Day 1: Inti Raymi 2026
Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco - June 24
The Inti Raymi Festival, also known as the Festival of the Sun, is the most important Inca celebration in Cusco, Peru. Every year on June 24, thousands of visitors gather to witness this spectacular historical reenactment honoring Inti, the Sun God of the Inca Empire.
Scene 1: Qoricancha - The Temple of the Sun (8:00 AM)
Your Inti Raymi tour begins with hotel pickup in Cusco at 8:00 AM. The first ceremony takes place at Qoricancha, the most sacred temple of the Inca Empire, once known as the “Great Enclosure of Gold.”
Here, the Inca greets the Sun and begins the ceremony with traditional rituals, music, and chants in Quechua. This symbolic act represents gratitude to the Sun God for prosperity and harmony in nature.
Scene 2: Plaza de Armas of Cusco (10:00 AM - 11:30 AM)
The celebration continues at the historic Plaza de Armas, where the Inca symbolically meets the people and local authorities of Cusco.
This public reenactment is free to attend and allows visitors to experience the cultural atmosphere of the city during Inti Raymi. You will also have free time before lunch and transfer to the main ceremony site.
Scene 3: Sacsayhuamán - Main Inti Raymi Ceremony (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)
The most important part of the Inti Raymi Festival takes place at Sacsayhuamán, an impressive Inca archaeological complex located above Cusco at 3,555 meters above sea level.
Thousands of spectators gather in grandstands to witness the central ritual, where the Inca, accompanied by the Coya, priests, warriors, and nobles, performs sacred offerings to the Sun.
Traditional dances, ancestral chants, and symbolic rituals recreate the grandeur of the Tahuantinsuyo. This powerful ceremony celebrates Andean identity and preserves the living cultural heritage of Peru.
End of the Inti Raymi Tour
The ceremony concludes around 3:30 PM. Afterward, we transfer you back to Cusco’s historic center. Please note that traffic is heavy on June 24 due to the popularity of the Inti Raymi Festival.
EMUFEC provides official grandstands, security, first aid, and tourist services to ensure a safe and organized experience.
t the most special scene at the Saqsayhuaman Fortress (3 km from Cusco). Afterward, we will be transferred by bus to the historic center of Cusco, where the tour will end
