Between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco, then we will head to the first site for the ceremony. Site 1: The Temple of the Sun: Qoricancha. – 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Welcome to the Sun: a welcome to all those participating in the great Festival of the Sun. The Inti Raymi begins at the Qoricancha Temple, “The Great Golden Enclosure.” It was held in honor of the Sun God “El Inti,” considered the principal deity of Tahuantinsuyo, “the name of the Inca Empire.”

LUNCH WITH THE INKA 11:00 AM Lunch at the Cultural Restaurant; featuring a show of traditional regional dances. 2 options to choose from, plus 1 vegetarian option. 12:00 PM Transfer to ascend to the Saqsayhuaman fortress: where the most important ceremony of Inti Raymi will take place.

Sacsayhuamán Ceremony (13:00 – 15:30) Your experience begins with a transfer from Cusco to Sacsayhuamán, an impressive Inca archaeological site located at 3,555 m (11,660 ft), just a short distance from the historic center. At 1:00 pm, the main Inti Raymi ceremony begins. This is the most important and spectacular part of the festival, where hundreds of actors recreate ancient Inca rituals in honor of the Sun God (Inti). The Inca, accompanied by the Coya (queen), priests, warriors, and nobles, performs traditional ceremonies, including symbolic offerings, dances, and chants in Quechua. The ceremony ends around 5:30 pm. Afterward, you will return with the group to your transportation. Due to heavy traffic, some travelers may choose to walk back to the city center (approximately 15 minutes downhill). Finally, you will be transferred back to Cusco’s historic center, where the tour concludes.