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The Sun, considered the most important deity of the Inca empire, was worshipped by the Incas; therefore, one of the most important celebrations during the Inca era was the Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun. A celebration in honor of the god Inti (the Sun).
The Inti Raymi is an ancient Inca religious celebration, as we all know the Incas worshipped their god: the God Inti or Sun in its Spanish translation. In ancient times the Inti Raymi lasted about 15 days; People made sacrifices and performed dances to worship the sun god. The last Inti Raymi celebrated with the presence of the Inca Emperor was in the year 1535, a year before the Spanish conquest, but it was the Spanish invasion in 1536.
Currently, the Inti Raymi is a theatrical performance, thousands of people from Cusco and around the world gather for this event which is one of the most important cultural and traditional events in this part of the world. This Inca celebration makes every Peruvian feel the Inca blood running through their veins and revalue their Inca past.
The exclusive Inti Raymi is an Inca religious ceremony that takes place every June 24 in Cusco – Peru . Our staff will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco around 7:45 am to take you on this tour. The celebration of Inti Raymi or feast of the Sun takes place in three stages: the Qoricancha Temple, the Plaza de Armas and the Sacsayhuaman Fortress.
The ceremony begins with the entrance of four armies from each part of the Inca Empire. Dancing in colorful costumes, hundreds of Inca soldiers make their way to the gardens of the Korikancha Temple. A few minutes later the Inca Emperor, along with the most important characters of the nobility announce the beginning of Inti Raymi.
In the Plaza de Armas, the Inca will perform the coca leaf ceremony to thank his god: the Sun. Soldiers, priests and Inca people join this ceremony. As a special moment called Meeting of the Two Times, where the Inca emperor meets the Mayor of the City and gives him advice for the future.
Afterwards, the ceremony takes place in the Sacsayhuaman Fortress. All the dancers unite in an amazing performance that highlights the typical dances of the Inca Empire.During the Inti Raymi, three main rituals will be performed: a thanksgiving ritual using a golden cup with chicha (a sacred drink made of corn), the continuation of the promise of the Sun God protecting the Inca people in the fire ceremony, and finally the Inca priest will predict the future of the Empire by inspecting the entrails of a chosen lama in the lama ceremony.
The tour ends at approximately 3:30 p.m. with the transfer back to your hotel.
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Rain poncho, waterproof jacket, T-shirts, wool cap, sun hat, ear muffs, pants, shorts, bathing suit, underwear, socks, gloves, scarf, slippers, trekking shoes, sandals.
Sun block, sunglasses, insect repellent, sun hat, small towel, bottled water, personal medication.
Passport, Cash in soles, Camera, charging cable, extra batteries.
It takes place in Cusco, in 3 important places: Qoricancha, Plaza de Armas and Sacsayhuaman.
In this place there are no official seats to buy, we have to go very early to see the festivities at Korikancha. The festivities take place in the gardens outside Qoricancha, which is located along Cusco Avenue. Sol. The locals arrive early (in the early hours of the morning) to have the best places to see.
Almost the entire Plaza de Armas is cordoned off for the festivities, with only space on the colonial sidewalks around the outside of the Plaza de Armas available for public viewing. Due to the limited viewing areas in the plaza, spectators can often form crowds 4 or 5 people deep to catch a glimpse of the action. The best vantage points are on the second floor balconies of the numerous bars, cafes and restaurants surrounding the plaza. If you plan to watch Inti Raymi from a balcony, be sure to contact the bar owner a few days in advance to guarantee your spot.
The grandstand seats inside the Saqsayhuaman stadium are the best option to watch the Inti Raymi. These seats are top quality.
There are two price bands for Inti Raymi tickets: orange and blue seats (the best) which cost 140 USD per adult * and the slightly cheaper green seats which cost 100 USD per adult *, a 50% reduction applies to children under 12 years old. For the best and most informative experience, it is always best to go with a guide or as part of an organized tour group.
It is worth mentioning that the festivity is entirely in Quechua, the language spoken by the Incas, although we are given a booklet with the translation, it is difficult to know where in the script the festivity is found.
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