INTI RAYMI DAY TOUR

It’s a trip where you’ll participate from the most important Inca festival known as the Inti Raymi or the festival of the SUN celebrated on June 24th of every year. During this tour a professional local guide will explain and will interpret the speech of the Inca; who is the most important person of the ceremony. For this tour we organize all transportation, entrance to the festival in the orange zone (It is the best) at “Sacsayhuaman”, your lunch and a professional Tour guide from the beginning until the end of the Festival.

In the main square there are NOT seats since the festival is open for everybody, so that it is very important to be there early and have the best space from where you can see the Inti Raymi. But in the esplanade of “Sacsayhuaman”, the festival is with reserved seats; which we need to reserve in advance, because they are sold out very fast

The central and the most important stage of the Inti Raymi takes place in the main sacred square of Saqsaywaman, the Inca fortress. For this day are installed seats that can accommodate around 3,906 people. All seats are very comfortable for spectators. The VIP area is made up of these 3 stands (orange, blue and green) which offer a better view of the ceremony.

Our tour starts at 8:00 am; you will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco, then we will go to the first scene of the ceremony. The INTI RAYMI ceremony has three different scenes in three different locations. It begins at the Qoricancha (Temple of the sun of the Incas) located at two blocks from the main square, then we head to the main square or the “Plaza del Armas”, where the second ceremony will be held. Finally, it ends in the most special scene of Sacsayhuaman (3 km from Cusco) where we will go by bus. After all you’ll be drop-off in your hotel.

The Inti Raymi is the main Inca festival celebrated in the city of Cusco in Peru; it is celebrated near the every winter solstice or during the shortest day of the year; on this day the Incas made sacrifice of the llama and offer especial things to the SUN God. The Incas were considered natural children of the SUN; to obey his existence they should correspond with sacrifices and spetial offerings.

The Inca festival of Inti Raymi is celebrated currently every June 24th as the most solemn and grandiose celebration of the late Inca Empire. The  main stage of the Inti Raymi is the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, located at 3 km to the north of the city of Cusco.

According to the chronicler “Inca Garcilaso de la Vega”, Sacsayhuaman is “the largest and most magnificent work that the Incas ordered the construction to show their power and majesty.” The Inca Emperor Pachacutec ordered the construction of the Qoricancha, a magnificent temple to revere the Sun God to whom the Incas called it “Apu Punchao or Apu Inti”, in whose honor was consecrated for the festival of Inti Raymi, which reaches contours of solemnity and splendor, as the most important chroniclers described. The “Inti Raymi” Festival is one of the grandest of Incas festivals and attracts the largest audience.

Featuring dances performed by trained people and laymen in amazing masks and costumes; The Inti Raymi day tour is one of the best ways to experience the ancient living culture of the Incas. This festival also provides a great opportunity to witness locals gathered in their finest stile in a celebration of their culture and faith.

The Inti Raymi festival of 24th of June has three different sceneries and we recommended go early to have the best locations at “Qoricancha” and the Main square.

1.- The “QORIKANCHA”.- It was the temple of then Sun of the Incas, which was covered with gold and silver in the time of the Incas. Here the ceremony begins at 9:00am; the duration time of the ceremony is 45 minutes.

2.- The “HAUHAYPATA” or the main square.- In the time of the Incas the main square was bigger than now and in the middle there was a beautiful “Usno”( ceremonial platform)  where the Incas celebrated the important festivities like the SUN feast or the Inti Raymi. Here the celebration begins at 11.00am and the duration time is one hour.

3.- SAQSAYWAMAN.- A very nice Inca temple located at 3 kms from the city of Cusco; here is the most important celebration of the Inti Raymi, here the local government prepared a numerated seats. “Sacsaywaman”  is a “Quechua” name which translated into Spanish means “falcon, satiate”. Here the ceremony begins at 13:30pm and the duration time is 1:45 hours.

The representation of the Incas during the festival, is one of Pachacutec  Inca in whom the Sun God (Inti) reveals his might and strength. The armies come from the four quarters (Suyos) of Tahuantinsuyo (the Inca Empire) and there are different ceremonies for the fire, the sacred coca leaf, and the  chicha, a drink made of corn.

The Inti Raymi is a Quechua word meaning “Fiesta del Sol or the Sun Fest”. Every winter solstice (between June 20 and 23) the Inca performed especial ritual in honor to the SUN, the most important divinity in the “Tahuantinsuyo” considered being the father of the INCA.

The Inti Raymi is celebrated on the 24th of June of every year; the celebration is performed with great enthusiasm and very colorful between dances and songs. Its celebration includes dances, performances, typical costumes and a series of activities ideal for tourism.

The Inti Raymi is celebrated in the city of Cusco in Peru; for this great Inca festivity is considered three settings. * The first setting is the “Qoricancha” or the temple of the Sun of the Incas situated at two blocks from the main square. * Second setting is the main square. * The third setting and the most Important is in the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman

The festival of Inti Raymi is very popular and the tickets are sold out very fast so, we recommended you to book several weeks in advance

For inti Raymi in Cusco we offer a lunch “Box lunch” which you’ll have I the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman.; if you are vegetarian or with especial diet please let us to know.

We’ll require a pre-payment of the 40% of the tour which you can made online with a credit or debit card: Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, etc. The remaining balance you’ll pay once you arrive in Cusco the night before the tour when our staff will meet you in your hotel for the briefing. The payment should be in cash: Peruvian soles or US dollars.

The shared service tour is made up of a maximum of 20 tourists per group. Generally, the number of tourists is from 10 to 15 visitors. You also can request in a private service but it will cost you more, because all expenses will be shared just in the number of the integrands of the group.

The weather in Cusco in June is sunny, with little chance of rain. It is recommended to wear a hat, hat and sunscreen.

The best zone for the Inti Raymi is the ORANGE zone doe to its location, the proximity and the sunshine is not straight to your face.