The Pisac archaeological park was built by order of Inca Pachacútec, the main extender of the Inca Empire, in the mid-15th century. With the arrival of the Spanish conquest, this place was invaded and the inhabitants fled, leaving the location. The conquerors destroyed the main monuments and the cemetery was looted and destroyed.
Over time, the population settled at the foot of the mountain where the archaeological site was built. Currently, it is divided into two zones: the ancient part located at the top, which is the Inca archaeological site, and the current part, which is the colonial town at the foot of the mountain.
The name Pisac comes from the Quechua word "Pisaca" meaning partridge. Originally, the Pisac archaeological site was shaped like a partridge, as the Incas liked to shape their most important cities into the forms of animals.
The National Archaeological Park of Pisac consists of groups of archaeological remains including terraces, aqueducts, roads associated with walls and gates, channeled watercourses, cemeteries, bridges, etc.
It covers an area of 4 square kilometers. Over this area, constructions occupy the hills, forming groups of complicated arrangements, while in other parts, isolated constructions can be seen.
Among the notable features are the 40 terraces forming an inverted triangle, primarily used for agriculture. Additionally, you can find the neighborhood of QaschisRaqay, the neighborhood of K’allaQ’asa, the neighborhood of Intiwatana, the neighborhood of Pisaq’a, and the neighborhood of Tianayuc, the five Inca neighborhoods located in different sectors of the citadel.
The Pisac Park is located 33 km east of the city of Cusco. You can reach it through an agency on a tour of the Sacred Valley. You can also use public transportation going to Urubamba, which departs every 15 minutes. You need to get off at the Pisac bridge and from there head towards the back of the Pisac temple on a walk of about an hour.
Just 200 meters uphill from the Pisac town square, there is a beautiful set of terraces. This group consists of 40 terraces forming a kind of triangle with the vertex pointing downwards, meaning the smallest terrace is the first one visitors see when they start to ascend.
In the Pisac citadel, we can count more than twenty towers, which are of two types:
This central neighborhood was the seat of temples and palaces, with higher architectural quality and more beautiful walls. The enclosures are larger compared to those in other neighborhoods. It has three levels to enhance aesthetics and comfort, with buildings oriented towards the main valley. In this place, we can find: the central enclosure, the Intiwatana, the altar carved in volcanic breccia, groups of liturgical fountains, alleys, and courtyards.
It is known as Tianayuc, meaning “that has a seat,” since in the inner courtyard there is a kind of sofa for two people with a backrest and armrests made of stone. This neighborhood is small, with rooms whose doors open onto a central courtyard, plus a nearly destroyed tower that overlooks much of the K’itamayu gorge.
It is the largest neighborhood in the Inca city of Pisac, built on the mountain's summit, the highest altitude of all the enclosures. Its enclosures are spread over a sloping plane, descending northwards. It has many rooms, steep slopes, towers, a short tunnel 3 meters long; this neighborhood has impressive ravines on its sides.
Located on the Chongo gorge, two hundred meters from the Intiwatana neighborhood and at a lower height. This neighborhood was built by lowering the surface level to create a plain. The neighborhood's plan is semicircular, following the shape of the mountain. This group consists of 23 enclosures built with amazing order.
This neighborhood has many important constructions. The houses are made of medium and small stones. The neighborhood's plan is inclined, reaching the slope where the Chongo stream is located. The entire neighborhood is like a sentinel controlling the northeastern side of the city of Pisac.
Upon arriving in the town of Pisac, you can not only visit the archaeological park but also engage in other activities.
This space allows us to appreciate different types of flora, such as orchids, the kantu flower, medicinal plants, and various Andean cacti. You can also visit the potato museum, with a display of 200 native potatoes, which is only a small percentage of the more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes found in Peru.
This botanical garden has a mineral exhibit and an insect exhibition from the area, including butterflies, beetles, and more.
It is located just a block and a half from the Pisac Plaza, with visiting hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. Tickets can be purchased at the garden entrance, so there are no excuses not to visit this place during your visit to Pisac.
The Pisac archaeological park is 3.6 km from the town, making many visitors prefer to hike up the mountain. The route ascends approximately 454 m following stone steps. Completing the entire path can take between 2 to 3 hours, depending on the individual's physical condition.
The market in the town of Pisac is famous for offering a wide variety of products, including food, jewelry, and garments made by local artisans. On Sundays, the market receives producers from communities near Pisac, where you will find all kinds of natural foods. This experience is full of color and traditions, and it is a must-see during your visit to the Pisac archaeological site.
This experience, full of color and tradition, is a must-see on your visit to the Pisac archaeological site. Discover Pisac with a unique guided tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
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Ollantaytambo was one of the most important towns in the Sacred Valley, primarily because it is the closest Inca city to Machu Picchu. Today, the archaeological remains are the main attraction of the place.
The town of Ollantaytambo is the only Inca town that is still inhabited today, which is why it is known as the Living Inca City. The town's design around the archaeological site still maintains the architectural style of the Inca culture, and the inhabitants still keep traditions inherited from Inca ancestors.
It is said that the town of Ollantaytambo was built during the expansionist era of the Inca Empire by order of Pachacútec. However, there are walls that were built by the Huari culture, such as the Pumamarca fortress, which later became a military compound accessible by the well-known Inca Trail.
Some historians indicate that the name Ollantaytambo comes from the term "Ullantawi," which means "to look down." Over time, it evolved to Ullanta, and upon becoming a tambo, it acquired its current name.
Ollantaytambo is also known for an Inca drama titled "Ollantay," whose protagonist was General Ollanta. In this literary work, the setting of the story is this place.
Ollantaytambo served as an access point to the Sacred Valley, as it is a mandatory passage to Machu Picchu, thus being considered a strategic military point. This place was vital in the Incas' fight against the Spaniards during the conquest, as they managed to stop the Spanish cavalry by flooding the fields around Ollantaytambo.
The Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park is located in the district of the same name, in the province of Urubamba, 60 km in a straight line from the city of Cusco. It is strategically located at the opposite end of the Pisac archaeological site.
It is an impressive architectural complex almost completely destroyed, with only the immovable pieces that make up a stone canvas that, due to its solidity, volume, and fitting precision, withstood the onslaught of the idolaters' eradicators and also repelled treasure looters.
It is thought that the entire complex formed the Temple of the Sun, of which only the western wall remains, made up of six stones of red porphyry, with strips fitting with incredible accuracy.
It is a beautiful water fountain with a triple spout in parallel and broken lines, sculpted on the front face. The Incas built groups of liturgical fountains in every urban center.
Mañay means request and Raqay means barn; it is interpreted as the Plaza of Requests. This name was given to the Plaza of Ollantaytambo and it remains to this day; this plaza is located on the right bank of the Patakancha stream, rectangular in shape, with the boundary walls featuring many doorways.
The Royal House of the Sun still retains the urban planning layout of the Inca era. It consists of 17 superimposed terraces, a succession of straight and wide terraces oriented towards the side of the plaza and the town; the upper group of terraces runs transversely to the previous group at a higher elevation.
It is the last terrace of the upper group of terraces, with the entire wall consisting of two stone canvases forming a kind of room. This hall is now incomplete, with the outer wall and the wall that contained the entrance door being demolished; the foundations remain, and it can be seen that the niches faced the interior and not, as now, exposed to the elements.
Several kilometers before reaching Ollantaytambo, there are groups of parallel terraces, with formidable walls sloping towards the hill, with steps embedded in the walls.
Choqana is a Quechua word meaning "where it is knocked down or thrown," referring to a barracks located two kilometers before Ollantaytambo, on the left side of the Urubamba River. It was a place of administrative control, signal station, and communication, as it has many enclosures arranged for surveillance.
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Monday to Sunday from 08:00 am to 05:30 pm.
Entrance to Tambomachay is included in the Tourist Ticket.
The climate in Tambomachay is generally sunny during the day and temperate-cold at night. It is recommended to visit this place in the morning, as the wind in the afternoon can make the visit uncomfortable.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas holds a treasure of agricultural engineering, discovered just over 90 years ago, and this place continues to be of interest to researchers.
There is no doubt that that the name Moray comes from Quechua, though the exact meaning of the word is unclear. According to various historians, it could have multiple meanings. It is said that it might come from the contraction of the words "Muyu," meaning round, and’s word aAymora, meaning corn harvest and the month of March.
Research indicates that the first terraces were built by a culture before the Incas, between the 6th and 10th centuries, possibly the Maras culture, which dominated the territory. The second part was built by the Incas between the 12th and 14th centuries, likely during the territorial expansion initiated by Inca Pachacutec.
The Inca culture brought products from throughout the Tahuantinsuyo territory to plant in the fertile land of Moray, using the agricultural system of the place.
With the arrival of the Spanish conquest, this place was abandoned until 1932 when Shirppe Johnson’s overflight revealed the area, which was full of vegetation.
According to historians, these constructions were an important agricultural laboratory of the Inca Empire. The terraces were built with irrigation channels, and each of them created a microclimate. The significant temperature difference between the top and the bottom of the depressions is striking, with a difference of up to 15°C.
The Moray ruins Peru consists of agricultural terraces built in giant natural depressions or holes. These terraces are arranged concentrically, forming a giant amphitheater.
There are three circular complexes, ranging up to 150 meters deep, with an average terrace height of 1.80 meters, where the existence has been confirmed of nearly 20 different microclimates.
The terraces are divided into groups of four, each with different temperatures, heights, and characteristics. The first four terraces have a moist climate with temperatures around 0°C. The next four have a higher temperature with a difference of up to 3°C. The last four have a different temperature, varying due to sun exposure and the changing seasons.
This temperature difference is more evident during the dry season, which spans from April to October.
The circular shape of the terraces, with their irrigation channels slightly inclined, facilitated the watering of the entire area. Each terrace offered a different climatic environment, allowing for the cultivation of various types of plants and grains.
The terraces, built on retaining walls filled with fertile soil and irrigated through complex systems, allowed for the cultivation of more than 250 plant species. These included coca leaves and medicinal herbs on the first four terraces, quinoa and amaranth on the next four, and potatoes and corn on the last four.
The Moray ruins Peru is located 53 km from the city of Cusco (1 hour by bus via the Cusco - Maras route), at an altitude of 3,385 meters above sea level. It is in the peasant community of Mullakas Misminay in the province of Urubamba. It covers an area of 37,000 hectares.
The climate in Moray is temperate, with temperatures ranging from 20°C during the day to 0°C at night. The best travel season is the dry season, which runs from April to October.
The archaeological site of Moray is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The entrance fee is included in the Tourist Ticket.
You can get to Moray in various ways:
The Moray ruins Peru offers a breathtaking historical and scenic experience, making it an ideal spot for photography.
Inca Terraces
The terraces served as an Inca agricultural laboratory, where they experimented with crops to produce items that could not be grown under other conditions.
Moray Raymi
Every October 8th, the Moray Raymi festival is celebrated, a festivity related to agriculture, accompanied by traditional dances and ritual ceremonies such as the offering to the earth.
Huchuy Qosqo is the most beautiful archaeological site in the Sacred Valley, so beautiful that it can be compared to Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. It is located on top of a mountain from which you can appreciate the entire Sacred Valley.
According to chroniclers, Huchuy Qosqo was built by order of the Inca Wiracocha, who, feeling tired from old age, wanted to retire from the command of the Tahuantinsuyo empire in search of rest with his family.
However, it was not until the 20th century that it was given the name Huchuy Qosqo due to its similarity to the capital of the Inca Empire. Originally, its name was Caquia Jaquijahuana.
With the arrival of the Spanish conquest, it was Manco Inca who used the city of Huchuy Qosqo to move the Inca army from Cusco to Vilcabamba to recover this sector. However, it was the conqueror Gonzalo Pizarro who invaded and destroyed Huchuy Qosqo.
Huchuy Qosqo was declared a National Heritage Site in 2003.
The name Huchuy Qosqo is a Quechua word that means "Little Cusco." This name is given due to the similarity of the archaeological site to the city of Cusco.
It is located in the rural community of the same name, at the summit of a part of the mountain range, almost 5 km from Calca and 570 meters above the Vilcanota River.
As this place was a retreat site for a former Inca ruler, it only has constructions necessary for daily life. What can be appreciated in this archaeological complex today includes:
The Qallanca is a rectangular square approximately 50 meters long, located in the center of the archaeological site. This place was of great importance as it served as a meeting center for high-ranking Inca officials.
It is a long grouping of terraces with retaining walls that create suitable terraces for agriculture.
A building with the first two floors made of stone and the third of adobe. The structure has a rectangular floor plan and is of excellent quality. It is believed to have been a space for the vocational training of women in the Inca city.
Many of the smaller enclosures are scattered throughout the city and are in poor condition. However, it is possible to observe adobe buildings, Inca roads oriented towards the city of Cusco, and some small enclosures that served as lookout posts since they have a view of the entire Sacred Valley.
Monday to Sunday from 08:00 am to 17:30 pm.
Entry to Huchuy Qosqo is not included in any tourist ticket, so you must purchase your ticket at the entrance; however, entry is free.
The climate in Huchuy Qosqo varies depending on the season, whether it's the dry or rainy season. During the rainy season (November-April), the climate is cool and humid, with more frequent rains that can last all day. In the dry season (May-October), the climate is warmer and drier, and temperatures tend to drop. However, this is undoubtedly the best season to travel.
The town of Chinchero, like Ollantaytambo, is built on top of ancient pre-Hispanic settlements. This archaeological site was located along an important route connected to access toward Machu Picchu, and it was an urban center that can still be appreciated today around its church and main square.
Chinchero was built on the ruins of a village that belonged to the Killke culture, a pre-Inca people dedicated to agriculture and the herding of South American camelids. This ethnic group opposed the Incas taking possession of their lands.
Over time, the Incas took control of the place and incorporated it into the Tahuantinsuyo. Inca Tupac Yupanqui ordered the construction of various enclosures for his use and that of the royal family. With the arrival of the Spaniards, the Inca settlements were looted and destroyed, and Chinchero was no exception.
However, it was Manco Inca who ordered the site to be burned during the resistance against the Spaniards in 1536, in an attempt to gain time so that the Inca people could escape from the Spaniards into the jungle, where they lived for quite some time.
When the Spanish colony was established, the town of Chinchero was inhabited by Spaniards, and haciendas were built on the ruins of the Inca city. One of the main constructions is the church of the town of Chinchero, which was built on top of the Inca palace. This colonial church has a Baroque style and houses a collection of paintings made by the Cusco artist Diego Quispe Tito.
Chinchero is 30 kilometers from the city of Cusco, about 40 minutes away by car. It sits at an altitude of 3,762 meters above sea level.
Chinchero was an important urban center whose main core was located where the church stands today. In the surrounding area, you can see walls made of fitted polygonal stones that form retaining walls shaping the terraces. You can also see large halls with windows, niches, doorways, and access points.
The Chinchero archaeological site covers up to 43 hectares, where terraces, platforms, roads, water channels, and temples can be found. In the area, there are also the remains of three shrines called Titiqaqa, Pumaqaqa, and Chincana, which are enormous limestone rock outcrops carefully carved by the ancient Peruvians.
In the main square of Chinchero, the combination of Inca and colonial architecture stands out at first sight. In front of the church rises an Inca wall with 10 trapezoidal niches that have been preserved to this day. These were once part of what used to be the Palace of Tupac Yupanqui.
The colonial church is another of the attractions you can find in Chinchero. It was built on top of the remains of the Palace of Tupac Yupanqui, and its origin is usually dated to 1572, during the government of Viceroy Toledo. This church is mainly decorated with Cusco religious art, featuring original works by renowned artists such as Diego Quispe Tito and Francisco Chihuantito.
Every Sunday, a market takes place in the town of Chinchero where locals participate by bringing their products to sell or exchange, following the ancient Inca trade system known as barter. At this market, you will find a variety of local textiles, where the Inca textile tradition can still be observed.
Poc Poc is located approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes on foot from Chinchero, where you can observe agricultural terraces, its colonial church, and a wide panoramic view.
From the archaeological complex, there are signposts that can guide you to the Poc Poc waterfall for better orientation. The walk to the waterfalls offers panoramic views of the valley and a variety of local flora and fauna. In addition, the route is not very exhausting because most of the trail is downhill, making it accessible for most people.
To return, you have two options: you can go back along the same path, but it will be more tiring because it is uphill; the second option is to continue the trail from the waterfall until you reach the nearest place, which is Urquillos. There, you can find transportation that will take you to Cusco or Urubamba.
The best season to visit the Poc Poc waterfall is from May to October because the weather is dry and perfect for a better hike.
Monday to Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Admission to Chinchero is included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket.
Chinchero has a semi-dry climate, so the best time to visit is in the morning, when the sun is not as strong, since in the afternoons there is usually more wind, which can make the visit less comfortable for travelers.
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