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Experience the wonder of Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, held on June 24 in the stunning city of Cusco. This traditional Andean feast celebrated the Sun and the Earth (Pachamama). It was once the most important festival of the Inca Empire, drawing thousands of people from all over the Andes. Today, visitors from all over the world witness the ceremony’s historical reenactment.
Learn about the origins of this fascinating festival, which was instituted by the ninth Inca ruler, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, over 500 years ago. Discover how the ceremony was celebrated in the center of Cusco city, the heart of the Inca Empire, and how offerings were made to Mother Earth or Pachamama. While the ceremony was banned with the arrival of the Spanish and the Catholic Church, it was revived in the mid-twentieth century as a historical reenactment.
Get ready to be swept away by the theatrical spectacle of Inti Raymi, brought to life by Cusco writer and actor Faustino Espinoza Navarro. Based on the chronicles of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the reenactment has grown into a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors worldwide. The procession begins in the Golden Temple, Coricancha/Qorikancha, and continues through the streets of Cusco to the Inca fortress Sacsayhuaman.
While there is no cost to follow the procession, tour agencies offer ticketed balconies and spaces along the route and in the main plaza for tourists who want an ensured spot. Discover the different ticket options for the two parts of the event, which occur in historic Cusco areas.
Cover photo: McKay Savage/Flickr