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Inti Raymi – The Sun Festival Jun 24

Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival Jun 24, Cusco, PERU
Not Rated

Duration

1 Day

Cancellation

No Cancellation

Group Size

12 people

Languages

English, Espanol, Português

Overview

Inti Raymi – The Sun Festival
Jun 24

The Sun Festival: The most important festivity of the Inca empire is repeated every year on June 24th. For a culture that based its religious system on worship of the sun, this festivity was a major occasion.

The event follows the June 21st winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, and the ceremony calls upon the sun to return, with the people of Cusco celebrating with music, dancing, and actors playing the roles of the Inca and his royal entourage, in a lavish recreation of the Inca festivities.

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.

Grandstand Seating to Inti Raymi

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$ 160 per adult* and the slightly cheaper Green seating which costs US$ 120 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 2022 published rates.

TOUR: Inti Raymi – The Sun Festival Jun 24

8.00 a.m. Pick up from your hotels, then our group scorted by an experienced guide walk for 5 minutes to Koricancha, the main temple of the Sun at Incas times, where the ceremony in honor to the sun begins with amazing leather drums, pututus and flutes music. It is said that Koricancha temple had a golden garden decorated with plants and animals made in silver and gold, here the first ritual and speech of the Sapa Inka will start honoring the Sun and mother nature Pachamama. We will follow and admire a procession of the Inca and her wife carried in litters and his court with priest priestesses, parents and noble Incas toward the famous Huaccaypata, Cusco´s actual main Plaza.. The Sapa Inka and his real priestesses and guards enter by the street Intikijllu this takes approx 1 hour. Then the group with your guide are transfered in a private transport to the Sacsayhuaman Esplanade.

At13:00 p.m. The main Inca ceremony will continue in a prepared stage in the middle of the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman a famous Inca site. The presentation is approx 90 minutes where the the Sapa Inka will give a speach in the ancestral Inca´s language, Quechua ; Rituals and offering of chicha, a corn beer and a ceremony of the new fire celebrated by the Inca priest, afterward an Inca priest will predict the future of the Andean Tawantinsuyo people.

16:15 p.m., Return to Cusco and transfer to the hotels.

PRICE :US$ 199.00 per person Zone “Orange” and “Blue”
PRICE :US$ 180.00 per person Zone “Green”
(Please once you are booking online write on Notes your preference of Zone.)

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HIGHLIGHTS

  • Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival
  • Ceremonial Initiation
  • Report the 4 Regions: Qollasuyu, Kuntisuyu, Antisuyu and Chinchaysuyu.
  • Ritual of the sacred Chicha a corn drink
  • Ritual of the Holy Fire
  • Sacrifice of the llama (Andean cameloid) and auguries.
  • Rite of Sankhu (holy bread)
  • Q'ochurikuy ( Dances and music )

What you will do

Expand All
1 Day: Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival Jun 24

8.00 a.m. Pick up from your hotels, then our group scorted by an experienced guide walk for 5 minutes to Koricancha, the main temple of the Sun at Incas times, where the ceremony in honor to the sun begins with amazing leather drums, pututus and flutes music. It is said that Koricancha temple had a golden garden decorated with plants and animals made in silver and gold, here the first ritual and speech of the Sapa Inka will start honoring the Sun and mother nature Pachamama. We will follow and admire a procession of the Inca and her wife carried in litters and his court with priest priestesses, parents and noble Incas toward the famous Huaccaypata, Cusco´s actual main Plaza.. The Sapa Inka and his real priestesses and guards enter by the street Intikijllu this takes approx 1 hour. Then the group with your guide are transfered in a private transport to the Sacsayhuaman Esplanade.

At13:00 p.m. The main Inca ceremony will continue in a prepared stage in the middle of the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman a famous Inca site. The presentation is approx 90 minutes where the the Sapa Inka will give a speach in the ancestral Inca´s language, Quechua ; Rituals and offering of chicha, a corn beer and a ceremony of the new fire celebrated by the Inca priest, afterward an Inca priest will predict the future of the Andean Tawantinsuyo people.

16:15 p.m., Return to Cusco and transfer to the hotels.

Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival Jun 24: Watching 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.

Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival Jun 24: 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.

Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival Jun 24: 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.

Important Note: Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival Jun 24

While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes to : Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival Jun 24 1 Day tour Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.

We recommend that you bring: Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival Jun 24

Original passport
Original ISIC student card if applicable
A small day pack with water to drink
Comfortable shoes or runners
Camera and rain jacket or poncho
A fleece or jacket, basic toiletries
Hat for the sun , sunscream, insect repelent for mosquitoes
Some extra money for lunch, snacks and souvenirs
Extra money for drinks and tips, souvenirs
Toiletries / toilet paper / small towel
Optional: Personal medical kit. Disinfectant, aspirin, stomach tablets, medicine to avoid altitude sickness, etc

Included/Excluded

  • Pick up from your hotels
  • Ceremonies at Qoricancha and Auqaypata.
  • Admission fee (with reserved seat in Saqsawaman)
  • Private Transport in and return
  • Experienced Tour Guide in English
  • Packed lunch (Vegetarian meals by request)
  • Ceremony brochure and DVD.
  • Additional Services
  • Insurance
  • Drink
  • Dinner
  • Tips

Languages

English
Espanol
Português

Activity's Location

Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival Jun 24, Cusco, PERU

FAQs

Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival:
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.
CEREMONY SCHEDULE:
- 9:00 hrs Qorikancha: Home of the staging. Duration 30 minutes.
- 11:00 hrs. Auqaypata (Square): The lnka and her royal retinue, enter the street K'ijllu Inti. Duration 45 minutes.
- 13:30 hrs. Main ceremony. 90 minutes.
ACTS,CEREMONIES AND RITUALS:
• Ceremonial Initiation
• Report the 4 Regions: Qollasuyu, Kuntisuyu, Antisuyu and Chinchaysuyu.
• Ritual of the sacred Chicha a corn drink
• Ritual of the Holy Fire
• Sacrifice of the llama (Andean cameloid) and auguries.
• Rite of Sankhu (holy bread)
• Q'ochurikuy ( Dances and music )
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.
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