El Inti Raymi
Peru’s spectacular re-enactment of the ancient Inca festival honouring Inti, the Sun God, staged each winter solstice above the city of Cusco.
What is El Inti Raymi?
A festival to the Sun
The Inti Raymi (‘Festival of the Sun’ in Quechua) was the most important ceremony of the Inca Empire, held to honour Inti, the Sun God, and to mark the winter solstice — the start of the new agricultural year in the Andes.
Banned, then reborn
The Spanish colonisers banned the festival in 1572, but in 1944 it was revived as a historical re-enactment. Today, hundreds of actors in brilliant costumes recreate the Inca ceremony at the stone fortress of Sacsayhuamán, just above Cusco, watched by huge crowds every 24th of June.
Andean identity
With music, dance, processions and ancient Quechua spoken throughout, Inti Raymi is far more than a tourist show: it is a powerful celebration of indigenous Andean identity and pride in Peru’s pre-Columbian past.
“El Inti Raymi conmemora la historia inca y llena de orgullo a todo el Perú.”
At a glance
Find it on the map
How to talk & write about it
This festival is perfect for Theme 2: Popular culture (customs, festivals & celebrations). Use it in the photo-card discussion and reading-aloud/conversation (Paper 2) and as a rich example in your ~90-word writing (Paper 4). Here is the language you need.
Key vocabulary
| el Inti Raymi | the Festival of the Sun |
| el sol | the sun |
| los incas | the Incas |
| la ceremonia | the ceremony |
| el solsticio de invierno | the winter solstice |
| conmemorar | to commemorate |
| los antepasados | the ancestors |
| el desfile | the procession / parade |
| el traje | the costume |
| mundialmente conocido | world-renowned |
Model sentences (build up the tenses)
- PresentEl Inti Raymi se celebra en Cusco el veinticuatro de junio.Inti Raymi is celebrated in Cusco on 24th June.
- PresentCientos de actores recrean la antigua ceremonia inca con música y trajes coloridos.Hundreds of actors re-enact the ancient Inca ceremony with music and colourful costumes.
- OpinionMe parece fascinante porque conmemora la cultura inca y une a la comunidad.I find it fascinating because it commemorates Inca culture and unites the community.
- PastLos españoles prohibieron la fiesta, pero ahora es mundialmente conocida.The Spanish banned the festival, but now it is world-renowned.
- FutureMe gustaría visitar Perú para ver el Inti Raymi en persona.I would like to visit Peru to see Inti Raymi in person.
Structure a strong answer
El Inti Raymi se celebra en Cusco el veinticuatro de junio.
Inti Raymi is celebrated in Cusco on 24th June.
Cientos de actores recrean la antigua ceremonia inca con música y trajes coloridos.
Hundreds of actors re-enact the ancient Inca ceremony with music and colourful costumes.
Me parece fascinante porque conmemora la cultura inca y une a la comunidad.
I find it fascinating because it commemorates Inca culture and unites the community.
Los españoles prohibieron la fiesta, pero ahora es mundialmente conocida. Me gustaría visitar Perú para ver el Inti Raymi en persona.
The Spanish banned the festival, but now it is world-renowned. I would like to visit Peru to see Inti Raymi in person.
Examiner tips
- Photo card: start with en la foto hay… / se ve a…, then say what people are doing and wearing, then give an opinion.
- Justify everything: opinions score marks only with a reason — use porque, ya que, creo que, me parece que.
- Show off tenses: for the top bands, add a past (antes… / de pequeño…) and a future/conditional (me gustaría…) to your present-tense description.
- Connectives: link ideas with además, sin embargo, por eso and aunque to sound more natural.