Machu Picchu was an important place for sun worship during the Incan era and as a civilization that held the sun in such high regard, you can imagine that for the Incas, winter was not a pleasant time of year. They feared that the annual disappearance of the sun would mean the onslaught of famine and to prevent this from happening would take an annual pilgrimage to Cuzco to honour the sun god and plead for his quick return. This ceremony was perhaps the most important in the Incan calendar and known as ‘Inti Raymi’, or ‘The Festival of the Sun’.

Before the ceremony, celebrants would fast for days and refrain from all forms of physical pleasure. Gifts would then be presented to the Sapa Inca, who would put on a lavish feast of chichi, corn bread and meat, in exchange for a few slaughtered llamas. Slaughtering llamas was important to ensure fertile lands and plentiful crops for the year ahead. Even today you will see many llamas on the Inca trail trek and Peruvians still hold them with the highest regard for the part they played in shaping the Inca Empire.

In 1572, the Spaniards invaded Peru and banned the celebration of Inti Raymi, deeming it ‘pagan’ and not in line with their strict Catholic faith. However, with the hordes of tourists travelling to Peru to attempt the Inca trail, the event has been resurrected and now takes place at Cuzco every year on 24 June. With Cuzco as the main starting point on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, the event attracts both its fair share of tourists and locals alike.

Although times have changed, the event is as authentic as they come, with lavish feasts still a key part of the ceremony. Locals take on the parts of historical Incan figures, and to be asked to play Sapa Inca, or his wife, is a great honour.

As Machu Picchu has long been associated with sun worship, attending the ceremony is a great way to get a feel of the authentic rituals which were conducted on the grounds of Machu Picchu during solstices of the sun. The most important temple to the sun god, Wiracocha, was housed at Machu Picchu and therefore Inti Raymi couldn’t be a more apt start to your Inca trail trek.

Although the event lasts all day the highlights take place in the evening when stacks of straw are set on fire in honour of the Tawantinsuty, or the Empire of the Four Wind Directions. Afterwards, sufficient feasting follows; although you’re more likely to find yourself enjoying sumptuous alpaca meat and roasted ceviche than chichi and corn bread. Drinking is also a large part of these celebrations, however if you’re attempting to trek the Inca trail to Machu Picchu the following morning you may want to take it easy on the Pisco sours.

Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who specialise in Inca Trail treks http://www.mountainkingdoms.com/machu-picchu-inca.ihtml. They also offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.