Inti Raymi（The Inca Festival of the Sun)

Every June, the ancient city of Cusco, Peru, bursts into vibrant color for Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun. With Inca ruins and snow-capped mountains as a backdrop, tens of thousands gather to witness a grand spectacle woven from color, music, and ritual. For those fascinated by history, indigenous culture, or the power of communal celebration, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Inti Raymi is held every year on June 24, marking the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Locals, travelers, and history enthusiasts from around the world come together in Cusco to give thanks to Inti, the sun god and source of life, immersing themselves in a living tradition that has been passed down for centuries.

The Royal Procession and Sacsayhuamán Ceremony

Key Events

Costumes and Decorations

Traditional Food & Drink

Inti Raymi is believed to have been founded in the 15th century by Pachacutec, the ninth emperor of the Inca Empire. In Inca civilization, the sun god Inti was the most important deity, and Inti Raymi was a national festival held at the winter solstice (when the sun is weakest in the Southern Hemisphere) to celebrate the sun’s return and the start of a new agricultural cycle. The festival lasted for nine days, with the emperor, nobility, priests, and commoners gathering for days of music, dance, feasting, animal sacrifices, and grand offerings. The moment when the Sapa Inca (emperor) prayed to the sun god was considered a sacred act, wishing for the prosperity of the nation and happiness of the people.

However, after the Spanish conquest in the 1530s and the spread of Catholicism, traditional Inca religious ceremonies and festivals were strictly prohibited, and Inti Raymi disappeared from official life. Still, in Andean indigenous communities, small-scale ceremonies continued in secret within families and local groups. In 1944, Cusco’s intellectuals and cultural leaders revived Inti Raymi as a historical reenactment based on Inca records and oral traditions. Since then, it has been held annually on June 24 as a grand festival, growing into a national event that symbolizes the pride of Peru’s indigenous culture and the spirit of the Inca civilization. Today’s Inti Raymi is a “living history” where past and present, tradition and tourism, and Peruvian identity all intersect, drawing attention from around the world.

The moment the Sapa Inca’s procession appeared on the stone steps of Sacsayhuamán, I felt as if I’d been transported back to the Inca era. The golden robes reflected the sunlight, feathered headdresses and colorful woven fabrics fluttered in the breeze—so dazzling it took my breath away. The pounding of drums and the sound of panpipes resonated through the earth, and the cheers and energy of the crowd could be felt on my skin. A local family next to me shared chicha in a clay cup and kindly explained, “This is a gesture of gratitude to the earth and the sun.” Sharing in this tradition with strangers in a foreign land became the most memorable moment of my journey.

• Inti Raymi attracts over 100,000 people each year, including locals and visitors from around the world.
• The Sapa Inca’s costume can weigh over 20 kilograms, adorned with real gold and silver.
• The ceremony is conducted almost entirely in Quechua, the language of the Incas.
• The chicha offered in the ritual is still brewed using traditional Andean methods.

Inti Raymi is held every year on June 24 in Cusco, Peru.