Sacsayhuamán is a work of Inca architecture and engineering built between the 14th and 15th centuries. It became an important place after the llaqta of Qosqo and was named “The House of the Sun of Hanan Qosqo.” Its structures blend harmoniously with the topography and surrounding landscape.
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Before the Inca expansion, the area was inhabited, according to studies, by the Killke culture. The construction of the Inca fortress was begun by the Inca Pachacutec around the year 1350 A.D. and completed by his grandson, the Inca Huayna Cápac.
It is believed that its construction lasted more than 90 years, and that more than 20,000 men were needed to build this important fortress under the mita system (collective labor). The fortress is one of the greatest examples of the organization and technique of the Inca Empire.
With the arrival of the Spaniards, Sacsayhuamán became a battlefield, serving as a key point for Inca resistance. After the battles ended, this place was dismantled and its stones were reused for the construction of churches, such as Cusco Cathedral.
Over time, Sacsayhuamán lost importance until it was abandoned and was even used as a quarry for the construction of local homes. It was not until 1983 that the city of Cusco, including Sacsayhuamán, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The reenactment of Inti Raymi began in 1944 and, to this day, it continues to be celebrated every year in the same place.
The word Sacsayhuamán comes from the Quechua words Sacsay, meaning “Satisfied,” and huamán, meaning “Falcon,” which in Spanish interpretation would be “The satisfied falcon.”
The Festival of the Sun was a ceremony that formed part of their religion and took place every winter solstice, during which offerings and sacrifices were made in honor of the sun god.
The Incas used astronomy to create their calendar and to know when the dry or rainy season began, as well as to determine the beginning of the harvest season, thanks to the observation of the sun’s position when solstices and equinoxes began.
Sacsayhuamán was initially built with a religious purpose, in honor of the god Illapa, “the god of thunder,” among other deities worshipped by the Incas. However, after the arrival of the Spaniards, it became a battlefield and was referred to by them as a “fortress.”
The park itself contains important architectural and natural features, each with its own meaning and history, such as:
They are known as Muyucmarca, Paucarmarca, and Sallaqmarca, and they are located in the upper part of the bastions (zigzag walls). In Inca times, they were towers arranged in a straight line at the top of the hill. There was abundant water at this site, and today you can still see part of the aqueducts.
Today, only the foundations of the towers remain. The buildings were destroyed in the early colonial period, and their foundations were covered with earth; they were later located and recovered by Dr. Luis E. Valcárcel.
This group of enclosures is located at the top of the hill, to the south and a short distance from the towers. These are rooms set against the hillside, overlooking the plazas of the Inca city. The rooms themselves are characterized by being long and narrow, connected to one another by a series of trapezoidal doorways. Their walls are made up of irregular polyhedrons, with rough faces and finely polished edges.
This name is given to the three platforms that form a toothed pattern of recesses and projections made up of walls built from limestone blocks, with fitted irregular polyhedrons that match each other perfectly.
Located in the central and middle part of the bastions with trapezoidal shapes, they served as entrances to the tower sector. The three gates mentioned are: T’iopunku, Ajawanapunku, and Wiracochapunku.
Geologically, it is a natural formation of diorite, of volcanic origin, that emerged with rounded surfaces and grooves like slides.
These words are interpreted as “where the monkey climbs.” It is a succession of seats carved into diorite rock with a deep aesthetic sense. It is located on the eastern portion of the hill, from where there is a panoramic view of the complex.
There are two of them. The smaller one, next to Warmi K’acchana, is short in length and has become an attraction for visitors. The large one is farther north, beneath a large limestone rock. This passage is flooded, and entry is not possible.
There are many rumors regarding the origin of the chincanas, about why and for what purpose these so-called “labyrinths” were built. Some believe they are interconnected with different Inca constructions; however, they remain a great mystery.
There are dozens of legends once told by Cusco locals, as well as written accounts by chroniclers such as Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, about the connection Sacsayhuamán had with Qoricancha, or the sudden appearances of the ancient inhabitants who lived in Cusco.
Sacsayhuamán is an archaeological center located north of the main square of the city of Cusco. To get to Sacsayhuamán, you can take a City Tour.
To walk to Sacsayhuamán from Plaza de Armas, you can go up Suecia Street through Huaynapata and continue along Resbalosa, turn right after San Cristóbal Church, and follow the road. Here, you will join the ancient Inca route to Sacsayhuamán. The climb is steep and takes approximately 30 minutes from Plaza de Armas.
The Inca fortress is divided into sectors: Sacsayhuamán, Rodadero, Inca Throne, Warmi K’ajchana, Inca Bath, Amphitheaters, Chincana, and Tower Foundations, among others.
The climate in the city of Cusco is very variable, with the rainy season during the months of December, January, February, and March, and the dry season during the months of May, June, July, and August. However, due to the altitude at which Sacsayhuamán is located (3,700 meters above sea level), it usually has a cold climate. It also depends on the month in which you want to visit this incredible place.
Today, Inca reenactments are held on the esplanade of the Sacsayhuamán fortress.
Every June 24, on the esplanade of Sacsayhuamán, Inti Raymi, the worship of the sun god, is celebrated. It was a very important festival in Inca times and continues to be celebrated today.
It is one of the most important festivities of the year, as travelers from all over the world gather to be part of the Inti Raymi reenactment.
Monday to Sunday from 07:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission to Sacsayhuamán is included in the Tourist Ticket.
Getting to Sacsayhuamán is very easy, and it offers you different options:
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