On June 24th each year, Cusco City’s people and visitors gather to see the reenactment of the Inti Raymi, a major Inca festival. It is a remembrance of the Inca empire ritual, which takes place at the Koricancha temple, then at the Main Square (Plaza de Armas) and finally at the mighty Sacsayhuaman fortress.
What is the Inti Raymi Inca Festival?
Inca religion was based on a worship of nature and the Sun was the main god. They firmly believed that all nature had a spiritual energy which needed reverence, so a series of rituals were developed. The Inti Raymi was perhaps the most important Inca festival back in the day, which celebrated the Winter solstice in this part of the world, when the Sun is at its lowest, closest to the Earth at noon. On our current calendar, the ritual is conducted every June 24th. All Inca people in Cusco City gathered, the royalty and priests carried on the liturgy and many offerings were made to the Sun: llamas’ flesh and blood, coca leaves and chicha (typical Inca brew). The mummies of the previous emperors were also taken in solemn procession. For more information about their spirituality, read the article regarding the Chakana or Inca Cross.
The Inti Raymi Inca Festival Nowadays
First, there is a morning gathering at the beautiful, large garden of the Koricancha temple in Cusco City downtown, the most important religious place of the old empire, literally like the Vatican for the Catholics, where local actors wonderfully recreate the Inca court and the dignataries who traveled to Cusco. The Inca emperor himself commands gratitude and reverence to the Sun god (Inti in Quechua, their official language), protector of the empire, giver of light, warmth and life to all.
Second, from the Koricancha’s garden everybody except the emperor, who is carried on his throne, takes a very short walk to the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), where in Inca times stood the royal palace. There the ritual continues. A very typical part is the reading of coca leaves, for the Incas believed that they could make vegetal connection to the spiritual world, thus there were priests specialized in telling the future according to the leaves thrown many times. The priests then conducted a reading to find about the prosperity of the empire.
Third and finally, the Inti Raymi continues at the massive Sacsayhuaman fortress, just outside north of Cusco City. The Inca emperor leads over all the colorful ceremonies and dances, then addresses the crowd before the ritual sacrifice of a white llama, whose flesh and blood are given in offering to the Sun God and also to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) thus assuring a time of abundant crops, because the Inti Raymi, although on June 24th for us, actually marked the first day of the year for the Incas.
Of course nowadays the ritual sacrifice of the llama is only a show, no animal is harmed at all, but the actors really bring back the grand, mighty, solemn atmosphere of the Inca festival. And lastly, as it was in the old days, the Inti Raymi gets to a close with festive music played by a typical Andean band, on a procession down to Cusco City.
Don’t forget to bring a cap or a hat, sunglasses, sunblock and bottled water because the event is on open air. And of course bring your camera for amazing pictures! Currently, the Inca Festival of the Inti Raymi is conducted on three stages.
Why You Should See the Inti Raymi with TOUR IN PERU
We will provide all guidance and support for your top Inti Raymi experience. Our professional guides have enough experience to get our customers the best positions to enjoy the Inca festival at any of the three venues, we provide the best native translators because all the celebration is spoken in Quechua, you will also need expert tour staff to explain the complex meanings of this ceremony. You can also take the chance to expand your good times here in Peru by booking a Machu Picchu tour or one of our top Inca Trails.
TOUR IN PERU is a completely certified, licensed and awarded travel agency with more than 8 years leading tourism in Cusco and Peru’s premier destinations, with a top-quality service which combines professionalism, expertise, care for our customers and the most convenient, affordable prices.
Have the best Inti Raymi with TOUR IN PERU on this June 24th! Talk to our travel experts for booking your amazing time at the millenary Inca festival!
