The Inca Festival of the Sun returns to Cusco every winter solstice: 700 performers, Sacsayhuaman fortress, and the most spectacular cultural re-enactment in the Americas.
Annual. Always 24 June (winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere).
Inti Raymi is the Inca Festival of the Sun, revived in 1944 from Spanish colonial-era descriptions and now Cusco's most important annual event. On 24 June (the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere), 700 performers in elaborate Inca costumes re-enact the ceremony that the Sapa Inca performed to ensure the sun's return. The ritual moves through three locations over the course of the day.
The ceremony begins at Coricancha (the Temple of the Sun) at 9am, moves to the Plaza de Armas at 10am, and culminates at the fortress of Sacsayhuaman on the hillside above Cusco from 1pm. The Sacsayhuaman section is the climax: the Sapa Inca addresses the sun, offerings are made, and the crowd of 50,000 watches from the hillside. The entire performance is in Quechua, not Spanish.
The days surrounding Inti Raymi turn Cusco into a city-wide festival. Street parades, live music, food vendors, and dance performances fill the Plaza de Armas from 20 June onwards. Cusco's San Pedro Market is at its best during this week, with traditional Andean food stalls selling anticuchos (grilled beef heart), cuy (guinea pig), and chicha (fermented corn beer).
Altitude is the practical consideration. Cusco sits at 3,400 metres. If you fly directly from Lima (sea level), you will feel the altitude: headaches, breathlessness, and nausea are common for the first 24 to 48 hours. Arrive at least 2 days before the festival. Coca tea (mate de coca) helps. Avoid alcohol on your first day.
Party hostels within reach of Cusco's main celebrations. Ranked by guest rating.
Fly from Lima (1h 20min). The bus takes 20+ hours but passes through spectacular Andean scenery. Arrive 2 days early to acclimatise.
Day-by-day breakdown
The Sapa Inca emerges from the Temple of the Sun. Free to watch from the surrounding streets. Arrive by 8am for a view.
The procession moves through central Cusco to the main square. Street-level viewing is free. The atmosphere is festive and crowded.
The climax. 700 performers on the fortress esplanade. Seated tickets (USD 150 to 250) guarantee a view. Free hillside standing areas fill by 11am. Bring warm layers: 3,400m altitude and winter temperatures.
Realistic costs per person · Verified March 2026
Prices in GBP. Festival week prices may be higher than standard rates. Prices verified March 2026.
Other festivals and parties in the same region
Pre-booked private transfers and shared shuttles for your arrival.
