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The Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco was the highlight of our trip in Peru. It is a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the god Inti (Quechua for “sun“), the most venerated deity in Inca religion. It was the celebration of the winter solstice - the shortest day of the year in terms of the time between sunrise and sunset and the Inca New Year. In territories south of the equator the gregorian months of June and July are winter months. It is held on June 24. During the Inca Empire, the Inti Raymi was the most important of four ceremonies celebrated in Cusco, as related by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The celebration took place in the Haukaypata or the main plaza in the city.
