Cusco is celebrating during the month of June. This is the jubilee month where the Cusco anniversary is celebrated, as well as the famous Inti Raymi. In this sense, June is one of the ideal months to travel to Cusco and Machu Picchu. In addition, this month is the ideal month for travelers to explore all the sites of Cusco and Machu Picchu, as well as other sites linked to the Inca culture and ancient Peru. In this blog, we want to talk about how to plan a trip to Machu Picchu during the holidays? Is it done during the high season? What tickets can I choose to enter Machu Picchu during June? All the information here.

• Machu Picchu and the Cusco festivities
• The ideal tickets to enter Machu Picchu during the Cusco festivities
• What is June 24th like in Cusco and on the way to Machu Picchu?
• Machu Picchu during the Cusco festivities
• What to do in Cusco during the month of June?

Coya walking through the streets of Cusco to the Plaza de Armas

Visiting Machu Picchu during the Cusco festivities is possible. In addition, it will allow you to have one of the best experiences because you can relive and be part of one of the most impressive ceremonial traditions of the Incas. Cusco is considered one of the best destinations in South America.

If you are planning to visit Machu Picchu in Cusco during the month of June, you should keep in mind that you can also visit and tour Cusco to see the Inti Raymi. The Inti Raymi is celebrated every June 24, but throughout the month you can see many activities in the center of Cusco.

For example, before the main dates, the streets of downtown Cusco receive Corpus Christi, which can be an option if you are planning to make the trip, days before the month of June. During this festivity, as well as on the days close to June 24, you can find dances, parades, live music, typical dances and even food fairs. Exactly, you can try the famous chiriuchu. Let’s learn more about these traditional festivals and about Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu and the Cusco festivities

On June 24, as part of the Cusco festivities, the “Inti Raymi” is celebrated, which emulates the most important celebration for the Inca civilization. During this day, the Incas celebrated what we know today as the winter solstice, the day on which the Sun (main god of the Inca civilization) reaches its highest point. This ancient festival begins at the Qoricancha or temple of the sun and ends at the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman. This colorful celebration is one of the best things you can do during your trip to Machu Picchu, a city dedicated entirely to the Sun.

In order not to miss the Inti Raymi and the Cusco festivities, you can reserve your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu for days before or after the 24th. The Inti Raymi festival is held only once during the year. In addition, this date cannot be postponed, having been celebrated this way since 1954.

Since the festivities in Cusco are one of the most important regions in Peru and dedicated to the tourism sector, there are several activities that can be modified each year; some of these begin as early as May. Here, we leave you some of the activities that were carried out during the Cusco festivities of 2024.

• On May 2, the traditional “Cruzvelacuy” festival was held, where several organizations organize to decorate and pay respect to the city’s crosses.
• In mid-May, the festivities that announce Corpus Christi begin.
• At the end of May, the presentation of the Entrance of the Corpus Christi Festival in Cusco takes place.
• Several events are held in the days before this festival and the traditional chiriuchu, ideal for highlighting local cuisine.
• That same day the Corpus Christi procession takes place, with more than 14 saints accompanied by their faithful and dancers.
• The first weeks of June see the celebration of various cultural activities related to festivities and people who influenced the development of the festivities.
• In the middle of the second week, the different parades of educational institutions and other institutions in general begin (from the 15th to the 22nd).
• One of the most anticipated parades is the one held by the Diego Tito Quispe University.
• At the end of the second week of June, concerts and gala events are scheduled with many guests and for the general public.
• On June 22, all the provinces and districts that make up the Cusco region hold a massive parade.
• A parade of dances and traditional costumes is held, mostly with live music.
• On the 24th, Inti Raymi takes place from 8:00 in the morning at the Qoricancha Temple, continuing in the Plaza de Armas and culminating in the Sacsayhuamán esplanade.
• The rest of the days some ceremonies and cultural activities continue to take place until the end of the month.

Tourist exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu

The ideal tickets to enter Machu Picchu during the Cusco festivities

Once we have the possible dates to visit Machu Picchu and also spend a few days in Cusco to be part of the festivities, it remains to select the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu. Currently, there are three circuits of which up to 10 tickets can be found.

In June, Machu Picchu is in high season, so you may also find greater availability of tickets to enter. However, this does not mean that you will be able to book at short notice.

The advance booking time for any of the tickets is 2 months, however, it is advisable to make the reservation much earlier. Below, we can see a table with the circuits, experiences and types of tickets that can be purchased. We will also put the advance booking time. Let’s see.

What is June 24th like in Cusco and on the way to Machu Picchu?

Although we recommend arriving days before, on June 24, the Inti Raymi celebrations begin at the Qoricancha temple in the historic center of Cusco. Arrive early to have the opportunity to see up close how an ancestral festival dedicated to the sun is celebrated, in a city whose symbol is a sun since the time of its creation and which was covered in gold so that it would shine like it. Native wind instruments are played by musicians in front of people from the 4 suyos, dressed in typical costumes and which are the prelude to the arrival of the Inca who arrives in the company of the most important people of the empire, transported in a kind of litter that in the time of the Incas was made of gold and silver. The Inti Raymi takes place in the Qoricancha (gold fence), the main temple of Cusco dedicated to the sun, then in the Plaza de Armas and finally in Sacsayhuaman.

June is the month when most tourists come to Cusco. The main reason is that it is the ideal month to visit for many reasons. Probably the main one is that it coincides with the dry season and with an ideal climate for excursions or walks.

As for the route to Machu Picchu, we are sure that you will find a large number of tourists who are encouraged to make the trip even on that day. Sometimes the reason is that they did not make a reservation in advance and sometimes they have to sacrifice the Inca ceremony of Inti Raymi to visit Machu Picchu.

During the trip to Machu Picchu, you may encounter several people making the trip. In this sense, you should arrive at the train station at the appropriate time and avoid missing the trip. This is more for time reasons because the crowd can make it confusing to board the train properly.

Making the journey to the main square of Cusco

Machu Picchu during the Cusco festivities

Now it’s time to see what the Machu Picchu tour is like during the Cusco festivities. Is there an excess of tourists? In the case of the Machu Picchu archaeological site, things don’t change much.

This is mainly because the capacity to enter Machu Picchu is limited. Only people who have booked a ticket can make the trip. Of course, you will find a lot of tourists, but the circuits have been modified precisely to have a good tour.

That is why, although the Cusco festivals do not directly influence the tour of Machu Picchu, they will influence the purchase or reservation of an entrance ticket. If you are thinking of doing the tour of Machu Picchu, it will be important to book the ticket with the required advance notice.

Inti Raymi – The Festival of the Sun

What to do in Cusco during the month of June?

We leave you with some tips that can help you not to miss any activity and enjoy the experience in its entirety.

• A fundamental step is to reserve the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
• After that, make a reservation for the train you like the most.
• It will also be important to choose a centrally located hotel in Cusco, to reach all destinations.
• You can find out about the activities that will take place next year at the Emufec offices.
• Emufec is located on Santa Teresa Street 142, in the city of Cusco.
• You can also make inquiries at the travel agency you contacted.
• You can organize your trips to learn more about the Sacred Valley and that same afternoon travel from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo.
• You can also do other activities such as visiting museums, churches and other historical sources that can be visited in the city of Cusco.
• Near Cusco are Písac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Tipón and other archaeological sites.
• Always wear sunscreen and a hat or cap to have a comfortable trip. Remember that most activities are outdoors.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Abigail C.

“Awesome“

“I went to Machu Picchu in one day. But we booked the train very early because there were no other tickets available and we only had time to see the most important things, but I think you should stay in Machu Picchu for a whole day, it is a place to enjoy and not to make a quick trip, I recommend booking the train tickets in advance.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, December 6, 2024