Inti Raymi is the Festival of the Sun, or Fiesta del Sol that continues an Inca tradition that dates back centuries. The Incas would hold an annual ceremony to celebrate the winter solstice. The name Inti Raymi is Quechua for new sun. In fact the festival is held entirely in Quechua, the language of the Incas, which is still spoken by millions of people throughout the Andes.
There is no Incan nobility anymore and the sacrifice of animals, although insinuated, would likely horrify tourists. Although it is not what you would have found centuries ago here, it is a lively ceremony and you can at the very least get an idea of how things once were with this majestic Andean culture. There is music, drums, speeches, dances, and other rituals that are re-enacted by the ancestors of the Inca.
Held every June 24 amidst the colossal stone fort of Saqsayhuaman perched above the city, the event packs the crowds. Tickets are quite expensive for the better seats, although you can sit on the ground with the locals for near peanuts.
Hotels are crowded the weeks surroudning Inti Raymi, so be sure to book a room months in advance.
