Orange Section Ticket: Prime Viewing
This ticket gives you access to the preferred orange seating area at the Sacsayhuaman fortress (Altitude: approx. 3,701 meters / 12,142 feet). These seats put you really close to the main stage, only about 10 meters (32 feet) away. Travelers often find these are the best spots for taking pictures because the sun will be behind you during the ceremony.
About the Inti Raymi Festival
Inti Raymi, known as the “Festival of the Sun,” happens in Cusco (Altitude: approx. 3,399 meters / 11,152 feet) every year on June 24th. Loads of people, locals and travelers alike, come together to watch a reenactment of the most important festival from the Inca empire. It celebrates the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year down here) and the harvest season, basically marking the Inca New Year.
Just a heads up, Inti Raymi is a huge deal – it’s the second biggest festival on the whole continent of South America. Because it’s so popular, you really need to book this tour package well in advance. Usually, there’s a whole week of stuff happening before the main day, like concerts and street fairs around Cusco.
Package Price
- Adults (13+ years): $267 USD
- Children (5-12 years): $176 USD (You’ll need to show their passport as proof of age)
- Infants (0-4 years): $0 USD
- Note for Peruvian Citizens: Discounts for locals are only available for the green section tickets, not this orange section package.
What’s Included in Your Package
- Check-in service between 10:15 AM and 10:45 AM at Plazoleta Santa Teresa (it’s easy to find, just a 5-minute walk from the main Plaza de Armas). Look for our check-in desk.
- Tourist bus ride from Cusco up to the Inti Raymi location (Sacsayhuaman).
- Inti Raymi guides and staff who will be around to help you out during the event.
- Your official Inti Raymi entrance ticket for the orange section.
- A box lunch – you can pick either a regular or vegetarian option.
- Your reserved seat in the orange section for the main ceremony (roughly 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM).
- Bus ride back from Sacsayhuaman to Cusco city center after the event.
What’s Not Included
- Getting from your hotel to the check-in spot at Plazoleta Santa Teresa. On Inti Raymi day, many streets in the historic center of Cusco are closed to traffic, so you’ll need to walk or figure out your own way to get to the Plazoleta between 10:15 AM and 10:45 AM for check-in.
Event Day Itinerary
- 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM: Check-in and Bus Boarding Our staff will be waiting at Plazoleta Santa Teresa. You’ll check in at the desk (make sure you have your passport!) and then get on the tourist bus.
- 10:45 AM: Bus Departs The bus leaves for Sacsayhuaman. The ride takes about 45 minutes. You’ll get your box lunch when you check in or board.
- 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Arrival and Seating You’ll arrive at the Inti Raymi site and go through the official checkpoint. You’ll be given an Inti Raymi program booklet (handy for knowing what’s going on) and a souvenir DVD. Our guides will help you find your assigned seat in the orange section.
- 1:00 PM: Inti Raymi Ceremony Begins! The main event kicks off. It features someone playing the role of the Inca Pachacutec, performers representing armies from the four corners of the Inca empire (the Suyos), plus various ceremonies, traditional dances, and fire rituals. The whole thing lasts about 90 minutes. It’s mostly in Quechua (the local indigenous language), but it’s very visual and powerful, so you can still follow along, especially with the booklet.
- 3:00 PM: Board Return Bus As soon as the ceremony finishes, the staff will guide you back to the bus.
- 4:30 PM: Arrival in Cusco City Center The bus will drop you off back in Cusco, usually at Plazoleta Santa Teresa. Just so you know: sometimes, depending on how the police manage traffic that day, the drop-off spot might change to Limacpampa Plaza instead.
What to Bring
- Your original passport (not a copy – you need it for check-in).
- Comfortable shoes (you’ll be doing some walking).
- Water to drink.
- A hat for the sun.
- Sunglasses.
- Sunscreen (the sun can be strong at this altitude!).
- A small bit of toilet paper (sometimes useful).
- A small daypack for your things.
- Snacks if you want extras.
- Some cash in Peruvian Soles, especially coins (sometimes needed for public restrooms).
Physical Requirements
This tour is rated as easy. The main thing is being able to walk for about 10 minutes from where the bus drops you off to your seat at Sacsayhuaman. Remember you’re at high altitude in Cusco, so take that into account for your comfort level. Some travelers like to say, “Tómalo con calma” (take it easy) when adjusting to the altitude.
Availability
This Inti Raymi tour package is only available once a year, on June 24th. You absolutely need to book it in advance as spots fill up fast.
Terms and Conditions (The Fine Print)
- Booking: This tour package can’t be transferred to someone else, and you can’t change the date.
- Cancellations: If you need to cancel, you must let us know in writing.
- If you cancel more than 10 days before June 24th: There’s a $50 USD cancellation fee per person.
- If you cancel less than 10 days before June 24th: You forfeit the whole cost (100% cancellation fee, no refund).
- Leaving the Tour Early: If you decide to leave the tour while it’s happening for any reason (like altitude sickness, feeling unwell, or just personal choice), you won’t get any money back. You’ll also have to pay for any extra costs yourself, like food, hotel, getting back to Cusco, medical bills, etc.
- Travel Insurance: It’s mandatory for everyone on this tour to have their own personal travel insurance. Make sure your policy covers things like personal accidents, medical costs, lost belongings, and any other potential issues that could come up. Dealing with unexpected problems at high altitude or in a foreign country can be complex, so insurance is crucial.
- Possible Disruptions: Things can happen that are out of anyone’s control. The Inti Raymi event itself might get interrupted or even cancelled because of bad weather, natural disasters, or other issues like civil unrest or worker strikes. If the tour operator has to cancel the tour for safety reasons due to these kinds of uncontrollable events, the only part of your payment that is refundable is 150 USD per person. It’s important to be aware of this possibility when booking.
