The Inti Raymi, or "Festival of the Sun," is celebrated in Cusco every year on June 24th in honor of the Sun God, or "Inti" (in Quechua). This ceremony was the most important celebration for the Inca Empire, as the sun was considered their main deity. The festival marked the beginning of the new year (similar to today's New Year's celebrations) and symbolized the mythical origins of the Incas. Traditionally, it lasted nine days and was filled with rituals, sacrifices and offerings.
The 5 Day Inti Raymi Festival Tour offers the ultimate cultural experience in the capital of the Incas. During this tour, you'll have a free day to explore Cusco City on your own, visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas, witness the grand Inti Raymi celebration at Sacsayhuaman, and visit Machu Picchu.
In addition to Inti Raymi, Cusco also celebrates its Anniversary in June—a vibrant festival filled with local pride and cultural expression. During this time, Cusqueños of all ages, including elders and children, take to the streets to showcase traditional dances, colorful costumes, and music that reflect the rich heritage of the region.
The celebrations take place throughout the city and last all day, especially on June 23rd, when the Festival of Tawantinsuyo is held in honor of the Anniversary of Cusco. This event transforms the city into a joyful and festive atmosphere. Locals and visitors alike gather to enjoy the performances, parades, and traditions that make Cusco so special.
Experience the most spectacular Inca festival and the magic of Cusco - book your 5-day Inti Raymi Festival Tour in advance!
Sustainable Tourism: At Salkantay Trek Machu, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism and support local communities.
Style Trip: Friendly Group Travel.
Physical Rating: 2 Easy and Moderate.
Age Requirements: 1+ / All travelers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Staff: Salkantay Trek Machu representatives in Cusco and a professional bilingual Tour Guide.
Accommodation: 3* hotels (4 nights).
Meals: 6x breakfast, 1x Buffet lunch on the Sacred Valey and Box lunch in the Inti Raymi festival .
Transportation: Van, train
Day 01 - 22nd June: Arrival to Cusco
Day 02 - 23rd June: Sacred Valley Tour
Day 03 - 24th June: Inti Raymi Tour (Inca festival of the Sun)
Day 04 - 25th June: Machu Picchu Tour
Day 05 - 26th June: Departure
Have you ever heard about the sun god and the festival that brings together millions in the city of Cusco? June is a colorful month full of happiness, as everyone prepares to celebrate the biggest cultural feast in the south. The great Feast of Sun God.
Many reasons impelled the Inca civilization to make those sacrifices and offerings to the Sun (the king star). One of them was that the Inca and the Cusquenian nobility were natural sons of the Sun; they obeyed him their existence and correspond with sacrifices and offerings. On the other hand, if the harvest of the corn was good they had to be grateful to him, but if it was bad, they had to beg him so that the incoming year compensates them with good production.
In June (winter solstice) the Sun went away and the cold increased. Also, the water was crystallized at dawn so they needed to beg the sun to come back. They beg him to stop advancing towards the north on the morning twilights. Finally, they had to testify the eternity and the total surrender of their children to the god Inti with submission and respect. More than six centuries ago, the Inca Pachakuteq instituted The Sun Feast. The Cusquenian people still represent the Inti Raymi with the same fervor that their ancestors had in the splendid times of the Inca Empire.
The Sun Feast, in its contemporary version, is made on June 24th of 1944 when the feasts of a memorable town were instituted to remember its ancient origin and the cradle of the great Inca civilization.
The recreation of the ceremony still preserves all its majestic glory but without the sacrifices of llamas or the procession of the mummies. The ceremony starts early in the morning with the arrival of the four “Suyos”: Collasuyo, Contisuyo, Antisuyo, and Chichaysuyo representatives (ñustas, coyas, pallas, and delegates) in the Qoricancha esplanade. The Sapa Inca opens the party by invoking the praise of the sun (Inti) and then the royal entourage follows him to the main square of Cusco within a short distance.
The final part of this recreation takes place in Sacsayhuaman. There, thousands of spectators from all over the world meet to appreciate this ancestral celebration. Dressed in traditional clothes, the Inca offers their last words in Quechua (The Inca’s language) before the sacrifice of a llama (they do not use a real llama). The feast ends with the sounds of horns, panpipes, and leather drums.
Several reasons compelled the Inca civilization to make sacrifices and offerings to their king, a personification of the Sun, to which they owed their existence! On the other hand, if corn harvest was good during the last agricultural year, it was necessary to be thankful, and if the harvest was poor, it was necessary to ask to be compensated better next year. The final reason was that the sun moved away in June (during the winter solstice) so the temperatures dropped and water was freezing at dawn. Therefore, it was necessary to ask the Sun for its return to stay close at dusk and not move away northward. Finally, it was necessary to prove the sun (the eternal and absolute gift of its children) their submission and respect.
Originally, it was celebrated exactly on the winter solstice, which is on the 21st of June. At present, the celebration has been moved on the 24th of June. Inti Raymi has been still celebrated on the authentic date by people living in remote places of the Andes.
Cusco festival of the Sun 2025 allows you to completely learn about the Inca´s culture and have a once in a life experience with the many colorful, festive and cultural events at this time.
You can arrive in Cusco at any time on the first day—there are no scheduled activities. Welcome to Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire! A Salkantay Trek Machu representative will be waiting for you at the airport, holding a sign with your name and ready to assist you. You'll then be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.
The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore the city, and begin acclimatizing to the high altitude.
Cusco is the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent and serves as a major hub for South American travel. It draws visitors from all over the world who come not only to see a unique destination but also to immerse themselves in an ancient culture unlike the modern Western world.
You could easily spend several days discovering everything this fascinating city has to offer. Inca-built stone walls line many of the streets in the historic center, and you don’t need to travel far to see remarkable Inca ruins—this is a city rich in history, traditions, and legends.
Every year, Cusco welcomes thousands of travelers who are eager to uncover its noble, though often tragic, past. It’s also a great base for exploring the nearby countryside or participating in outdoor adventures.
Cusco is home to many beautiful colonial churches, with the most prominent being the Cusco Cathedral on the main square. Construction began in 1559 and took nearly 100 years to complete! Today, the Cathedral houses the largest collection of colonial art in the city. Just past the entrance lies the tomb of the famous Incan historian Garcilaso de la Vega. Other churches worth visiting include La Compañía, La Merced, and San Francisco.
For the more adventurous, Cusco also offers a wide range of outdoor activities, such as white-water rafting on the Urubamba River, horseback riding around archaeological sites like Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Tambomachay, and Puca Pucara, or mountain biking to Maras, Moray, and the Salineras, with opportunities to stop at Incan ruins along the way.
One of the most spectacular days of the tour takes us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas that was once an important source of food to Incan people. Sacred Valley is a lush agricultural region that keep supplying the city of Cusco with much of its production. As it lays 600 metres lower than Cusco, its average temperature is 5ºC higher so it has got a very pleasant climate.
The tour shows us around the major archaeological sites placed in Pisaq, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. At Pisaq, an optional two hour (5 km) trek allows us to fully appreciate this huge antique Incan city nestled high in this Andean range. Later on, we can observe a colorful handicraft market at the modern Pisaq Town that is without any doubt a unique place to find perfect souvenirs! Then, we stop in Urubamba, considered to be the capital of the valley, where we have a buffet lunch offering Andean cuisine. Afterwards, we continue to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo, a place that can boast with another large Incan site. Its major ruin is known as the best surviving example of Incan urban planning and engineering! But Ollantaytambo is more than that, it is an alive and breathing Incan town!! Then we start returning to Cusco, but there is one more Incan site expecting us on the way! The site is Chinchero where we enjoy our last guided tour. Later on, we get to Cusco to overnight and get ready for Inti Raymi - the Cusco festival of the Sun 2025!
The festivity in honor of the Sun god is celebrated in 3 historical scenes.
Program of the Sacsaywaman´s scene:
In the morning our driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the bus station for your journey from Cusco to Ollantaytambo. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. On the way you will enjoy the beautiful sunrise over the Sacred Valley and the breathtaking scenery of the highlands of Cusco.
Upon arrival at the train station in Ollantaytambo you will board the train to Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo). The train ride takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. During the journey, you'll experience a dramatic change in climate and landscape - from the highlands to the subtropical zone. Admire the lush fields, colorful villages nestled in the foothills, and the winding Vilcanota River. This Machu Picchu tour is a sustainable travel experience that allows you to fully appreciate the natural beauty of the region.
Once you arrive at the train station in Aguas Calientes, you will exit the station to meet your guide who will escort you to the Consettur bus terminal. From there, you'll take a 25-minute shuttle bus ride up a zigzagging road to the entrance of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu is one of the most visited attractions in Peru, especially in June. Upon arrival, your guide will escort you to the entrance and begin the guided tour based on the circuit indicated on your ticket. There are three official circuits to explore Machu Picchu. The most popular (and highly recommended) is Circuit 2, which allows you to visit almost the entire Inca citadel.
If you have a ticket for Circuit 2, your guide will introduce you to the most iconic and important parts of Machu Picchu, including the Main Plaza, the Sun Temple, the Royal Rooms, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Royal Inca Cemetery, the Temple of the Condor, and more. This tour takes approximately 2.5 hours.
After the tour, you have the option to add more adventure to your day by climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, both of which offer incredible panoramic views. If you've reserved a ticket for one of these hikes, your guide will point you in the right direction to continue on your own. If you'd like the guide to accompany you, this service is available at an additional cost.
At the end of your visit to Machu Picchu, you will leave the citadel and take the shuttle bus back to Aguas Calientes. From there you'll return to your hotel, collect your belongings and catch the train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, our driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco.
Transfer to Cusco Airport for your flight. The Inti Raymi Festival Machu Picchu tour has come to an end — it's the perfect time to either extend your journey or return home.
End of service!
Meals budget: Please allow USD 50 - 100 for meals not included.
Solo Traveler: Please note that if you have booked the "Solo traveler" option for the Inti Raymi tour, you receive your own single room for all overnights.
Local flights: There are two local flights not included in the cost of the tour (Lima – Cusco – Lima).
All Salkantay Trek Machu adventurous group tours are accompanied by a Salkantay Trek Machu Tour Guide, a Representative or an expedition team. The aim of our Tour Guides is to take a hassle out of our customers’ trips and to help them to have the best trip possible. The Tour Guides provide information on places visited, offer suggestions of what to see and to do, recommend a good place to eat and introduce to his/her colleagues. The Guides have a broad general knowledge of each country visited during a tour, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local Tour Guides where we think that more specific knowledge could add more enjoyment to visited places.
These following hotels are used to accommodate you during your tour:
Accommodation in Cusco:
Hotel Prisma
Address: Calle Matara N 394, Cusco
Tel: (+51) 84 224466
During the tour, we request our hotels to get ready your rooms for time of your arrival, especially, if you arrive prior to standard check-in time. Nevertheless, this is not always possible. In this case, you just store your luggage in that hotel storage room and you can explore around your new destination in between.
