When you arrive in Cusco, spend some time to relax & recharge from your long travels. With the high elevation, you may experience altitude sickness so allow your body to slowly adjust. Once you have acclimatized, consider checking out Sacsayhuaman as a precursor to other high level activities on your itinerary. The famous Inca ruins are located on the outskirts of Cusco & takes about 30-45 minutes of uphill walking to get to the main entrance. It is a beautiful scenic trek with lots of stairs but with rewarding panoramic views of the city. If your body hasn’t fully acclimated yet, you may also venture by car or taxi for just a few soles.

You can purchase your ticket (Boleto Turistico) at the entrance to the ruins, which will also grant you access to other archaeological sites in the region including Ollantaytambo, Tambomachay, Qenko, & Pisac. The ticket costs 130 soles, or approximately 45 USD, & is valid for ten days. You may also purchase your ticket ahead of time while in Cusco at the COSITUC office.

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What Makes Sacsayhuaman Special?

Sacsayhuaman, humorously pronounced “Sexy Woman,” is an awe-inspiring Inca masterpiece. Legends claim that the great emperor Pachacutec ordered his people to build Cusco in the shape of a puma. As the main sacrilegious site, Sacsayhuaman was positioned as the head of the sacred animal & its zig-zag formation represented its teeth. Thereby, it makes complete sense that in the Quechua language Sacsayhuaman refers to “speckled head.”

A Megalithic Mystery of Proportions

Historians believe it took approximately 20,000 workers over a span of 50 years to create the colossal structure. Each of the massive blocks measure about four meters & weigh several hundred tons. Today, engineers are still mystified as to how the blocks were transported & then carved into perfect shapes without the use of any special tools or mortars. It is amazing how each of the blocks interlock with one another like the elements of a jigsaw puzzle. Not even modern day technology can replicate the incredible stonemasonry with such similar precision!

Sacsayhuaman is divided into three different zones: the military fortress, a religious ceremonial site, & the parade grounds. Each of the triple-tiered defensive walls stretch out about 300 meters & stands up to 10 meters tall. There also once stood three large towers each serving a different purpose. Two rectangular towers stored house stocks & provided shelter for the thousands of warriors. A third cylindrical tower brought water in through underground stone pipes, proving that the Inca knew of the siphon principal.

The fortress was originally designed to ward off any attacks on the city & in 1533, it played a critical part in the final bloody defeat of the Incas by the Spanish conquistadors. The structure was dismantled & plundered as a quarry by which many of the stones were then used to build the colonial city of Cusco. Today, only the stones that were too heavy to remove still remain at the site.

Cristo Blanco Welcomes You With Open Arms

Walk ten minutes from the ruins & you will find Cristo Blanco (White Christ) perched high on top of Pukamoqo hill. In 1945, a group of Palestinian Christians created the statue as a parting gift for Cusco’s hospitality in allowing them to take refuge after WWII. This large statue stands 26 feet high & with its outstretched arms, resembles a miniature version of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer. At night, Cristo Blanco is brightly illuminated & can be seen from anywhere down in the city below.

Inti Raymi, Festival of the Sun

Every year on June 24th, Cusco locals celebrate Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun. This is also the day of winter solstice in which the sun is furthest away from the equator. As a pre-colonial custom, this extravagant event calls on the Sun God, invoking him to come closer to earth to provide the land with prosperity, fertility, & abundance. More than 500 actors dress in elaborate cultural costumes & stage re-enactments of this spectacular ceremony to pay homage to their great Inca past.

The procession begins with a grand opening ceremony at the Santo Domingo Church in Qorikancha & travels on foot through the Plaza de Armas. People chant & dance their way through the city’s cobblestone streets as they make their uphill trek towards Sacsayhuaman. Once they reach the ancient ceremonial site, the Inca king & his nobles mount a platform to conduct staged ritual sacrifices to the Sun God.

Angella’s Travel Tips

• Near the entrance, you may encounter guides trying to sell you “cheaper” tickets or shortcut tours via horseback rides. Be cautious to their claims because they are more likely to swindle you by not providing a full experience. Ask all your questions before you hand over your soles!
• If you plan on attending Inti Raymi, consider hiring a Quechua speaking guide who can translate & provide a fuller understanding of the rituals as they are being carried out. Due to the large number of spectators, arrive at Sacsayhuaman hours in advance to secure your spot.
• Remember to bring sun protection (no pun intended)! If you are viewing Inti Raymi out in the open, make sure to cover yourself since weather tends to be warmer in June & the higher elevation will expose you more to the sun’s harmful UV rays.