Inti Raymi: How To Best Enjoy Cusco’s Legendary Festival
Have you heard of the ancient festival of Inti Raymi?
One of Cusco’s most anticipated cultural events of the year, Inti Raymi takes place every 24th June and is a very memorable and special festival to experience. From learning about the historic traditions and roots of the event, to taking part in different pilgrimages and celebrations – it’s one of the very best things to experience if heading to Cusco in June.
In this guide we’ll explore everything you need to know about the Inti Raymi festival. This includes its history and why it’s celebrated, as well as how to best enjoy and make the most of the event if you’re in Cusco during the date. We’ll also answer any other questions you have in our FAQ section.
What Is Inti Raymi And Why Is It Celebrated?
Inti Raymi, which is also known as the day of the Inca Sun, is a day which celebrates the Inca civilization who once ruled Peru between 1438 until 1533. At the height of their influence, the Inca actually stretched much further out than just Peru – reaching as far as Northern Argentina to the south as well as Colombia to the north.
However the heart of the empire was based in Cusco, which is why the festival is best celebrated here. And given the cultural significance and how much development and change they brought to these regions, Inti Raymi is considered one of the most important dates in the entire Peruvian Calendar.
Of course whilst there are other festivals in Cusco around the year – this is by far the biggest and most important of them all!
How To Best Spend Your Time In Cusco During Inti Raymi
Given that Inti Raymi is always celebrated on the 24th June, this makes it easy to plan your trip to Cusco during these dates. However it’s important to keep a few things in mind to have the smoothest and most enjoyable time possible.
We highly recommend spending your day right in the heart of the historic centre to enjoy all of the festivities that take place. This first begins with themed dances around the Plaza de Armas where locals dress up in typical Inca outfits, where we can also enjoy music performances and try traditional dishes such as Chiriuchu, Cuy and Pachamanca.
There are also re-enactments of Inca rituals and ceremonies, which are hosted at the key sites of the Plaza de Armas, the Temple of Qorikancha as well as at the Sacsayhuamán Ruins. These can often get very busy and be expensive to get first-class seats, so be sure to explore your options online at least a few weeks before arriving into Cusco for Inti Raymi.
It’s also important to know that given Inti Raymi is so popular, prices will increase around these dates. So it’s important to book flights and accommodation in advance, and generally expect and budget for higher costs in and around the city.
Frequently Asked Questions About Inti Raymi
Below we’ll now answer some of the frequent questions we get about Inti Raymi, as well as anything else important that you need to know.
What Food Do They Eat On Inti Raymi?
There are many wonderful and unique dishes to enjoy during the festival. Chiriuchu is the signature dish which includes Cuy, Chicken and Cancha – which celebrates the three regions of Peru in one dish. Other typical dishes include Pachamanca, Chairo, Quinoa Soup and of course, the infamous Cuy itself. Be sure to try at least two of these to get a more rounded experience over the day!
What Is Sacrificed At Inti Raymi?
One of the most unique and authentic things about Inti Raymi is the continuation of ancient practices such as animal sacrifices – whilst many other events around the world have stopped such practices. At certain ancient ruins and historical sites, a Llama is usually sacrificed in order to pay respects to the traditions of the Inca who originally founded and developed the city of Cusco.
Why Was Inti Raymi Banned?
The festival of Inti Raymi itself was also celebrated during the actual time of the Inca civilization too – given it also falls on the date of the winter solstice. Once the Spanish arrived, they banned it for over 400 years during their rule of Peru. In 1944 it was eventually revived with a memorable historical day, and is now celebrated on the same day every year.
Overview Of The Inti Raymi Festival
And that’s all for this guide on Inti Raymi, and how to best celebrate this ancient festival.
The most important festival of the year for Cusco, every 24th June we can spectate some truly incredible re-enactments and parades around the city. As well as being able to get stuck right into the action, you can also enjoy other traditions such as by trying different dishes in markets and local restaurants.
Are you heading to Cusco during the dates of Inti Raymi? After experiencing the memorable scenes of this event, we highly recommend heading on our 2 Day Sacred Valley To Machu Picchu Tour. Here we can get a deeper outlook into the Inca civilization, whilst seeing some of the most incredible ancient ruins and landscapes around.