THE INCA FORTRESS OF SACSAYHUAMAN

SACSAYHUAMAN

The Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman was the largest architectural work that the Incas would ever undertake during their heyday. It is an archaeological complex located 2 kilometers from the city of Cusco in the upper part.

Sacsayhuaman comes from the QUECHUA SAKSAY WAMAN (PUKARA), ‘(STRONGHOLD) OF THE ROYAL EAGLE’. It was built during the government of the Inca Pachakutec in the 15th century until the 16th century. The Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman was a construction of worship to the Ray of the harvest.

HISTORY

Today, THE INKA FORTRESS OF SACSAYHUAMAN is used to celebrate the most important festival in Cusco, the Inti Raymi.

Inti Raymi is celebrated every June 24 in gratitude to the Sun (Inti).

The Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman was built between the years 1438 and 1471. Its construction was Religious – Military.

During the Spanish conquest in 1536, Sacsayhuaman suffered structural damage, and years later many of the enormous blocks were used to build the Cusco Cathedral and other buildings.

Despite this damage, most of the original structure remains standing and has survived the passage of time and remains an impressive work of Inca engineering and architecture.

WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN SACSAYHUAMAN

The Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman is made up of approximately 33 archaeological groups. You can see impressive constructions with rocks that weigh between 90 and 125 tons and the largest of them weighs more than 350 tons.

Towers:

These towers were called:

• Muyucmarca
• Sayacmarca and
• Pucarmáca

These impressive towers that dominated the entire city of Cusco were approximately 22 meters high.

Trapezoidal doors:

These tripping gates are impressive as they are built from gigantic stone blocks. Despite the passage of time, these gates have been preserved and are known by the names Wiraqocha Punku, Tiu Punku and Acawana Punku.

Inca Throne:

It is a rocky outcrop that looks like an Inca throne. It’s very remarkable not only for its formation but also because it has an excellent view from this place. It is likely that the rulers supervised the entire complex from this place.

Chincanas:

They are natural formations in the limestone rock characteristic of the area. There is a small chincana that is enabled that connects you from one place to another in less than a minute and is open to the public.

There is also another large chinkana but it is restricted because many people have gotten lost.

Rodadero:

These slides that were and still are a place of fun, formed of diorite stone, this place is located in front of the bastions of Sacsayhuaman.

HOW TO GET TO SACSAYHUAMAN?

On your own:

Walking: From the Plaza de Armas in Cusco you can go up to Suecia Street, then pass by the Salesianos school and arrive at the Mirador de San Cristóbal. Continue up until you reach the first entrance checkpoint to Sacsayhuaman where you must present your ID or passport, and if necessary you must present your entrance ticket.

By taxi: You can hire the services of a taxi and also visit other tourist attractions such as:

Cristo Blanco, the Q’énqo tree forest among other attractions.

Urban Transport: There are several companies that can take you to Sacsayhuaman, one of them is Cristo Blanco, whose closest stop to the historic center is Puente Rosario, very close to the Qorikancha temple, from where you can find this transport.

 

Hiring a travel agency

Taking a private tour:

By hiring this private service you will visit Sacsayhuaman at your own pace with a private guide and private transportation, but you will also visit others such as Tambomachay, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Sacsayhuaman and the famous White Christ.

To hire a private service click here!

VISITING HOURS: You can visit Sacsayhuaman between 08:00 am and 06:00 pm

ENTRANCE TICKET: To visit Sacsayhuaman you need to buy the CUSCO TOURIST TICKET for S/70.00 foreigners and S/40.00 nationals.

If you are from Cusco, visit Sacsayhuaman by simply presenting your ID (here you must indicate the CUSCO location code.

 

Cusco City Tour