Inti Raymi is reenacted every June 24 at three locations in Cusco: the Qoricancha esplanade, the Plaza de Armas, and Sacsayhuaman. It is a contemporary staged performance, organized since 1944, that evokes the Inca ritual associated with the solstice. It is not a Mass or an improvised parade. It follows a script, has limited capacity, and requires a ticket for the main ceremony.
Travelers who arrive on June 24 without a reserved seat at Sacsayhuaman can still watch the ceremony in the Plaza de Armas, but they will miss the longer main performance.
The three ceremonies on the same day
Qoricancha, around 9:00 a.m. The Inca and his entourage appear on the terrace overlooking Avenida El Sol. This ceremony lasts less than an hour. There is a small grandstand with limited seating, as well as a street-level viewing area where spectators remain standing. On this day, the interior of the temple does not operate as a regular S/ 15 tourist visit.
Plaza de Armas, around 11:00 a.m. The procession moves through the historic center and performs a ceremonial greeting in the square. Spectators watch from the arcades and surrounding streets, with road closures and standing crowds. There is no official stage seating in the square. Balcony access at a hotel or restaurant is arranged separately and usually needs to be reserved several days in advance.
Sacsayhuaman, around 2:00 p.m. This is the main ceremony and lasts approximately two and a half to three hours. Grandstands are arranged around the esplanade. Without an Inti Raymi ticket, visitors cannot enter the designated performance area. The regular Cusco Tourist Ticket for the archaeological sites does not replace this admission.
The sequence is fixed. Travelers who want to experience the complete story do not simply “choose one venue”: the ceremony begins with the greeting to the sun below the city and concludes at Sacsayhuaman above it.
Which tickets you need and which ones you do not
| Location | Inti Raymi ticket required? | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Street in front of Qoricancha | No, if you watch while standing in the public viewing area | View of the opening appearance, with a limited angle |
| Qoricancha grandstand | Yes, separate limited-capacity ticket | Reserved seating near the terrace |
| Plaza de Armas | No, except for privately reserved balcony access | Processional greeting |
| Sacsayhuaman | Yes, grandstand ticket | Main extended ceremony |
| Regular city tour | Not included on June 24 | Must be scheduled for another day |
Official ticket sales are announced each year through municipal channels and, in recent editions, through Teleticket. Seating zone names may vary slightly from one season to another, using colors such as green, red, and orange or names such as Inti, Killa, Chaska, and Illapa. The basic layout remains the same: one side, the opposite side, and a central front section, which is usually the most expensive.
Prices may be published in Peruvian soles or U.S. dollars depending on the sales channel and should not be copied from one year to the next. Purchases generally require the traveler’s name and identification document. The e-ticket is often released one or two days before the event.
Book two to four months in advance if you want central grandstand seating. Side sections usually remain available a little longer. A combined Qoricancha + Sacsayhuaman package may be offered when the organizers release it for sale, which can simplify the process by avoiding two different ticketing arrangements.
How to get around Cusco on June 24
The city starts the day with traffic detours and road closures. A taxi can take you toward Qoricancha around 7:30 a.m. From Avenida El Sol to the Plaza de Armas, walking is usually the most practical option. From the square to Sacsayhuaman, there is roughly a two-kilometer uphill route, either on foot through Sapantiana or Don Bosco, or by vehicle as far as police restrictions allow. Travelers with a 2:00 p.m. grandstand ticket should not remain in the Plaza de Armas until 1:30 p.m.
June sun is strong on the Sacsayhuaman esplanade. Bring a hat, water, and sunscreen. There is very little shade in the grandstands. At approximately 3,700 meters (12,140 feet), the afternoon can feel demanding if you have spent fewer than two nights acclimatizing in Cusco.
The Half-Day Cusco City Tour does not replace the Inti Raymi experience on June 24. Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay are better visited on June 23 or June 25, when the archaeological sites return to their regular tourist-ticket schedule.
Inti Raymi and Machu Picchu on the same trip
June 24 is not a good day for a round trip to Machu Picchu. Train schedules, bus transfers, and timed entrance tickets do not fit well with the three Inti Raymi ceremonies in Cusco.
The simplest combination is to visit Machu Picchu on June 23 or June 25, with an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, and dedicate the entire 24th to Cusco. The 2-Day Machu Picchu by Train with Hotel should be scheduled before or after Inti Raymi, not on the same date.
Machu Picchu admission tickets and train tickets for that week often sell out earlier than some Inti Raymi grandstand sections, so they should be reserved first.
What to bring and what to leave at the hotel
Bring your identification document, a printed or digital ticket on a fully charged phone, and a warm layer for the late afternoon. Pack a light snack: although there are food vendors around Sacsayhuaman, time and restroom access can be limited. Leave tripods and drones behind. A large backpack may slow down security checks.
Children may have their own grandstand fare when the official sales channel publishes one. The ceremony is long and includes staged dialogue in Quechua and Spanish. A young child may find the shorter Qoricancha ceremony easier than spending three hours in the Sacsayhuaman grandstands.
How to plan the days around June 24
- Arrive in Cusco on June 21 or 22, rather than landing at 8:00 a.m. on June 24.
- Purchase a Sacsayhuaman grandstand ticket, and a Qoricancha ticket if you also want reserved seating for the 9:00 a.m. ceremony.
- Schedule the regular city tour for June 23 or June 25.
- Visit Machu Picchu on another day during the same trip.
- Confirm road closures and grandstand entry times once the official announcement for that year is published.
At Incredible Peru Tours, Inti Raymi grandstand tickets, hotels in the historic center, and train schedules can be coordinated together. When requesting an itinerary, provide the number of travelers and specify whether your group wants to experience all three ceremonies or only the main event at Sacsayhuaman.
