Celebrating Inti Raymi in Cusco

by Jo Self

Considering the amount of celebrating that happens in Cusco on a weekly basis, it’s hard to believe that June could be any more spectacular - and yet it is.

The amount of fireworks consistently going off at all hours on any given day here in Cusco, is pretty tremendous but in June it multiplies ten-fold.

From the nearly daily parades, to street closures without warning and the groups of kids practicing their dances daily in any open spot along the promenades and in the plazoletas, June is marked with a party mood all leading up to the ultimate celebration of Inti Raymi on June 24^th.

Inti Raymi, a celebration of offering to the Inca God of the Sun, was perhaps the most important festival to the Inca civilization, and was largely lost when the Spanish arrived and stamped out or absorbed indigenous worship into Christianity.

Revived as an artistic and cultural event in 1944, the festival continues to attract tourists and Cusqueñans alike. The day starts with a call to the sun at the temple of Qoricancha and then follows through to the Plaza de Armas for the rising of the Inca king and continues up the hillside to Sacasayhuaman for the sacrifice of the llama (nowadays just a representative act, no llamas are actually sacrificed).

Years ago, the Inti Raymi festival was a day for families to get together, take a picnic to the ruins and enjoy the festivities. As the city - and the festival - has grown in recent years, many locals will either stay at home and enjoy the day with family and friends or head to the Feria de Huancaro, a week long festival which is best compared to a State or County Fair, where the best of the region in agriculture and products are showcased along with concerts and rides.

While enjoying the spectacle at the ruins is best organized as part of a Peru tour package, the more adventurous can go independently and try to seek a spot early in the day and settle in for a few hours.

A few enterprising young Peruvians will hold spots and sell them to you for a reasonably fair price as well.

You’ll want to be sure to pack sunscreen, a hat and/or umbrella and perhaps a blanket or pillow for more comfortable seating. Food and beverages will be readily available, so be sure to have cash - especially sencilloor small change - to make your purchases. Picnics and small barbecues are no longer allowed on the site.

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