Key facts
- Held every June 24 in Cusco since 1944.
- Three venues: Qorikancha, the Plaza de Armas and Sacsayhuamán.
- The grandstands at Sacsayhuamán are paid and sell out months ahead.
- June is the busiest season: book everything in advance.
Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, is held every June 24 in Cusco, during the Andean winter solstice. It was the most important ceremony of the Inca Empire, dedicated to the sun god (Inti). Since 1944 it has been reenacted as a large-scale theatrical performance with hundreds of actors.
The three venues
- Qorikancha, in the morning: the Inca greets the Sun from the former Temple of the Sun.
- Plaza de Armas, the old Huacaypata: the Inca meets the authorities and the people.
- Sacsayhuamán, in the afternoon: the main ceremony, with offerings and the Inca’s speech in Quechua.
How to watch it
- At Qorikancha and the Plaza de Armas, you can watch for free from the street; get there very early.
- At Sacsayhuamán there are paid grandstands with numbered seats, which sell out months in advance.
- You can also watch for free from the hillsides around the esplanade, though without a seat or a full view.
Tips
- Book your hotel, train and Machu Picchu ticket well in advance: it’s the busiest week of the year.
- All of June is a festival month, with parades in the Plaza de Armas almost every day.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat and warm layers: the day is sunny, but it gets cold at sunset.
