Inti Raymi and Cusco’s great festivals
If you can time your trip for June, do it. Cusco in festival season is one of the great spectacles of the Americas — and at its heart is Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun, watched by tens of thousands.
Inti Raymi — the Festival of the Sun
Held every 24 June, Inti Raymi recreates the Inca winter-solstice ceremony with hundreds of costumed performers across three stages, ending at the great fortress of Sacsayhuamán. It is the highlight of Cusco’s calendar.
The festival calendar
| Festival | When | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | February | Water, music and dancing |
| Corpus Christi | May/June | Saints’ processions and feasting |
| Qoyllur Rit’i | May/June | High-altitude pilgrimage to a glacier |
| Inti Raymi | 24 June | The Inca Festival of the Sun |
| Fiestas Patrias | 28–29 July | Peru’s national independence days |
Planning around the festivals
June is busy and magical, but hotels, trains and Inca Trail permits book up fast — reserve early and check the permit calendar. Pair the festivals with a city tour to understand the Inca roots behind them.
Visit in festival season
Book early for June — see live availability now.
Inti Raymi: the Festival of the Sun
Inti Raymi, held every 24 June, is the great Inca Festival of the Sun and the highlight of Cusco's calendar. A revival of the original Inca winter-solstice ceremony honouring Inti, the sun god, it fills the city with colour, music and hundreds of costumed performers, culminating in a grand reenactment at the fortress of Sacsayhuamán above Cusco.
| Stage | Location |
|---|---|
| Opening ceremony | Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) |
| Procession | Plaza de Armas |
| Main reenactment | Sacsayhuamán |
Cusco's other great celebrations
June is Cusco's festival month, but the calendar is rich year-round. Corpus Christi (also June) sees saints paraded through the streets and the ceremonial dish chiri uchu eaten across the city. The Q'oyllur Rit'i pilgrimage draws thousands to a glacier sanctuary, and Señor de los Temblores (Holy Monday) honours Cusco's patron. Around national holidays in late July, the city brims with parades and music.
Planning a visit around the festivals
Festivals are an extraordinary time to visit — but also the busiest. For Inti Raymi (24 June), book accommodation and any grandstand seats at Sacsayhuamán well in advance, expect crowds, and arrive in Cusco a few days early to acclimatize and soak up the build-up. Combine the festival with the dry-season weather that makes June ideal for trekking too — see our best time to visit guide.
Frequently asked questions
Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun, takes place every year on 24 June, with the main ceremony at Sacsayhuamán above Cusco.
Yes — it is dry season and festival season, the most vibrant time of year. Just book accommodation, trains and Inca Trail permits well in advance.
You can watch parts for free in the city, but the main Sacsayhuamán ceremony has ticketed seating that sells out, so arrange it ahead.
