Inca Hike

A popular walk from Cusco is to take the Pisaq bus, and get off about 11km out of Cusco, at Tambomachay. We did just that on 17th December. The walk back to Cusco takes you past four fascinating Inca ruins. Here's a brief description, in the order we encountered them:

Tambomachay: a well-preserved shrine - may have been used as a resting place for the Incas; or used by Inca Yupanqui as a hunting grounds; or the site of the shrine of a water cult. Three ceremonial water fountains built on different levels - water flows by a hidden channel out of the masonry wall, into a small pool known as the Inca's bath.

Puca Pucara: "Red Fort", as it looks red in a certain light. Probably a tambo, or post-house, where travellers were lodged and goods and animals housed temporarily.

Q'enqo: a temple and amphitheatre at 3,600m above sea level. A large rock criss-crossed by zig-zag channels (hence the name, "Zig-Zag") which served to course chicha, or perhaps sacrificial blood, for purposes of divination. The inside of the rock is hollowed-out and houses an altar.

Saqsayhuaman: believed to be a great sanctuary and temple to the Sun, on a hill north of Cusco. Massive rocks weighing up to 130 tons are fitted together with absolute precision. Three walls run parallel for over 360m, with 22 zig-zags: the Incas intended Cusco to look like a puma from above, and Saqsayhuaman was its teeth.

Llamas: we also met lots of these lovable beasties.