City Tour and Sacred Valley Full Day (Private Service)

Saqsaywaman: This name comes from the Quechua language (Where the Hawk is Appeased, or meaning Speckled Head), and is one of the grand monuments of refined Incan architecture, was a very big city in its period, and according to history, was built  by Inca Pachacutec’s command but was finally carried out by Inca Huayna Capac.  It is located 2 kms from Cusco city with an extension of 3093 hectares, and on the old Saqsaywaman plan corresponds as the head of the puma, considered guardian of earthly things.  The Incas redesigned the ancient city of Qosqo in form of the female puma.  It took about 50 years to finish the construction with over 20 thousand working men, and was home to their weapons of war.   Originally there were three defenses or bastions, three walls built at different levels in limestone of staggering dimensions, and zigzagging walls which by its appearance many have said could have been to represent the teeth of the head of the feline.  The blocks of the wall have a height of 8.5 meters and a weight of 190 metric tons, the walls being classified as cyclopean or megalithic architecture.  It is still a big mystery as to how this place was built with such accuracy.  Underground tunnels have also been found, one leading to the very Temple of the Sun in Cusco (Qoricancha).

Q’enqo: Coming from the Quechua language (Labyrinth, Crooked or Zigzag) this place is built of limestone, sedimentary rock of marine origin, which proves that the ancient-time belief that Cusco Valley was once an immense lake is likely true.  These ruins take up a semicircular area of 55 meters in length and support 19 incomplete niches along the wall.  On one rock leveled and polished are two cylinders of short height standing out; the theory is that these were like a solar sun dial used to establish the year’s seasons, solstices and equinoxes, or a sort of astronomical observatory.  Next to this place is a very huge rock, that is said must have held special meaning.

Puka Pukara: We find this site 8.5 kilometers from Cusco.  The name Puka Pukara comes from the Quechua language meaning Red Fortress likely because of the red colored rocks used in the construction, or perhaps for the red colored earth that exists in the area.  It was built as an observation and / or control point for the extended territory and in visual distance to Tambomachay, perhaps used for religious function but also has a familiar military architecture.  It also was likely used as a center of administration, in the road to Huchuy Qosqo and Pisaq.

Tambomachay: In Quechua: Tampumacha’y signifies “Place of Rest”, and according to scholars was the original palace of relaxment and spiritual retreat exclusive to the Incas.  It was built during Inca Yupanqui’s reign, who stayed there during hunting days, as it’s built in an area of abundant fauna.  This place is built with medium sized limestone, four trapezoidal niches in the upper wall, and three water sources at two different levels.  Water was considered an important deity for it’s fertilizing of the Earth.  Tambomachay holds an extraordinary aqueduct system carved artistically into the rock, producing crystal clean water.

Pisaq: Located about 35 kilometers from Cusco city, we first stop at the Pisaq Market, one of the oldest and impressive markets in the area.  It was once a place for the Inca people to interchange products including textiles, ceramics, and jewellery and is still a place offering these same handcrafted items as well as paintings, musical instruments, and clothing made by experienced craftsmen and descendants of the Incas.   You can also see many people here that still maintain the culture of times past, wearing the traditional dress in beautiful patterns and typical colors.  You can also observe two long-living trees in the plaza known as Pisonay or Ceiba trees and having over five centuries of life.

The Pisaq Ruins: this was a fortified city on the way toward the Antisuyo or Amazon jungle, that according to many historians, was established there to protect the great capital of possible enemy attacks.  Nowadays you can see the walls that protected this place, in addition to viewing many agricultural terraces that were used to produce food for the Quechuas, some of the houses, and remains of aqueducts and fountains that served to supply the whole area. It is calculated that there had been up to 10,000 tombs on the mountainside which were mostly plundered before modern-day discovery.  We can also see many places here such as Amarupunku, the city of towers, Hanan Pisaq, two tunnels, Inca bridge, Intiwatana, etc.  It has also been said that the area was a real hacienda that belonged to the ruler Pachacutec.  The Pisaq name comes from a partridge bird that abounds in great variety here called Pisaq’to.

Pisaq or Urubamba:  Urubamba was one of the principle centers of agriculture during the period of the Incas, located in the center of the Sacred Valley.  This is where we will have our lunch.

Ollantaytambo:  This word is composed from the Quechua language, Ollanta which is a person’s name, and Tambo (or Tampu) which refers to a city offering lodge, food and commodities for travellers.  According to classic literature, Ollanta was a captain that formed part of the Inca Pachacutec army and was distinguished from others for his courage and great skill.  He had a secret love affair with the King’s daughter, and the story ended well and happy, with a daughter born and given the name Ima Sumaq.  Ollantaytambo was a royal palace of the Incas and a very important city that served as a place of protection against wars. It is very complete with a comprehensive urban sector, temples, barns and food storage areas, sources of water, a temple with ten windows, and a sun temple built with immense blocks of pink granite.  It is a masterpiece of Incan engineering and Tiawanaku architectural style by which some have said could have been constructed by architects from Lake Titicaca.

Chinchero:  this place was the real hacienda of Tupac Inka Yupanqui, son of Pachacutec whom at fifteen years old inherited the throne.  Chinchero is known as the city of the rainbow, because of its location experiencing frequent rain.  The foundations the walls were of limestone and finely-worked into the interior of the Palace.  At one place you can see sculptures of two mountain lions whose heads were once mutilated, and more to the West you can see lots of agricultural terraces where foods were cultivated.  There is a main square where at its western end you can see the wall containing big trapezoidal niches that may have been used to stand mummies of the past nobles.  In the year 1607 a Catholic church was built over this Inkan House.

The principal economic activity of the area is agriculture of livestock, and where many varieties of potatoes were produced, other tubers and some cereals.  They also produced beautiful handmade works of crafts, textiles and fabrics. This place still preserves its history of craftsmanship, and the women continue the trend of wearing multicolored dark red costumes and their hair in a number of very small thin braids.
At the end of the tour we return in our transport to your respective Cusco hotels.

INKA SITES TOUR PRIVATE SERVICE PROGRAM INCLUDES:

• Professional English / Spanish speaking Private guide
• Private Tourist transport
• Entrance tickets (Boleto Turistico) to, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, Pisac,
• Ollantaytambo and Chinchero.
• Lunch
• Water bottle