May 22, day of arrival in Cusco

I arrived in Cusco, unintentionally, at the perfect time. This weekend in May marks the start of an epic month of parades and festivals which lead up to Cusco's most important holiday, Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun). The  parade on this day was dedicated to The Day of Pachamama, honoring the earth goddess. The parade was comprised of about 20 different groups of people and each group represented a particular community within or around Cusco. Also, each community has its own costume and dance that has been carried down through countless generations of tradition.

The vast majority of people in the Cusco area are descendants of the Inca and hold close to the culture and customs of their ancestors.