The Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun, is the most important celebration in the Inca Empire, dedicated to the Sun God "Inti" and celebrated every June 24th in the city of Cusco, Peru. The festivities traditionally include dances, music, feasting, and animal sacrifices as expressions of gratitude, seeking a bountiful harvest and blessings for the upcoming year.
Today, it brings together thousands of people and over 800 participants, including actors, dancers, and musicians dressed in traditional attire. They take part in dances, performances, and praises held outside the Qorikancha temple, the Main Square of the city, and finally in the Archaeological Park of Saqsayhuamán.
The ceremony of INTI RAYMI has three stages in three different places:
| Saqsayhuaman, Green Zone + Qoricancha | SOLD OUT |
| Saqsayhuaman, Red Zone + Qoricancha | SOLD OUT |
| Saqsayhuaman, Orange Zone + Qoricancha | SOLD OUT |
| Saqsayhuaman, Green Zone | 99 spaces |
| Saqsayhuaman, Red Zone | SOLD OUT |
| Saqsayhuaman, Orange Zone | SOLD OUT |
08:00 a.m.
We’ll pick you up directly from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the starting point of your visit.
The Inti Raymi ceremony begins at the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun, in Cusco at approximately 8:00 a.m. There, the Inca, accompanied by royalty and La Qoya, bows to the Sun God, Inti.
He invokes the mighty sun and seeks success in the ceremony. "Oh, sun god, our father, powerful sun of eternal happiness, warm source and principle of life. From this sacred dwelling in Cusco, where you reside with the Moon, the Lightning, and the Thunder, your children from the Empire of the Four Regions humbly greet you on your jubilee day." This marks the beginning of the Inti Raymi, a ceremony that celebrates life and fertility, and is one of the most important in Inca culture.
If you purchased a ticket for Qoricancha, you'll have access to a VIP seat directly in front of the site. Otherwise, we’ll have designated areas for you around the ceremony.
10:00 a.m.
At the conclusion of the Inti Raymi initiation ceremony at the Qoricancha, the Inca, his royal entourage, and the Imperial Army embark on a solemn procession through ancient Inca streets, including Loreto Street, leading them to the Plaza de Armas or main square of Cusco, specifically to Aucaypata.
In this location, the Ñustas, Aqllas (chosen women), and the entire imperial army are already present, positioning themselves in the Plaza de Armas to await the arrival of the Inca. In this setting, the Inca, as the supreme ruler of the empire, performs the Coca ceremony, invoking the Apus through it to grant them protection and guidance.
In this second stage, our guide will provide options to enhance your experience:
13:45 hours
After concluding the Coca ceremony at Aucaypata Plaza, the cast proceeds to the impressive esplanade of the Sacsayhuamán archaeological park (3 km from Cusco). There, a crowd of approximately 80,000 people, including 3,500 tourists who have purchased tickets for the stands set up on the esplanade, eagerly await the start of the central ceremony of Inti Raymi.
The central staging of Inti Raymi takes place on the main esplanade of Sacsaywaman. There are grandstands that can accommodate about 3,906 people. All seats are very comfortable for the spectators. The VIP area consists of three grandstands (orange, red, and green) that offer a better view of the ceremony.
Here, the Inca, accompanied by the Coya, priests, warriors, and Incan nobility, performs rituals and offerings to honor the Sun. The ceremony highlights traditional dances, Quechua chants, and the symbolic sacrifice of a llama, representing renewal and a plea for prosperity for the people.
The majestic setting of Sacsayhuamán, with its massive stone structures and connection to the heavens, enhances the sacred atmosphere of Inti Raymi. This event blends history, art, and spirituality, creating a unique experience for locals and visitors from around the world. The ceremony not only commemorates the grandeur of the Tahuantinsuyo empire but also preserves and celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Andes.
After the most special event at the Sacsayhuamán Fortress, located just 3 km from Cusco, we will board a bus to return to the historic center of Cusco, where the tour will conclude.
Note: To send you all the information about how to book please email us and we will respond as soon as possible by sending all the necessary information and / or answering your concerns.
EMUFEC provides essential services for attending the Inti Raymi, including comfortable spectator seating, hygienic mobile bathrooms, first aid stations, and police security, ensuring you can enjoy this Inca ceremony safely and comfortably.
At the conclusion of the main event in Sacsayhuamán, we will gather and board the transport to take you back to your respective hotels. Alternatively, you may choose to be dropped off at the Plaza de Armas. Due to heavy traffic on this day, some visitors with accommodations near the plaza may prefer to walk downhill for approximately 15 minutes to reach their destination.
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Haley R
June 13, 2025
Henrry was a thoughtful and passionate guide! He had so much to share about local history, geography, ecology and culture! He was able to include out kids (ages 11 and 13) in engaging ways. It is evident he is passionate about his work. He also did a great job of balancing multiple hiking experience levels on our group hike.
Elvia A
June 13, 2025
Inka trail was an absolute unforgettable experience. I can say it was tough, but with Henry’s help it was a huge success! Thank you for having guides like him. People I can count on♥️. I would. Definitely recommend you guys with their own experience they want to accomplish!
Eric R
June 13, 2025
Our guide Henry provided us with an excellent time hiking the Inca Trail. He was super knowledgeable about all of the sites that we visited along the trail. Henry did a great job of interacting and encouraging our 13 and 11 year old along the hike. On the next day of our tour, Henry led us through Machu Pichu to explain in great depth the history and different aspects of the site. We had a really great experience and would recommend this tour company and especially our guide Henry to other families. Henry went above and beyond and created a short video slide show for us of the trek as a special treat for our family. Please note the hike was in total about 12 kilometers and had a lot of stairs, so it was a strenuous hike, but so worth it once we reached the Sun Gate and looked down upon Machu Pichu!
EMc
June 11, 2025
Der Reiseleiter hat die verschiedene Sehenswürdigkeiten sehr gut erklärt und die tolle Aussichten haben sich die beschwerliche Aufstieg mehr als bezahlt gemacht. Obwohl man Macchu Picchu in zahlreichen Videos und Berichte gesehen hat, muss man diesen Ort wirklich selber erleben.
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