Sacsayhuaman, an Inca marvel, which keeps ancient secrets inside its stone walls. Through the times it witnessed battles, celebrations and the majesty of the greatest empire along South America. Today Sacsayhuaman is a very important part of the touristic activity of Cusco, receiving a great deal of local, national and foreign travelers and telling the story of glorious times of an ancient culture whose history and tradition endure through time. Do you want to know everything about Sacsayhuaman and learn all its secrets? Visit Sacsayhuaman with us and live the Inca experience on your trip to Cusco.
What will you find here?
Perched above the city of Cusco, the Sacsayhuaman Fortress stands as a colossal testament to Incan engineering and architectural prowess. Constructed with massive, precisely cut stones that fit seamlessly together, the fortress served both military and ceremonial purposes. The intricately carved walls, some reaching up to 300 tons in weight, reflect the Inca's remarkable ability to manipulate stone. Beyond its physical grandeur, Sacsayhuaman holds cultural significance, believed to be a site of religious ceremonies, particularly during the Inca festival of Inti Raymi. Exploring the expansive terraces and imposing structures of Sacsayhuaman offers visitors a profound glimpse into the advanced civilization that once thrived in the heart of the Andes, making it a must-visit destination for those eager to delve into Peru's rich historical tapestry.
Let us walk together through this path which will make you understand Sacsayhuaman and visit all its corners looking for its mysteries, magic and history.
The Sacsayhuaman archaeological site is only 1.2 miles (2 km) from the main square of the Imperial city of Cusco at the same name department, which is the fourth biggest one in Peru. The archaeological site is a 10 minutes ride by car and 45 minutes walking from the main square and is an easy route.
Allow us to show you the way with our Cusco Ruins, Plazas and Landsmark and visit Sacsayhuaman Fortress: an ancient jewel in the heart of the Inca Empire.
Sacsayhuaman is placed at 12140 ft (3750 masl), only two hundred meters above the center of Cusco and covers an extension of 1.2 square miles (3.093 hectares). Sacsayhuaman is protected by the great Apu Ausangate, the Pachatusan and Cinca. Due to its location it has a variety of flora and fauna where the South American camelids, like llamas and alpacas are most noticed, also birds such as falcons.
The archaeological site has several elements which made it unique:
The Towers: There are 3 and could be found over the zigzagging wall so characteristic of this building, they are known as:
Walls and Bastions: The zigzagging walls are a characteristic of Sacsayhuaman and were built with limestone. Those walls were built with great stone blocks which were worked in the quarry and transported to destination using cords made with straw. Those cords were of great size and resistance and they used rolling surfaces to move the cut stones.
Rooms: Those are some areas of interest located at the hills close to the towers, the rooms are interconnected through Doors with the typical trapezoidal shapes of those constructions and all of them faced the main Square of Cusco.
The throne: It is a seat carved in stone with a privileged view. Its structure is so perfect that it was named as the Inca’s throne.
The name of this ancient marvel comes from the quechua words: “Saqsay” which means something like full or satisfied and “Waman” which means falcon. Together they form the name of the fortress and could be translated as the place where the falcon eats up to fulfillment.
Sacsayhuaman was built during the reign of Inca Pachacutec (1400 to 1471 ac) into the XV century. It has been said that beforehand there were some other buildings but this magnificent building was built over them. The construction Of Sacsayhuaman took approximately 50 or 70 years and as the chroniclers said the work of 20,000 men was needed. Even when construction started under Inca´s Pachacutec time, it was finished by Huayna Capac in the XVI century. Today only a small part remains of what was the Sacsayhuaman Fortress.
The precise role that Sacsayhuaman played during that time is not truly known. Some chroniclers said that it was a religious ceremonial center, a place for celebrations, rites and payments to the Pachamama. A magical space from where the complete city could be seen. It is also thought that it could have been a military training center where imperial soldiers received instruction and knowledge from their military leaders. But it was when the Spaniards arrived that Sacsayhuaman became a real war fortress and its efficiency is proved since the Spaniards were repelled several times.
Inside Sacsayhuaman, large warehouses for food and weapons were found, as well as canals for water distribution.
The Inti Raymi or Sun Festival is celebrated every June 24th in the esplanade of the Inca Fortress. This date is very important since it is the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, and being the Sun the most important god for ancient Peruvians in Tahuantinsuyo times, this festival is the most important for the Andean tradition. This date is also the Inca New Year.
Being so close to the city and their Hotels, any time of the year is a good one for visiting Sacsayhuaman. Even if it is the rainy season, wearing a raincoat or an umbrella or a poncho would be enough. Besides the rain fills of green the Andean sights which in conjunction with the clean and blue sky of the Peruvian sierra will make your heart fall in love of this part of the world.
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As in each part of Cusco, in Sacsayhuaman there is a great deal of history and tradition which being revealed allows the traveler to build a better, deeper and more complete image of how life into the Inca Empire could have been. In this note we would like to share with you some curious data which surely you didn’t know about Sacsayhuaman.
Sacsayhuaman has so much more to discover and waits for you to reveal its secrets. Plan your trip with us and live the Inca experience from beginning to end. Enter to our page website Inca Raill and learn all what Cusco has to offer. We are ready to make the trip together if you are ready too.
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