{"id":5285,"date":"2020-07-16T18:51:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T23:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/?p=5285"},"modified":"2026-05-11T15:53:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T20:53:31","slug":"inti-raymi-festival-of-the-sun-in-cusco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/inti-raymi-festival-of-the-sun-in-cusco","title":{"rendered":"Inti Raymi, festival of the Sun in Cusco"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">June 24 is an important date for all people in Cusco. We are proud of our city and we said Haylli Qosqo loudly. We have so much to be thankful for. Cusco has seen us being born and growing up. On this special date, we commemorate our history, culture, and tradition that has survived over time. Every year on the Day of Cusco, the most popular festival of the world, <\/span><b>\u201cInti Raymi\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or \u201cfestival of the Sun\u201d, takes place. The festival gathers people worldwide who are fascinated by the journey back to the Incas period.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Join us on this historical circuit of Inti Raymi festival on Cusco\u2019s day!<\/b><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_3911\" style=\"width: 875px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3911\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3911\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/inti-raymi2018-luz-incappuino.webp\" alt=\"Fiesta del Inti Raymi - 2018 Forograf\u00eda: Luz Incappui\u00f1o\" width=\"865\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3911\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><b><i>Inti Raymi FestIval \u2013 2018 \u00a0 \u00a0 Photograph by: Luz Incappui\u00f1o<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is our great pleasure to share this important day for Cusco. Each one of us who had the opportunity to come to this magical city would agree that every compliment that honors <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/cusco-one-of-50-most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is well deserved.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3505230926454944\" data-ad-slot=\"3247790964\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/h4>\n<h2><b>Inti Raymi Festival:<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Inti Raymi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was formerly known as <\/span><b>\u201cWawa Inti Raymi\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during the Incas time. It used to take place in the main square of Cusco, Plaza de Armas or Huacaypata. Most\u00a0 of the important figures of the time attend the event. According to reliable resources of the history of <\/span><b>Cusco<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, some rituals were performed by all people of the Inca Empire. The ancient rituals included:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three days of purification and fasting by the Sapa Inca and the Curacas \u2013 the ruler and the principal governors of Cusco. Only water, uncooked corn and chucam were eaten.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children under ten years old were brought from the four Suyus and were sacrificed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Couples weren\u2019t allowed to sleep together.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acllas prepared the corn bread.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Inti Raymi Main Day<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the main day of the Sun celebration, people would gather at the Huacaypata. They took off their shoes and faced towards the rising sun. As the sun rose higher in the sky, they would crouch and blow kisses in a sign of respect and raise two golden cups filled with offerings. Then they headed to Qoricancha to offer sacrifices of llamas, and sometimes children, to ensure good harvest as the empire looked toward a new season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After that, they returned to Plaza de Armas or Huacaypata to perform rituals for the fire. Sapa Inca would step on a stage in front of the crowd and drink \u201cchicha de jora\u201d, a maize based drink, in honor of Inti.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last Inti Raymi with the Inca Emperor&#8217;s presence was carried out in 1535. After this, the Spanish colonists and their Catholic priests banned the ceremony and other Inca religious practices. However, it was in 1944 that Faustino Espinoza Navarro, a Quechua writer, actor and director, revived the celebration in Cusco as part of an effort to restore the pride and identity of the Quechua people. Navarro himself portrayed the Sapa Inca for twelve years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cusco becomes the center of all tourist attractions because thousands of tourists travel to this city to witness the Inti Raymi celebration which is one of the best cultural experiences in this mystical city.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5033\" style=\"width: 875px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5033\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5033\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/inti-raymi-plaza-de-armas.webp\" alt=\"Fiestas del Inti Raymi-2018 Cr\u00e9ditos: Luz Incappui\u00f1o Martinez\" width=\"865\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5033\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><b><i>Inti Raymi-2018 Credits: Luz Incappui\u00f1o Martinez<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><b>Where does Inti Raymi take place nowadays?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three points where this ceremony will is held:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Qoricancha:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inti Raymi starts in Qoricancha esplanade on\u00a0 El Sol Av. at approximately 9:00 am. Here the first rituals are performed. They include coca, llama, alpaca offerings. This first part of the staging lasts 45 minutes. You can enjoy the performance for free. At the end of this first step, the Inca in the company of the Qolla and its army head to the main square of Cusco.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3505230926454944\" data-ad-slot=\"3247790964\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/h4>\n<h2><b>Plaza Mayor of Cusco:<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Inca and Qolla arrive in Plaza de Armas carried on a throne by 8 servants. This part is very important since members of the army from the four regions of the Inca empire known as Tawantinsuyu. An interesting aspect of the event is that the Inca and the major of the city exchange the \u201cQuipu\u201d as a symbol of power, leadership and support of the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People can attend the event that lasts 1 hour approx, then they have to head to Sacsayhuaman esplanade where the main festival is performed<\/span>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5141\" style=\"width: 875px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5141\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5141\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/iNCA.webp\" alt=\"Fiesta del Inti Raymi Cr\u00e9ditos: Luz Incappui\u00f1o Martinez\" width=\"865\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5141\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><b><i>Inti Raymi Credits: Luz Incappui\u00f1o Martinez<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><b>Saqsayhuaman esplanade:<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here the main activity takes place. We will be able to observe elaborate rituals and a symbolic sacrifice that are played out to call back the sun on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Each Suyo offers a dance in honor of Tayta Inti and all deities to thank them for their generosity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The performance on stage lasts 2 hours approx. To attend the event in Saqsayhuaman esplanade you need to show your tickets.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5142\" style=\"width: 875px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5142\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5142\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/saq.jpg\" alt=\"Fiesta del Sol en la explanada de Saqsayhuam\u00e1n Cr\u00e9citos: Luz Incappui\u00f1o Martinez\" width=\"865\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/saq.jpg 865w, https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/saq-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/saq-768x355.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/saq-600x277.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/saq-560x259.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5142\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><b><i>Saqsayhuaman esplanade &#8211; Sun Festival\u00a0 \u00a0 Credits: Luz Incappui\u00f1o Martinez<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><b>Where can I buy the tickets?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Tickets for Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco you can purchase on different ways, but the best way is through an authorized travel agency because \u201cEMUFEC\u201d enabled an online shopping platform that only allows to buy face-to-face or through banking institutions premises within the territory of Peru.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, the best seats or locations are purchased by the authorized travel agencies in Cusco.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3505230926454944\" data-ad-slot=\"3247790964\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/h4>\n<h3><b>Distribution of seats:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three sections in Chiquipampa esplanade in Sacsayhuaman:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Center stage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And two side stages.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Entrance fee:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cost of the ticket includes the guided tour, meals and transportation. Prices vary from 180 USD to 240 USD per person.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Note:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Children under 12 years old have a special discount.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>When does Inti Raymi take place?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inti Raymi is celebrated every year on June 24, the same day of\u00a0 farmer\u2019s day. It is worth to mention that June is also called Jubilee month in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/cusco-one-of-50-most-beautiful-cities-in-the-world\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other important events are also commemorated like <\/span><b>Corpus Christi day.<\/b><\/p>\n<h3><b>Do I need to have tickets to attend the event in Qoricancha and Plaza de Armas of Cusco?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, the performance in Qoricancha and Plaza de armas of Cusco is free. Therefore, we recommend taking the proper precautions to be located in a good and safe area.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that you only need to buy the tickets to attend the event in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/sacsayhuaman-fortress\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Saqsayhuaman<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Tips to attend the event:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring your passport with you all the time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always look after your belongings. Since many people attend the event, it won\u2019t be possible to find your things if you lose them.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wear a hat and sunscreen to prevent from sun damage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drink water to keep hydrated. Dry season is sunny in Cusco.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acclimatize to the altitude arriving 2 or 3 days before enrolling in any activity that is physically challenging.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t forget to make space in your camera memory to take as many pictures as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buy some snacks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pack light clothes for the day and warm clothes for cold nights.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We recommend wearing your new shoes before hiking in the Mountains. This way when you wear them for hikes, your feet won\u2019t get hurt.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children can attend the event under an adult supervision.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take some cash to prevent from any trouble.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2610\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/inkayni-1.png\" alt=\"Inkayni\" width=\"254\" height=\"99\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>June 24 is an important date for all people in Cusco. We are proud of our city and we said Haylli Qosqo loudly. We have so much to be thankful for. Cusco has seen us being born and growing up. On this special date, we commemorate our history, culture, and tradition that has survived over [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5142,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[1576],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[624],"class_list":["post-5285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-andean-culture","author-adminbloginkayni-en"],"acf":{"ipt_article_eyebrow":"","ipt_article_title_place":"","ipt_article_title_deck":"","ipt_article_hero_image":null,"ipt_article_hero_alt":"","ipt_article_hero_caption":"","ipt_article_quick_title":"","ipt_article_quick_text":"","ipt_article_intro":"","ipt_article_body":"","ipt_article_extra_sections":null,"ipt_article_author_image":null,"ipt_article_author_name":"","ipt_article_author_url":"","ipt_article_author_bio":"","ipt_article_tour_image":null,"ipt_article_tour_title":"","ipt_article_tour_url":null,"ipt_article_newsletter_url":""},"views":5131,"authors":[{"term_id":624,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"adminbloginkayni-en","display_name":"adminbloginkayni","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5285"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8083,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5285\/revisions\/8083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5142"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5285"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=5285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}