Inti Raymi - Festival of the Sun

Upon arriving in Cusco in February, when we told anyone that we were staying until July - they would inevitably mention Inti Raymi.  It's the biggest festival of the year here in Cusco and caps off a full month of parades, festivals and dance competitions.

The day begins at Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun) in downtown Cusco.  The dancers, musicians and actors perform there and then parade to the Plaza for a different production.  From the Plaza, they process up the mountain and complete their day with another 3 hour long performance in Sacsayhuaman.


We opted to hang with the South American Explorer's Club (SAE) who fixed us breakfast and would later set us up with a prime locale for watching the festival on the Plaza.  We missed the show at the Sun Temple but were right on the curb when the parade of all the performers past by.

The costumes were beautiful and the people in them were obviously very proud to have been selected to perform.  Meghan and were next to some proud parents who chased their daughter down the street to get a good photo of her in costume.  There were two litters bearing the Ccoya and Inca (Queen and King) and several servants who walked ahead of the litters throwing flower petals for the litter-bearers to walk on.  The whole production is very well done.  Check out my 20 second video of the Inca on his litter coming down the street in the parade here!



After the parade past us, we moved on with the throng of people to our perfect digs on the patio and balcony of Piskou (a 2nd floor restaurant right on the Plaza).  There we were able to order drinks, chat with the other festival goers and enjoy the show away from the large crowd of on-lookers.



When the show on the Plaza finished, we headed up the hill to Sacsayhuaman with the rest of the people. We arrived at the park and quickly realized there were more people there than there were decent views.  Mike and the girls cut out fairly early, in that the girls were unable to see anything unless they were being held above us.

I found a spot where I could see a bit and stood for a little over an hour before the heat and the crowd was really bothering me.  I returned to our SAE crew and sat for a few more minutes before we all picked up and headed back down the hill.

Dinner that night was early with our friends the Leonard-Rose's.  It was their last night in Cusco before they were setting out on their great South American Adventure.  Although we are already missing them, we are planning our meet-up back home - hopefully in the next few months.

It was a wonderful day and we are grateful to have been here for the big celebration!