Sacred Valley
Yucay was the name the Incas used to call this fertile valley, one of the most fertile of Peru. They used to be lands of the Inca and his successors, then the Spaniards recognized their possessions thanks to royal favours that granted those territories to the Inca nobility. The Sacred Valley of the Incas spreaded along the Vilcanota river (the same that going down takes the name of Urubamba or Willcamayu). It embraces the area included between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It is located at 15 km to the North of Cusco. In the valley, there are a series of picturesque towns (some of them has beautiful colonial churches), terraces and other archaeological remains, as well as the most famous corn in the world. source: www.cusco-peru.org
Yucay was the name the Incas used to call this fertile valley, one of the most fertile of Peru. They used to be lands of the Inca and his successors, then the Spaniards recognized their possessions thanks to royal favours that granted those territories to the Inca nobility. The Sacred Valley of the Incas spreaded along the Vilcanota river (the same that going down takes the name of Urubamba or Willcamayu). It embraces the area included between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It is located at 15 km to the North of Cusco. In the valley, there are a series of picturesque towns (some of them has beautiful colonial churches), terraces and other archaeological remains, as well as the most famous corn in the world. source: www.cusco-peru.org
Sacsayhuamán - 3600m a.s.l.
one of the most amazing Incan constructions. Its Quechua name means "satisfied falcon", it was the falcon that guarded the capital of the empire, since it was possible to overlook Cusco from the hill in where it was erected. If, as it is known, Cusco was designed with the shape of a lying puma, Sacsayhuamán would be its head, and the Coricancha would correspond to the feline's genitalia. Its construction took over seven decades and required the work of 20,000 men approximately, both for the foundations and hewn stone works, the transportation of materials, carving and stones setting. Hewn stones could have been located at Muina, Huacoto and Rumicolca, 20 kilometers away from Cusco, and at closer places such as Sallu, Rumi, Chita, Curovilca and Viracocha. Some of its external walls exceed the 9 meters of height and 350 tons of weight. source: www.cusco-peru.org
one of the most amazing Incan constructions. Its Quechua name means "satisfied falcon", it was the falcon that guarded the capital of the empire, since it was possible to overlook Cusco from the hill in where it was erected. If, as it is known, Cusco was designed with the shape of a lying puma, Sacsayhuamán would be its head, and the Coricancha would correspond to the feline's genitalia. Its construction took over seven decades and required the work of 20,000 men approximately, both for the foundations and hewn stone works, the transportation of materials, carving and stones setting. Hewn stones could have been located at Muina, Huacoto and Rumicolca, 20 kilometers away from Cusco, and at closer places such as Sallu, Rumi, Chita, Curovilca and Viracocha. Some of its external walls exceed the 9 meters of height and 350 tons of weight. source: www.cusco-peru.org
Tambomachay - 3812m a.s.l.
The archaeological site of Tambomachay is located at 8 km (15 minutes) to the northeast of Cusco, by asphalted road; and at 1 km of Puca-pucará. It is located at a foothill near the main road to the Antisuyo, overt the Tambomachay River. It is also known as Tambo de la Caverna (Cave Roadside Hostelry) and occupies an area of 437 square meters. Apparently, it was one of the favorite resting-places of the Incas, used as a resting watering place and, at the same time, it was one of the pillars of the defense system of the Valley of Cusco. It is composed of a set of stone structures finely carved, aqueducts and water falls originating from near springs and thermal sources; that is why people think it was related to the worship of water, one of the pillars of the Andean conception of the world. It is considered one of the Indian temples of the first Antisuyo ceque. source: www.cusco-peru.org
The archaeological site of Tambomachay is located at 8 km (15 minutes) to the northeast of Cusco, by asphalted road; and at 1 km of Puca-pucará. It is located at a foothill near the main road to the Antisuyo, overt the Tambomachay River. It is also known as Tambo de la Caverna (Cave Roadside Hostelry) and occupies an area of 437 square meters. Apparently, it was one of the favorite resting-places of the Incas, used as a resting watering place and, at the same time, it was one of the pillars of the defense system of the Valley of Cusco. It is composed of a set of stone structures finely carved, aqueducts and water falls originating from near springs and thermal sources; that is why people think it was related to the worship of water, one of the pillars of the Andean conception of the world. It is considered one of the Indian temples of the first Antisuyo ceque. source: www.cusco-peru.org
Pisac - 2950m a.s.l.
Just like all the cities in Cusco, Pisac is an important archaeological center that encompasses the mystical Incan constructions, in contrast to the natural richness of the Urubamba Valley. Although it is very difficult to know the autochthonous names of Cusco's ancient cities, Pisac is one of the few examples of original names that are known. It derives from the Quechua word "pisaq" or "p'isaqa", which means partridge (a gallinacean type that abounds in this area). According to the traditional Incan architecture, the cities were built based on figurative designs of animals. Pisac was partridge-shaped, as we can tell from its name. source: www.cusco-peru.org
Just like all the cities in Cusco, Pisac is an important archaeological center that encompasses the mystical Incan constructions, in contrast to the natural richness of the Urubamba Valley. Although it is very difficult to know the autochthonous names of Cusco's ancient cities, Pisac is one of the few examples of original names that are known. It derives from the Quechua word "pisaq" or "p'isaqa", which means partridge (a gallinacean type that abounds in this area). According to the traditional Incan architecture, the cities were built based on figurative designs of animals. Pisac was partridge-shaped, as we can tell from its name. source: www.cusco-peru.org
Ollantaytambo - 2700m a.s.l.
national archaeological park, which belongs to the province of Urubamba, on the western side of the Urubamba Valley at 93 km to the northeast of Cusco. It is a typical town of Incan origin. This set was a strategic military, religious and agricultural center. It is considered a military construction strategically located to protect the city from possible invasions of forest, religious and agricultural ethnos. source: www.cusco-peru.org
national archaeological park, which belongs to the province of Urubamba, on the western side of the Urubamba Valley at 93 km to the northeast of Cusco. It is a typical town of Incan origin. This set was a strategic military, religious and agricultural center. It is considered a military construction strategically located to protect the city from possible invasions of forest, religious and agricultural ethnos. source: www.cusco-peru.org