cases drop to record lows!

During Inca Times

Inti Raymi Today

Watching Inti Raymi

*Prices are based on 2014 published rates.

Getting Around During Inti Raymi

Other Festivals in Peru

Peru is officially open!

YOU MAY LIKE

Lima to Machu Picchu – Agencies DON’T want you to read this!

Machu Picchu Tickets – All You Need To Know!

What NOT to do when visiting Rainbow Mountain

#1 Rated Day Trips From Lima To Unforgettable Destinations

Peru – How to Avoid Being a Typical Tourist

Why Bus Travel in Peru is beating Air Travel!

About the Only Peru Guide

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