Inti raymi festival of the sun in Cusco June 24TH 2012
Cost per person US$195
A brief history of the Festival of the Sun.-
To sun-worshiping Incas, the rite of Inti Raymi, a tribute to the Sun God Apu Inti Tayta, doubtless marked the most important date on their calendar. The winter solstice represented both the beginning of a new cycle and the return of the source of life to the Andes. A re-enactment of this solstice celebration takes place every year on June 24 in historic Cusco, the ancient hub of the Inca's vast empire. More than 150,000 colorfully clad natives and tourists assemble in the morning at the fabled Coricancha, or Sun Temple, where the Inca (a local resident designated to play the part) delivers an invocation of praise to Father Sun. Next, the royal entourage moves to the city's main plaza, formerly the Incas' great civic square. After a ceremonial reading of the sacred coca leaf to divine the future of the empire, the Inca proceeds to the massive stone walls and zigzagging ramparts of Sacsayhuaman, a cultural treasure situated on a hilltop outside of town. With its commanding view, the ruined fortress remains one of the most astonishing megaliths of the ancient world - a single rock battlement is estimated to weigh more that 300 tons. On this occasion, the age-old stronghold is again transformed into the focus of Incan spiritual life.
Dressed in full regalia, the honorary Inca delivers his orations in Quechua, the native tongue that is still spoken in Andean highlands. On Sacsayhuaman's broad plaza, a fire is rekindled and a llama ritually "sacrificed" - staged out of consideration for tourists. Sounds of panpipes, drums and blaring horns fill the air. Traditional dancers representing the four corners of the empire dazzle the eye with riotous flashes of red and gold. After the Spanish conquest, Inti Raymi was changed to coincide with the Catholic feast of St. John the Baptist. The modern re-creation, based on colonial accounts of the sacred rite, began in the 1940s as a way for Andeans to recapture the spirit and values of their ancestors. Today, Inti Raymi is one of the largest pageants in South America, and a source of great cultural pride to Peruvians. The formal spectacle lasts just four or five hours, but for an entire week Cusco radiates renewed life and energy which recalls the glories of its Incan past.
Itinerary.-
We will pick you up from your hotel at 7:30am to start at 8:00 am, then we go the first place. The ceremony of INTIRAYMI has three different scenes in three different places , It starts at the Qoricancha Palace placed on Av. El Sol, then we head for main square (Plaza de Armas del Cusco) where the second scene will be held and finally it ends with the special scene held in Sacsayhuman ( 2 km from Cusco) where we will go on bus.
The Tribunes on Saqsayhuaman.
The Central staging of INTI RAYMI is held in the Sacred main square of Saqsawaman, over there have been placed the tribunes with capacity for 3,906 people. All the seats are very confortable for the spectators.The VIP Zone is formed for these 3 tribunes which give a better view of the ceremony. EMUFEC offers other necesary services to attend to the INTI RAYMI, VIP confortable seats for the specator, Higienic Movil Bathrooms, Fisrt Aid Post and police security which allow enjoy this ancestral ceremony.
Other Service on Sacsayhuaman EMUFEC offers other necesary services to attend to the INTI RAYMI, VIP confortable seats for the specator, Higienic Movil Bathrooms, Fisrt Aid Post and police security which allow enjoy this ancestral ceremony.
How to get to the Inti raymi Scenes.-The scenes at Qoricancha and in main Square are for free , to get to the Sacred main Square in Sacsayhuaman you ought to get the Numbered entrance tickets according to the specified zones shown in the chart above.
The tour Inti Raymi includes: Entrance Tickets to the VIP tribune,Oficial Tourism Guide english/espanish /• Box Lunch.,Private bus ,Transfers for all the places./ Pull service ( shared with other tourists)
The Inti raymi festival of the sun includes: Entrance Tickets to the VIP tribune,Oficial Tourism Guide english/espanish /• Box Lunch.,Private bus ,Transfers for all the places./ Pull service ( shared with other tourists)
We recommend to bring the Inti raymi festival of the sun: Wear light shoes or snickers,Water to drink,Long sleeve T-shirts ( in June the afternoon is cold)
• short or Long Pants ,Sun Block and hats for the sunny day,Sun glasses,
• Medicines and personal use items (contact glasses liquid) ,A light backpack per person
• Recorder camera or photographic camera with spare films.
•Extra money for sourveniers.
