Category Archives: Celebrations

2021 Inti Raymi Will be Held Without an Audience

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Peru’s Minister of Culture, Alejandro Neyra, announced that his year Cusco’s largest event, inti Raymi, will be held privately and broadcast over TV and social media.

“The Inti Raymi is going to be held,” said Neyra. “We are making all the coordinations from the Ministry of Culture, the special project Bicentennial….It also implies a relaunching of everything that culture and cultural tourism means for the city of Cusco.”

Financing for the event is still unknown as previously the 400,000 soles came primarily from sle of viewing tickets at the final Sacsayhuaman ceremony. Government and private finding options are currently being considered.

The event was cancelled in 2020 with only a simple ceremony conducted and shown over social media.

In a normal year, over 200,000 tourists visit Cusco during June, but this year only about 25,000 are expected.



Cusco Cancels All Religious Activities for 2021

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Diario Correo reports that, through a communiqué, the Archbishopric of Cusco that, in view of the increase of infections and deaths due to the pandemic of COVID-19, in its second and possible third wave, all religious and patronal celebrations in 2021 will be suspended.

Major festivities such as the el Señor de Torrechayoc, Señor de Choquequilca, Señor de Qoylloritti, Corpus Christi, Señor de Huanca, Virgen del Carmen, Virgen Asunta and other patron saint festivities will suspended indefinitely.

“We order that these festivities be carried out virtually and if permitted, with a capacity determined by the government authorities, keeping all extreme biosecurity measures (double mask, face shield, hand washing and social distancing),” the communiqué states.

The Archbishopric of Cusco asked all Catholic faithful for their understanding and collaboration, so that these provisions serve to protect the life and health of all Cusco residents and visitors.



Cusco Plans Inti Raymi in 2021

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Diario Correo is reporting today that Cusco authorities are making preparations for the Inti Raymi.

The Municipal Company of Festivities of Cusco (Emufec) confirmed to Correo that the ceremony will take place this year and that tickets will go on sale on April 1st.

Frenando Santoyo, President of the board of Emufec, said that they held an extended meeting in which they decided to go ahead with this year’s preparations. They will make another evaluation in March and another one in May to adjust the preparations according to how the COVID-19 pandemic is going in the country.

“We are five months away from the Inti Raymi, and so far the State has indicated that this type of shows are already allowed, of course, with a limited capacity and respecting all the protocols and biosecurity procedures,” said Santoyo.

Due to the current situation, the number of seats available to attend the Inti Raymi during the main ceremony in the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman, will be limited this year, allowing a capacity of 60%.

“We are betting on domestic tourism, national visitors, so there will be no increase in the cost of tickets, even though only 60% of the total capacity will be sold. About a reduction in the price of the tickets, it is a possibility that will be seen later,” said Santoyo.

In addition to live activities, the Inti Raymi will also be broadcast through social media and other interactive platforms.

The Inti Raymi or the Festival of the Sun, is a ceremony of the Inca court which was begun in Cusco in 1944 and had been carried out uninterruptedly until last year when it had to be suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ticket prices will run from US $60 to US 160.



Parade Floats in Cusco

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The Inti Raymi celebrations go on for a couple of weeks and include near daily parade. Yesterday was one of my favorites that I haven’t seen in 10 years and includes incredibly detailed floats on a variety of topics ranging from humorous to cultural to current events.

Getting a spot to view the parade and get photos requires arriving long before the parades begin and waiting patiently. Fortunately it’s possible to view the different float after the parade concludes when they are left on display in front of the Basilica Menor de la Merced.

Huge crowds of people come out in the evening to view all the floats and take family photos in front of them. It’s a wonderful experience to hang out with Peruvians enjoying the various displays up close.

  • The costumed guys in front where having a great time posing for photos.
  • Cuy — Spanish for guinea pig — was a huge hit with his own soft drink.
  • Notice the woman holding a roasted cuy.
  • This was my favorite. Nothing like taking a taxi (taxe?) ride with your favorite llama stuffed in the back seat!



Dancing in the Plaza

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Inti Raymi time is upon us here in Cusco and about three weeks of celebrations have begun highlighted by dozens of groups performing traditional dances in the Plaza each day with enthusiasm and pride that simply has to be witnessed.

Yesterday was dominated by youth groups of very young kids and this afternoon high school groups filled the streets performing three different times as they made their way around the Plaza filled with cheering family and supporters and proud Peruvians.

I’m no expert on traditional dances, but I know that most (if not all) tell a story or act out some part of traditional culture. Some of the stories are obvious to anyone, but others have more complex meanings that I have yet to learn.

It’s extremely difficult to get a good spot to watch the performances as people line the streets 2-3 deep even on the extreme edges. If you want to watch in the main performance area in front of the Cathedral, you’d better get there very early to stake out a good spot amongst the thousands of onlookers.

Each group is different and performs unique dances in spectacular traditional costumes. This is an event that should not be missed.