The most important festival in South America always attracts thousands of people to Cusco, the Inti Raymi, the festival that allows us to travel back in time.

A trip to the past that today is possible thanks to all the effort and desire that the people of Cusco have put into reviving the celebration of the Sun God, an entity that in ancient times was considered the supreme deity.

In the time of the Incas, the festival was called «Wawa Inti Raymi» and was held in different places in their territory, which included up to six countries: Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Argentina.

Today we are going to delve into Inti Raymi 2023 and all the essential dates to celebrate.

The meaning of Inti Raymi 2023

77 years have passed since the Inti Raymi was played for the first time and in 2023 we will remember the incredible cultural expression that revitalized the Inca Empire and became a cultural heritage of Peru since 2001.

Many years have passed since Inti Raymi and its importance continues to be a reason to continue celebrating a festivity that almost died out in Spanish times.

According to chroniclers of the time, such as Guamán Poma de Ayala and the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the Inti Raymi festival was founded by the Inca Pachacútec in the fifteenth century.

At that time, the Incas called the sun god Apu Punchao or Apu Inti, and all worship was performed in his honor.

The tradition of the time corresponded to the cultural and religious side of the Incas, on June 21 the winter solstice was celebrated, a fundamental day to ask the stars for a better harvest and more food for the population.

Fifteen days of celebration, during which color, dances, gatherings and offerings were the order of the day.

With the arrival of the Spaniards, the festival was cancelled, the viceroyalty considered the Andean festivals as pagan festivals, contrary to the beliefs they preached in their churches.

Despite this, the Inti Raymi was celebrated in secret in places far from Spanish power, and today it can be savored in a more austere spectacle, which lasted far fewer days and without any sacrifice.

Today the celebration of Inti Raymi 2023

Until 2023, the Inti Raymi celebration is a large-scale representation of what was once the most important celebration of the Inca Empire.

More than 700 artists participate in which we will find a large number of professionals of all kinds to celebrate in style, with an Inca represented by a Cusqueño who receives the order as a consecration.

On June 24, the festival will take place in three different places in the city of Cusco, on the Esplanade of the Inca Temple of Coricancha, where the delegations of the four will be received; in the Plaza de Armas, where two worlds meet; and Sacsayhuamán, the main stage where the Fiesta del Sol takes place.

In each of the places we find a different celebration, some with more ceremonies than parties, but all of them represent something important because of the Inti Raymi.

What many do not know about the contemporary Inti Raymi is that it is also celebrated on the Day of Cusco, on June 24, since it was originally celebrated as the Day of India.

When it was proposed to begin the celebration, on June 24, 1944, the first event that we would have celebrated on this day in six centuries began.

Inti Raymi 2023 guests

As it is a Cusco celebration, the hosts and guests of honor are the people of Cusco, who will represent the Inti Raymi in each of its places, in each of its corners and in all its entertainment centers.

Everyone is invited to celebrate the most important festival of the year with the people of Cusco, enjoying the rites of chicha, the sacred fire, the sacrifice of the lama, omens, and the rite of sankhu , the sacred bread.

The most important moments of the Inti Raymi are lived in each of the places, and even more so when the moment of Q’ochurikuy arrives, the explosion of popular enthusiasm.

The event is aimed at all types of travelers, as a couple or as a family, you can really enjoy the staging and each of the attempts of the people of Cusco to show us culture and tradition.

The best thing about Cusco is that we can also take a panoramic tour in the city or outside, the number of tourist destinations makes the Inti Raymi an excuse.

A visit to Machu Picchu will always be welcome, for those who are still waiting for an invitation from heaven, in which case the Apu Inti takes care of itself.

Your ticket for Inti Raymi 2023

The best way to secure a spot at the next big party in Cusco is to contact an agency and tour operator like KUSKANDES TREK.

We are a group of professionals committed to providing the best service to all visitors looking for new experiences in Peru and Cusco is our specialty.

With us you have all the details and services you need to enjoy Inti Raymi 2023 or walk to new places.

The city of Cusco dresses up for a party, but even outside the city we can find different ways to live unique experiences for the most important Inca festival of the year.

Machu Picchu is the favorite place of all world travelers who dream of having the adventure of a lifetime, a place that has been on many travel lists since it became a wonder of the world.

That is why we bring you the 10 things you should know before visiting Machu Picchu so that you do not miss any detail and that your experience is the best possible to always remember the trip to Peru.

Prepare your backpack, separate your seat on the plane and write down all the advice we give you.

Cusco, the place where we all want to start and finish

Of all that Peru has to offer travelers, Cusco is the destination where all travel experiences begin and end, where our senses are filled with emotions and where we can enjoy the vacation of our dreams.

We remind you that due to the problems of Covid-19, it is always mandatory to have a vaccination card with the three doses of vaccine and the correct use of masks to access closed public spaces such as airports or stores.

According to the latest statement issued by the Peruvian government, the use of masks in public spaces is optional only in certain provinces such as Lima, Ica and Ancash.

In places like Cusco, the use of masks in public spaces is still mandatory.

One night in Aguas Calientes

Among the 10 things you should know about Machu Picchu is the possibility of spending a night in Aguas Calientes to be able to enter Machu Picchu at six in the morning, the ideal time when the tourist groups have not yet arrived.

A good option for those who want to have the entire archaeological complex with as few people as possible, an almost personal Machu Picchu.

During regular tours such as the Machu Picchu Train Tour, the entrance to the Inca Citadel is from 11:00 a.m., after an incredible train trip with a unique view of Cusco and its magnificent jungle.

The other full day, which is the option that arrives before Machu Picchu, is the one that leaves Cusco at 2:30 am, leaving the first train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes at 5:00 am.

Therefore, the first time you enter the citadel is at 7:30 am if you are coming from the city of Cusco.

Spending the nights in Aguas Calientes you will have the opportunity to rest to start a day of relaxation in which we will use our energies just to enjoy our visit to Machu Picchu.

One of the best tips to know if you want to travel to the wonders of the modern world in 2023.

Train options for all types of travelers and budgets

For your trip to Machu Picchu to be a success, the first thing you have to do is take a train to Aguas Calientes and we have three options: The Expedition, Vistadome and the luxurious Belmond Hiram Bingham.

Each of the options is a unique experience and, depending on our budget, we can choose the perfect option to complete the Machu Picchu adventure.

The expedition train is a standard price option that allows us to reach the city of Machu Picchu with semi- panoramic windows and with the minimum necessary service.

The Vistadome train is a more elegant version, its tourist attraction is the possibility of having panoramic windows, which promise us a better experience while we travel through the Cusco jungle towards one of the most magical places in the world.

Without a doubt, it is a unique opportunity as an experience that will allow us to enjoy the trip.

The Belmond Hiram Bingham train is the luxury option where the price is high and suitable for those seeking the best experience on their trip to Machu Picchu.

It is an extraordinary service on board, with period furniture that blends well with the train, while we are served a luxury catering service.

Documents during the trip

The best option is to always have all the documents with you when you want to visit Cusco and enter Machu Picchu.

As a recommendation, it is always good to have the most important documents in digital format to at least have the records.

The vaccination record is mandatory for all visitors, having their 3 doses applied during their visit in 2022 or 2023.

The identity document, passport, visa and boarding passes must always be kept by competent personnel in a safe place where they cannot easily enter.

The passport must be the original and issued for entry to Machu Picchu.

The bus trip to Aguas Calientes

It is possible to reach the entrance to Machu Picchu on foot, but also by bus.

If we decide to walk, it will take about 90 minutes and there is nothing special, we will not know or discover new places.

On the contrary, it is a path through the jungle, tired of its height, which creates a steep and difficult path to travel.

We will arrive at the entrance very tired, so we recommend traveling by bus, which takes 25 minutes and allows us to spend more time in Machu Picchu.

The best team for Machu Picchu

The man needs professional equipment to withstand the Andean climate, the same for Machu Picchu, a good equipment is necessary for a satisfactory visit.

Depending on the weather conditions, our team must react to different situations and always win, as well as the appropriate clothing that allows us to face the extreme weather conditions of the early hours of winter.

During the months of June, July and August we will find the morning cold of the Andes for which we must prepare.

Check the calendar and the days you have to spend the night to choose the best team for the route to Machu Picchu.

To enter the citadel you can only have a camera, a cell phone, a bottle of water, sunscreen and insect repellent in your backpack.

It is forbidden to enter with food, so make sure you have a good breakfast in Cusco before entering Machu Picchu, the trek requires a reasonable physical condition.

Tripods, drones or photo sticks are not allowed.

The right footwear will be very important, we must choose one that does not make us slip easily; worse still if we choose the Wayna Picchu path.

Bring a hat and sunscreen as we are sure that we will have a spectacular sunny day in Machu Picchu, we have to be ready for something spectacular.

There is a path to get to know Machu Picchu and it is mandatory

Today, visits to Machu Picchu are made as part of a fixed guided tour, in which each of the ruins is visited continuously without the possibility of returning.

It is a road that allows a better circulation of visitors in the citadel, so that all tourists and visitors can have a better experience in the Wonder of the World.

The prohibited stamp in the passport

In many photos we will find in the passports the anecdotal stamp of Machu Picchu, a well-known but not recommended practice.

It happens that in many cases around the world, travelers find that the authenticity of passports is compromised by the fact that there is a false stamp, which creates problems when entering another country.

Having the postage stamp puts you at risk of having a bad experience in the future if you have a bad day at customs.

It is better to carry the keychain or magnet as a souvenir of Machu Picchu, they last longer and are very colorful.

Book everything in advance

The best thing to do when visiting a wonder of the world is to book well in advance, Machu Picchu needs it.

And it is that all its routes and accesses are the most requested by all travelers in the world.

In high season, which runs from May to October, tickets must be reserved at least 3 months in advance.

For Huayna Picchu there is only a capacity of 400 people per day, from where you have an impressive view of the ruins of Machu Picchu accompanied by a magnificent landscape that allows us to take the best photos of the place.

The hotel and all tours must be booked in advance to guarantee the best experience, contact us at Kuskandes Trek to have all prices and dates at hand.

Thermal baths and Machu Picchu

There are no toilets to access the entire route to Machu Picchu, so it is better to use the toilets before entering the wonder.

If you go out you can’t get in, so better to be safe than buy a second ticket.

It is always best to bring your own toilet paper when traveling to Peru.

The Sacred Valley and its essentials

One of the main tourist attractions in Cusco is the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a valley located at more than 3400 meters above sea level.

It is a place that travelers use to get used to the altitude when they visit Cusco, an option where you can relax while enjoying the place, it will turn out to be a gradual acclimatization that comes in handy.

It should be the first place to visit, since it allows us to get to know the Inca culture and all its extension in advance, before undertaking the appropriate visits to the most important structures.

First trek adventure in America, the Inca Trail is still available for the last days of 2022, a perfect excuse to start 2023 in Cusco.

For all the variety of options that Cusco offers to travelers planning for the end of the year, the Inca Trail is a perfect alternative.

There are four days of history, culture and nature in Cusco to cross the great door of Machu Picchu.

End of the year in Cusco

Cusco hosts the most important New Year’s parties and celebrations in Peru, it is the only city where the celebration is known worldwide.

Thousands of tourists from Peru and from all over the world arrive in Cusco in the last days of the year, before the pandemic the party was guaranteed and in style.

By 2023 we will find ourselves in a similar scenario, after years of pandemic, the party will once again welcome the streets of the city and all corners of the province.

You will find all kinds of New Year 2023 parties; However, you also have the opportunity to experience extraordinary adventures such as the Inca Trail.

A year of adventure that begins with the best: Inca Trail

Starting the year with an adventure in Cusco will make the celebration a constant, four days and three nights, making 2023 a year full of travel.

And the Inca Trail is a fantastic adventure, which is why thousands of tourists come to Peru every year.

December – January is the rainy season in Cusco, low season for tourism in Peru. Therefore, it is necessary to book at least two months in advance.

Four days and three nights of the Inca Trail

The Classic Inca Trail is an adventure that leads us to discover the best of Inca architecture and engineering in Cusco. It is a journey through time, where we put our body to the test while enjoying nature.

The three nights are fields in the center of a millenary route, in strategic areas created and delimited by the organizers.

We will have the opportunity to get to know the microclimate of the Peruvian highlands, the archaeological remains around the corner, the incredible photos of the valley and the canyons that form around us.

You will need to be in top physical condition, so it is perfect for the end of the year, start with an adventure that will test your body and prepare you for 2023.

Alternatives to the Inca Trail

The incredible adventure that everyone comes to Cusco for is known as the Classic Inca Trail, it is the four-day, three-night version that requires a fit physique.

But if you have less time or the physical does not accompany you at such a level, you can choose between two other options that offer us a similar and equally satisfactory experience.

Inca Trail runs at the end of 2023

The most popular option as an alternative to the classic Inca Trail is the short Inca Trail, a route of only two days and one night that allows us to sum up the experience perfectly.

In two days we will cover the most important part of the Inca Trail route to reach Machu Picchu on the second day.

You can reserve your place a month in advance, it is one of the alternatives that is least sold out, but take your precautions, 2023 will be the year of Cusco.

Middle Inca Trail end of 2023

Another alternative of three days and two nights, the Middle Inca Trail, takes us to a combination of the architectural jewel of Ollantaytambo and the wonder of the modern world, Machu Picchu, with its solution of treks.

The adventure of traveling the ancient route of the Inca Trail is combined with a walk through the vibrant culture of Cusco in the Sacred Valley.

If you have already done the Classic Inca Trail, this route may also interest you, it is the perfect combination between Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo and the Inca Trail.

Recommended for people of simple build, the effort is bearable.

The best way to do the Inca Trail in 2023

To carry out the Inca Trail at the end of 2023 and any day of the year, you must be accompanied by tourism professionals, it is an essential condition to participate in the route.

You must ensure that the service is professional enough to allow me to enjoy the best start of 2023 in Cusco. Look for a team like Kuskandes Trek.