Traveling to Peru during its Andean festivals means immersing yourself in ancestral rituals that are still very much alive.
For those who have never set foot in Peru, the first encounter with the Andes can feel like stepping into another time. Here, the mountains are living beings—guardians of memory and protagonists of celebrations that blend history, culture, and joy. Among them all, Inti Raymi shines as the most emblematic festival, accompanied by a calendar of Andean celebrations that reveal the country’s deepest soul.
Inti Raymi: The Great Festival of the Sun
Every June 24, the city of Cusco transforms into an open-air stage to revive one of the most important ceremonies of the Inka Empire: Inti Raymi, or the Festival of the Sun. This celebration, which marks the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, was the time when the Inkas paid homage to Inti, the Sun god, to give thanks for the harvests and ask for prosperity in the new agricultural cycle.
Today, Inti Raymi is a large-scale theatrical reenactment that takes place in three historic locations: the Qorikancha (the former Temple of the Sun), Cusco’s Main Square or Awkaypata, and the imposing fortress of Saqsaywamán.
Actors, musicians, and dancers dressed in period costumes recreate ancestral rituals in Quechua, accompanied by the sounds of pututos (traditional Andean wind instruments), drums, and ceremonial chants. In this way, past and present come together in a truly unique setting.
In June, in addition to Inti Raymi, the Qoyllur Rit’i festival also takes place—a pilgrimage that blends Catholic faith with Andean worldview. Thousands of people walk to a sanctuary located more than 4,500 meters above sea level, on the slopes of a snow-capped mountain. This intense and moving experience helps visitors understand the deep spiritual relationship that Andean communities maintain with nature.
Moreover, June is an ideal month to travel to the Cusco region. The dry climate and clear skies create perfect conditions to explore the Sacred Valley of the Inkas and Machupicchu, one of the wonders of the world.
Andean Festivals: Celebration All Year Round
Although Inti Raymi is the most well-known, it is not the only one. Throughout the year, the Peruvian Andes host numerous festivities that combine pre-Hispanic beliefs and religious traditions, giving rise to deeply emotional cultural expressions.
One of the most striking is the Festival of the Virgin of Candelaria, celebrated in February in the city of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca—the highest navigable lake in the world. This festival brings together thousands of dancers and musicians who fill the streets with embroidered costumes, colorful masks, and choreographies that tell ancestral stories, in an explosion of color, rhythm, and devotion.
Music, Dance, and Flavors
Andean festivals cannot be understood without their music and dance. Each region has its own rhythms, such as huayno, diablada, or pandilla puneña, performed with traditional instruments like the quena, charango, and bombo. For international travelers, these sounds become the soundtrack of an authentic journey.
Gastronomy also plays a central role. During the festivities, it is common to taste traditional dishes such as pachamanca—meats and tubers cooked underground; Cusco’s chiri uchu; or ancestral beverages like chicha de jora. Eating means sharing a table with the community and becoming part of the celebration!
Taking part in Inti Raymi or any Andean festival is much more than attending a cultural event: it is coming into contact with a way of understanding the world where time is cyclical, nature is sacred, and community lies at the heart of life. For first-time visitors to Peru, these celebrations offer a direct gateway into the country’s identity.
Beyond postcard-perfect landscapes, Andean festivals reveal a living Peru—proud of its roots and generous with those who arrive with curiosity and respect. Planning a trip around these festivities is one of the best ways to discover the heart of the Andes and take home, along with photos, an experience that will remain in your memory forever.