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Inti Raymi 2026 Tour: 5 Days Cusco + Machu Picchu

• Cusco • 5 days / 4 nights

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Availability Daily departures
Transport Hotel pickup
Languages English, Spanish, Quechua
Service type Not specified
Cancellation policy Not specified
Maximum altitude 4300 msnm m.s.n.m.

Summary
Itinerary
Inclusions
FAQs
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About this activity

The Inti Raymi 5-day tour package combines the three experiences most essential to understanding Cusco — the city’s Inca and colonial history, the wonder of Machu Picchu, and the most important cultural festival in the Andean world — into a single coordinated itinerary. The centerpiece is Inti Raymi on June 24, 2026: the Festival of the Sun, performed by approximately 700 actors in Quechua at three venues across Cusco, from the Temple of the Sun at dawn to the massive Saqsayhuaman fortress at midday.

At $816 per person, the package covers all tour services (transport, guides, tickets, train, Machu Picchu bus and entrance). Hotel is arranged separately to match your preferred category — a deliberate choice that allows budget travelers and luxury travelers to use the same logistical backbone at the same price. Andino Peru Tours’ comparable 5-day package starts at $829 with a basic hotel included; if you budget $80–120/night for accommodation, your total will be comparable to all-inclusive operators at similar or lower cost.

Book early: Machu Picchu circuit tickets and Inti Raymi grandstand seats are sold in strictly limited quantities. The Saqsayhuaman Orange Zone grandstand fills months before June 24. Confirmed availability requires booking at minimum 30 days in advance; we strongly recommend 60–90 days.

Why Choose This Tour?

Inti Raymi — June 24, 2026 (Festival of the Sun)
Grandstand seats: Qoricancha + Saqsayhuaman Orange Zone
Machu Picchu (2-hour guided circuit)
Sacred Valley: Pisac + Ollantaytambo + buffet lunch
Cusco City Tour: 5 major sites

Itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Cusco

Pick-up: we coordinate transfer from Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport to your hotel in the historic center. Arrival timing depends on your flight schedule.

The day: Day 1 is for acclimatization. Cusco is at 3,400 m and most visitors arrive by air (from Lima, La Paz or international connections). Moving too fast on the first day is the primary cause of altitude sickness in the Cusco region. We recommend: rest in the afternoon, walk gently in the evening (the Plaza de Armas is steps away from most historic center hotels), coca tea throughout, and a light dinner.

Optional upgrade: if you want to add the Cusco Half-Day City Tour ($15 per person, service) on Day 1 afternoon as a gentle introduction to the city's major sites, coordinate with your booking agent when reserving.

Day 02

Sacred Valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Train to Aguas Calientes

Pick-up: 07:00–07:30 hrs from hotel.

Taray Viewpoint: first stop for a panoramic view of the Sacred Valley from the road above Pisac. The valley — the agricultural and strategic core of the Inca Empire — extends for 100 km between Pisac and Ollantaytambo at 2,700–3,000 m altitude.

Pisac Archaeological Site: the most extensive terrace complex in the Inca Empire spreads across the entire ridge above the town — over 30,000 agricultural terraces that have stood for 500 years. The guide covers the Pisac site's function as a military and religious center, and the chinchaypuyu (northeast suyo) administrative role of the site.

Buffet Lunch in Urubamba (~12:00 hrs): full buffet at a local restaurant in the Urubamba Valley.

Ollantaytambo (~13:30 hrs): the living Inca town and the Temple of the Sun with the Wall of Six Monoliths. One of the best-preserved examples of Inca urban planning and military architecture.

Train to Aguas Calientes (~16:00–17:00 hrs): Expedition (PeruRail) or Voyager (IncaRail) train from Ollantaytambo station to Aguas Calientes (~1h 40m), the town at the base of Machu Picchu. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

Day 03

Machu Picchu

Pick-up: 08:00–09:30 hrs (depending on your circuit entrance time).

Bus to the Sanctuary: ~35 minutes by shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes town to the Machu Picchu entrance gate.

Guided Circuit: 2-hour guided tour covering the principal sectors of Machu Picchu — the agricultural terraces, the Inti Mach'ay sun temple, the Principal Temple, the Sacred Plaza, the Intihuatana solar pillar and the residential districts. Circuit 2 (subject to availability; Circuits 1 or 3 if unavailable at the reserved time — inform us at booking if you have a preference).

Free time: after the guided circuit, you have 1–2 hours of free exploration before the descent. Optional: the Inti Punku Sun Gate trail (45–60 min additional hike to the original Inca Trail entrance above the sanctuary) — inform the guide if interested.

Return to Aguas Calientes: walk or bus down (~20 minutes). Free time for lunch in town or the thermal-medicinal baths (not included; S/. 20–30 at the gate).

Train and bus return to Cusco: 14:30 or 19:00 hrs train from Aguas Calientes, depending on pre-reserved schedule. Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. Arrival at hotel ~18:00–21:00 hrs depending on train time.

Day 04

Inti Raymi: Festival of the Sun (June 24)

Pick-up: 08:45–09:00 hrs from hotel. This is a full day.

09:00 hrs — Qoricancha: Opening ceremony at the Temple of the Sun. Grandstand seats included.

~10:00 hrs — Plaza de Armas Procession: the guide positions the group for the best street view of the procession.

12:00 hrs — Box Lunch: provided while waiting for the Saqsayhuaman ceremony. The Quechua-Spanish interpreter explains what to expect in the main ceremony.

13:45 hrs — Saqsayhuaman: the main ceremony begins. Orange Zone grandstand seats. Approximately 3 hours. The ceremony ends ~16:30–17:00 hrs.

Return to hotel: ~17:00–18:00 hrs.

The evening of June 24 in Cusco is the most vibrant evening of the year — street celebrations, music and traditional dances continue across the historic center until midnight. No guide coverage; free exploration.

Day 05

Departure

Airport transfer to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. Pick-up time coordinated with your flight schedule.

What's included

Inclusions

Meals
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba (Day 2)
- Box lunch on Inti Raymi day (Day 4)
Tickets & Permits
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket (Circuit 2, subject to availability)
Guide
- Bilingual MINCETUR-certified professional guide throughout (Days 2, 3 and 4)
- Quechua-Spanish interpreter guide for the Inti Raymi ceremony (Day 4)
Transportation
- Airport transfer Cusco airport ↔ hotel (arrival Day 1, departure Day 5)
- Tourist transport throughout (all ground transfers in Cusco and Sacred Valley)
- Expedition (PeruRail) or Voyager (IncaRail) train Ollantaytambo ↔ Aguas Calientes (round trip)
- Bus Aguas Calientes ↔ Machu Picchu (round trip)
Other
- Inti Raymi grandstand seat — Qoricancha (Day 4)
- Inti Raymi grandstand seat — Saqsayhuaman Orange Zone (Day 4)
- First aid kit and emergency oxygen
- 24-hour assistance throughout the package

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Inti Raymi 2026?

June 24, 2026 — the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The festival has been held on this date without exception since 1944. Plan your 5-day package with arrival June 20–21 and departure June 25.

When should I book this package?

For confirmed grandstand availability in the Orange Zone, book by March–April 2026 at the latest. We require minimum 30 days advance notice, but the practical reality is that Orange Zone seats exhaust in April–May. If you are booking in May or June: contact us immediately — we will check current availability before confirming.

Is this package suitable for first-time visitors to Peru?

Yes. The 5-day structure is designed as a standalone introduction to Cusco: city history (Day 1), the Sacred Valley (Day 2), Machu Picchu (Day 3), and the festival (Day 4). Each day builds context for the next. The only physical demand is the Machu Picchu circuit (2-hour guided walk on mostly flat stone paths) and the Inti Raymi ceremony (standing in grandstands for up to 3 hours — seating is provided but the experience involves extended outdoor exposure).

Can I add more days before or after the package?

Yes. Cusco's broader Inca-period attractions — Waqrapukara, the ATV circuits, Rainbow Mountain, Maras Salt Mines — can be added as individual tours before arrival on Day 1 or after departure on Day 5. The cusco tour section has all options with pricing.

What is the Inti Raymi cancellation policy?

The package is non-refundable after confirmation. The Machu Picchu entrance, train tickets and Inti Raymi grandstand seats are all non-transferable purchased specifically for your group. For cancellations made 31+ days before travel, partial refund of non-ticketed components may apply — consult your booking agent for specifics. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Is the ceremony in Quechua? Will I understand anything?

The ceremony is performed entirely in Quechua — the language of the Inca Empire, still spoken by approximately 8 million people in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. The Quechua-Spanish interpreter guide (included in the package) provides real-time bilingual narration of what is happening in each stage of the ceremony, explaining the symbolic significance of each ritual. Knowing the meaning of each rite in advance transforms the 3-hour ceremony from spectacle into lived history.

Is there a student discount?

Yes. University students (with valid international university ID) receive a $20 USD discount. Schoolchildren aged 8–16 (passport required) also receive a $20 USD discount. Children under 8 are free. Inform us of your group composition when booking.

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Inti Raymi 2026 Tour: 5 Days Cusco + Machu Picchu

About this activity

Why Choose This Tour?