Every June 24th, the day the sun is at its furthest point from Earth, Inti Raymi, or the “Festival of the Sun,” is celebrated. This ancient Andean religious ceremony honoring Inti (the Sun God) takes place every winter solstice. Inti Raymi was the most important religious festival during the time of the Incas. This ancient ceremony is still performed today, with the Sacsayhuaman architectural complex as its main stage. Inti Raymi lasts almost an entire day, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and lasting until approximately 4:00 p.m. We’ll pick you up from your hotel at 7:00 a.m. to go to the Coricancha Temple (QORICANCHA) and witness this ancient “Festival of the Sun.” You’ll be able to witness the beginning of the most important festival in Peru and the world. You’ll also witness the deployment of the Imperial retinue and the cosmic energy of seeing the Inca emerge and welcome people from around the world to participate in this festival, declared a National Cultural Heritage Site.

After this welcoming ceremony at the Qoricancha temple, we will head with our guide to the Plaza Mayor of Cusco, where the Inca enters through Loreto Street, an ancestral street with Inca walls and a lot of history. Upon entering the Waqaypata (Cusco Main Square), the Inca expresses and performs the coca leaf ceremony with his wife Coya and his entourage, inviting the general public to go to the Sacsayhuaman esplanade, where you will appreciate from a tribune in more detail this imposing Andean festival along with Sacred Rites in honor of the Sun God, dances, music and costumes, which will leave an unforgettable experience.