Inti Raymi - Festival of the Sun

Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, is the most important ceremony of the Inca calendar. First celebrated during the reign of the Inca Pachacútec in the 15th century, the ritual honours Inti - the sun god - at the winter solstice, the shortest day of the southern hemisphere year. Spanish colonial authorities banned the ceremony in 1572, but it was reconstructed and revived in 1944 using historical accounts and Quechua oral tradition. Today it draws around 100,000 spectators and is consistently cited as one of the largest theatrical events in South America.

What happens on 24 June

The ceremony unfolds across three sites throughout the day. It begins at Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun in central Cusco, where the Sapa Inca - played by a local actor selected months in advance through auditions - performs the first ritual at around 9 am. The procession then moves to the Plaza de Armas for a second ceremony, before the entire cast travels up to the fortress of Sacsayhuamán on the hill above the city for the main performance, which begins around midday and runs for roughly two hours.

The centrepiece is a dramatic re-enactment of the solar offering. Actors in elaborate period costumes representing the Inca court, regional leaders, and priestly orders perform in Quechua. A llama is symbolically “sacrificed” - no animals are harmed in the modern version - and offerings of chicha (corn beer) are poured toward the sun. The energy at Sacsayhuamán is extraordinary: tens of thousands of people crowd the hillside terraces and surrounding grass slopes surrounding the fortress’s massive stone walls.

Tickets and access

Paid grandstand seats for the Sacsayhuamán performance can be purchased through the Cusco municipality’s official channels or authorised agents. Prices typically range from approximately USD 30 to USD 80 per person depending on the seating tier, as of 2026 - verify current prices before booking. The Qorikancha and Plaza de Armas ceremonies are free to watch from public space, though both areas fill up fast.

Book tickets at least one to two months ahead if you want reserved seating. The event falls during Cusco’s highest-demand week, and accommodation rates in the city double or triple in the days around 24 June.

Practical tips

• Cusco sits at 3,400 metres. Arrive at least two days early to acclimatise before the event, which involves standing for several hours at altitude.
• Dress warmly. June is dry season in Cusco but mornings and evenings are cold - temperatures can drop close to freezing at Sacsayhuamán.
• Bring sun protection. The afternoon sun at altitude is intense even on a cool day.
• The site gets extremely crowded; arrive at Sacsayhuamán by 10 am to secure a good viewing position on the hillside terraces if you do not have reserved seats.
• Public transport and taxis to Sacsayhuamán are overwhelmed on the day. Walking up from the Plaza de Armas takes around 30 minutes and is often faster than waiting for a vehicle.
• The week around Inti Raymi also includes Cusco Week, with concerts, parades, and free cultural events throughout the city.