Inti Raymi: Festival of the Sun

One of the joys of travelling is being able to truly see the culture of the places you visit, and what better way to do that then to go to a festival!

I’m talking about the Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun, which takes place in Cusco, Peru. This festival is an ancient Inca tradition that dates back centuries and honours the God of the Sun, Wiracocha. The Inti Raymi symbolizes the eternal consecration of marriage between the Sun and his sons, the human beings. This was the most important festival of the Inca Empire, which based its religion on the cult of the sun. The Inca considered the sun to be a divinity of the highest rank and built their temples in honour of the sun. During the days of the original festival llamas were sacrificed, which was believed to ensure a good cropping season. In 1572 the viceroy Francisco de Toledo banned this traditional ceremony.

The festival is now the second largest festival in South America. More than 200,000 people come and more than 500 actors proudly bring alive the past. Inti Raymi takes place during the month of June in Cusco, Peru. It lasts for a week, but the actual day of the festival is June 24th, which marks the winter solstice and the beginning of the sun’s new year in the southern hemisphere.

Inti Raymi starts in Qorikancha (or the Santa Domingo), which was the centre of the Inca Empire until 500 years ago. It then proceeds as a procession to Sacsayhuamán, an archeological complex also known as the Sacred House of the Sun. Some of the main events include: fire, live music, street fairs, and plays representing historical figures, namely Sapa Inca and his wife Mamma Occla.

Inti Raymi is also known throughout Peru as Peasants or Indians Day. Entry is free for the all day event, but seats can be reserved at a price. This modern day festival has been taking place since 1944 and is a must see if you are in Peru at this time. We offer trips to Peru during this time, both the 12-day Andean Mountain Medley and the 8-day Trek the Lares Trail, that can be customized to allow you to stay longer to see the festival and take part in the activities. Visit http://www.bikehike.com/ for more details about these trips.

Happy Travels
Meghan G