Is the Inti Raymi safe?

Is the Inti Raymi safe?

6 Minutes of reading

Entrada Inti RaymiMay 8, 2024

Is Inti Raymi safe?

The Inti Raymi is the sun festival of the Incas, established by Emperor Pachacutec in the 15th century and which is valid today in the city of Cusco, Peru. It is celebrated every June 24, a date similar to the Inca celebration hundreds of years ago. Every year thousands of foreign visitors and thousands of Peruvian visitors attend. However, is it safe to visit this holiday? Find out if Inti Raymi, the most symbolic tourist festival in Peru, is safe.



The Inti Raymi in Cusco

Inca in the Main Square of Cusco
The Inca in the Main Square of Cusco

Inti Raymi is a religious festival of Inca origin. Its name, translated from the Quechua language (the language of the Incas) means ‘festival of the sun’. The sun, called Inti by the Incas, was the main Inca divinity.

Inti Raymi was celebrated on the winter equinox in the Southern Hemisphere (between June 22 and 26), when the sun is closest to the earth. The Inca astronomers knew this and held a great ceremony lasting several days that included the participation of the Inca, the population of Cusco (capital of the empire) and representatives from other regions.

The Inca Inti Raymi festival existed long before the time of the Inca Pachacutec (it is believed that it began to be celebrated in the mythical twelfth century years of the Inca Manco Cápac, the first founder. However, it was this historic Inca who reorganized the festival, making it the main one in the Inca calendar. The festival included food and drinks for the entire population as well as religious ceremonies with llama sacrifices, chicha offerings and more.

The Inti Raymi was celebrated in two important venues: in the Huacaypata (today Main Square in Cusco) and in the Coricancha (the temple of the sun). However, with the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, this ceremony was prohibited. Only in the middle of the 20th century, the Cusco residents, to revalue their Inca past, organized a great staging that resembles the Inti Raymi.

Since then, the Cusco Inti Raymi takes place every June 24, a ceremony that attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. That day is a holiday and non-working day for all of Cusco. Visitors celebrate in every corner of the city. The staging takes place in three settings: the Coricancha esplanade, the Main Square and the Sacsayhuamán fortress.


Is Inti Raymi safe?

On the day of Inti Raymi (June 24) around 10 thousand tourists arrive in the city of Cusco. From the early hours of the day the streets of the city look crowded with people, especially in the vicinity of Coricancha and the Main Square.

The first show takes place at the Coricancha, located just 500 meters from the Main Square. The show starts at 9 in the morning and is free for everyone. That is, any visitor can appreciate the show from the best point of view they can find. There are many people who seek to appreciate the show.

The second show takes place in the Main Square (in Inca times called Huacaypata). The square was fenced to allow the passage of actors and actresses. Thousands of people gather around it, including Cusco citizens and foreign tourists. The show starts at 11 in the morning and is also free for everyone. Just like in Coricancha, to appreciate it you must look for the best spot in the middle of many people.

The third Inti Raymi show takes place in the Sacsayhuamán fortress. In this fabulous setting (famous for its immense walls made of rocks weighing up to 120 tons) the most important staging takes place, the one that brings together the most actors and the one that lasts the longest (2 hours 30 minutes). The show starts at 2 in the afternoon. Unlike the shows in Coricancha and Main Square, here entry is with a ticket that allows access to one of the available seats. Tickets are purchased online in advance.

In conclusion, due to the large influx of visitors, the Inti Raymi shows in Coricancha and Main Square can be unsafe, due to silent assaults of money or cell phones. On the other hand, the show in Sacsayhuamán is very safe, it is only recommended not to forget personal belongings after the show. That day, throughout the city of Cusco, there are many policemen patrolling the streets. Generally speaking, Cusco is a very safe city for everyone.


Security at the show in Coricancha

The Inti Raymi show in Coricancha is the first, which starts at 9 in the morning and is free for the entire public in the streets.

It is estimated that 5,000 people or even more gather around the Coricancha esplanade. The majority are citizens of Cusco, although there are also many Peruvian and foreign tourists.

All people must appreciate the show standing up. Many even stayed in the best locations two, three, four or even more hours in advance. If the visitor arrives 30 minutes before the show, unfortunately, almost the entire esplanade is already packed.

Only a few visitors can appreciate the Inti Raymi show in a comfortable seat in front of the Coricancha. Since 2022, about 100 seats have been included to enjoy the show. This ticket is for sale online (limited availability). It is recommended to make the purchase two or three months in advance.

Security at the Coricancha show is high. Dozens of police guard the safety of the people around the esplanade. However, the influx of people is such that it is difficult to notice some cases of silent thefts of wallets or cell phones.

It is also dangerous for a boy or girl to get lost in the crowd. It is recommended to be aware of children and take care of personal belongings such as cell phones or wallets.

The Inti Raymi show at the Coricancha lasts approximately 45 minutes. Then, the public heads on foot to the Main Square.


Security at the show in Main Square

Family at Inti Raymi
Family at the Inti Raymi festival

The Inti Raymi show in the Main Square is the second, which starts at 11 in the morning and is free for the entire public since it is in a public square.

It is estimated that 6,000 people or even more gather around the Main Square. Just as in Coricancha, the majority of visitors are Peruvian citizens but a significant number come from abroad.

In this show people have to appreciate the show standing up. Some visitors rent benches to rest or to be at a better height (and a better point of view of the show). About two, three, four or even more hours before the show, many people were already in the best locations, such as the stands under the Cathedral of Cusco.

Unlike Coricancha, in this show there are no seats available for anyone. Everyone appreciates the show very close to each other. An option to appreciate the show more comfortably is to rent a space (online and in advance) with one of the cafes or restaurants that have a balcony overlooking the Main Square of Cusco.

Security at the Inti Raymi show in the Main Square is high. There, as in Coricancha, the Peruvian police deploy hundreds of agents to guard the streets and protect the visitor. Even so, there are some cases of theft of cell phones or money, without the person realizing the moment of the assault. In the Main Square people are very close and these cases of robberies usually happen.

Just as in Coricancha, in the Main Square parents must also closely monitor the boys and girls. After the show the great mass of people disperses through all the streets of the city. Most walk to Sacsayhuamán to see the actors and actresses parade to the Inca fortress.

The Inti Raymi show in the Main Square lasts 45 minutes on average.


Security at the show in Sacsayhuamán

The Inti Raymi show in Sacsayhuamán is the third, last and most important. It starts at 2 in the afternoon and entry is with a ticket that is purchased online two or three months in advance (limited availability).

This show has seats divided into three groups: red seats, orange seats and green seats. In total there is space for 3,500 people. In this show almost all of the attendees are foreign tourists.

The seats are outdoors so it is recommended to protect yourself from the sun with hats, sunglasses or sunscreen. Apart from these precautions, the visitor is very safe because the show is performed very reliably.

The only dangers are that children get lost during the entry or exit of attendees. Or that the tourist forgets to collect his personal belongings at the end of the show. At the Inti Raymi show in Sacsayhuamán there are no cases of cell phone or wallet theft.

The Inti Raymi show in Sacsayhuamán lasts 2 hours 30 minutes on average.


Recommendations for a safe experience at Inti Raymi

On the day of Inti Raymi there is strong solar radiation so it is recommended to wear a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. That day the temperature is around 20ºC.

If you carry a backpack, try to carry it on the front. This way you will avoid common cases of theft: the thief steals your cell phone or wallet from the back of the backpack without the visitor noticing.

If you are traveling as a family, organize a meeting point in case someone gets lost in the crowd. A good meeting point can be the door of your hotel, a restaurant, cafe or commercial store by mutual agreement.

If you carry a cell phone, try to notice that it is in your pocket. A good option is to carry it with your purse or backpack in the front.


Questions and answers

1. Is Inti Raymi safe?
Yes, the Inti Raymi in Cusco is safe. However, cases of silent robberies may occur due to the large crowd of people.
2. Is the Inti Raymi in Coricancha dangerous?
The Inti Raymi show in Coricancha starts at 9 am and lasts 45 minutes. Due to the large influx of public, cases of silent robberies may occur.
3. Is the Inti Raymi in the Main Square dangerous?
The Inti Raymi show in the Main Square starts at 11 am and lasts 45 minutes. Due to the large influx of public, cases of silent robberies may occur.
4. Is the Inti Raymi in Sacsayhuamán dangerous?
The Inti Raymi show in Sacsayhuamán starts at 2 pm and lasts approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Access to this show is only with an entrance ticket, so it is a 100% safe show with the vast majority of foreign audiences.
5. What to do if I am a victim of robbery at Inti Raymi?
In the event of theft of a cell phone, wallet or documents, it is recommended to report it to a police officer and file a police report as soon as possible.
6. Is it safe to carry a cell phone on the Inti Raymi?
Yes, you can carry your cell phone in the Inti Raymi. It is recommended to carry it in a backpack or bag in the front (do not use the backpack in the back).
7. How to avoid theft at Inti Raymi?
It is recommended to be alert in the face of crowds of people. The backpack, bag or purse must be in the front in view of the owner.
8. How to safely visit Inti Raymi as a family?
It is recommended to coordinate a meeting point in case someone gets lost (such as the door of a hotel, restaurant or commercial establishment).
9. How to safely visit Inti Raymi with children?
It is recommended that the parent keep a close eye on the child (a large number of people on the streets of Cusco).
10. What to wear on Inti Raymi day in Cusco?
On the day of Inti Raymi in Cusco (June 24) it is recommended to wear light clothing with a windproof jacket. Don't forget a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and whatever you consider necessary.