Sacsayhuamán “Satisfied Falcon”

Hello travelers, how are you?
Today I will write about Sacsayhuaman, an Inca wonder that keeps ancestral secrets among the great stones of its walls. Throughout time it witnessed battles, celebrations and the majesty of the most powerful empire in South America. Today Sacsayhuaman is a very important part of the tourist route of Cusco, receiving a large number of local, national and foreign travelers and telling the story of glorious times of a people whose history and tradition endure over time.

Where is Sacsayhuaman located?

The archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman is located just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Plaza de Armas in the Imperial city in the heart of Cusco, in the department of the same name, the fourth largest of the Peruvian territory. The archaeological site is a 10-minute drive and a 45-minute walk from the Plaza and is an easily accessible route.

At what altitude is it located?

Sacsayhuaman is located at an altitude of 3,700 masl (or 12140 ft), only 200 meters higher than the center of the city, and covers an area of 3,093 hectares (12,000 square miles).

The great Apu Ausangate, the Pachatusan, and Cinca guard Sacsayhuaman. Due to its location, it has a beautiful variety of flora and fauna, where South American camelids such as llamas and hawks prevail.

What does Sacsayhuamán mean?

The name of this wonder of ancient Peru comes from the Quechua words “Saqsay” which means something like full or satisfied and “Waman” which means hawk. Together they form the name of the fortress and its translation says that it is the place where the falcon eats its fill.

The history of the archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán

During the rule of the Inca Pachacutec (1400 to 1471) in the 15th century, Sacsayhuaman’s construction began. It is believed that there were pre-existing structures on the site, which were built upon to create this impressive fortress. The construction of Sacsayhuaman lasted approximately 50 to 70 years, requiring the labor of around 20,000 men, as chroniclers have noted. While initiated under the Inca Pachacutec, it was completed during the reign of Huayna Capac in the 16th century.

Today only a small part of what was once the beautiful fortress of Sacsayhuaman remains.

Construction characteristics

The builders of Sacsayhuaman used large stones weighing up to 125 tons, standing 5 meters high and 2.5 meters wide.

It has a large, imposing and extensive zigzag wall and several other constructions around it, such as a cistern to capture and store rainwater, aqueducts, tunnels and towers.

What festival is celebrated in Sacsayhuamán?

Every June 24, the Inca fortress hosts the Inti Raymi, also known as the Feast of the Sun. This date is very important, because it is the winter solstice of the South American hemisphere and being the Sun the most important god of the ancient Peruvians of the Tahuantinsuyo, his party is one of the most important for the Andean traditions. The Inca New Year is also celebrated on that day.

What is the best time of the year to visit the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman?

Being very close to the city and its hotels, any time is the best time to visit Sacsayhuaman. Even if it is rainy season; bring a waterproof jacket, an umbrella or a rain poncho. In addition, the rainfall fills the beautiful Andean landscape with green, which together with the clear sky of the Peruvian highlands, will conquer your heart.

Curious facts

As in every place in Cusco, in Sacsayhuaman there is a lot of history and traditions that when revealed, allow travelers to build a more complete and profound image of what life could have been like in the Inca Empire. In this note we want to share with you some curious facts that you surely did not know about Sacsayhuaman.

Inca Pachacutec

The Inca Pachacutec was born under the name of Cusi Yupanqui. After leading his army and defeating the Chancas, the Inca Huiracocha, father of Cusi Yupanqui, named him Inca and his successor in the year 1438 and then he became Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui Capac Inti Churi, which means Inca of the change of the course of the earth, worthy of the esteem of the Sovereign son of the Sun. Pachacutec was the ninth Inca and who led his people to become the Empire of Tahuantinsuyo.

Andean Cosmovision and urbanism

The conception of the universe that the Incas had, covered a wide spectrum that included as main axis, the harmony between the life of man and the generous nature that sheltered them.

That’s why each construction or urban center represented an Andean cosmovision animal, respecting the landscape.

The city of Cusco had the shape of a puma of which Sacsayhuaman was the head.

Secret tunnels

Legends say that there are subway paths that linked Sacsayhuaman with Coricancha. Although there is no evidence that this is true, two caves are clearly visible. Both paths are narrow, so, as a precaution, we don’t allow travelers to access one of them.

Surprising constructions

The stones that make up Sacsayhuaman are so large and heavy that it is difficult to imagine their construction in ancient times. There is a special building where the stones fit together like a puzzle so perfectly that the European colonizers attributed its construction to the work of Andean demons, because according to them its realization could not be human work.

What is Sacsayhuaman like?

The archaeological site has several elements that make it unique and incomparable. For example:

The Torreones:

There are 3 of them and they are located on the great zigzag wall so characteristic of this construction.

They are known as Muyucmarca, the launching point of Inca Titu Cusi Huallpa. Of this tower today only the base remains as a reminder of what it once was.

Paucamarca, reportedly used to store water, now lies barren, covered in Andean pampas vegetation, a relic of past glory.

Sayacmarca, is located in the middle of the archaeological site and apparently was communicated subway with the other towers.

Murallas y Baluartes:

They are the zigzag walls that characterize Sacsayhuaman and are built with limestone. These walls were built with large blocks of stone that were worked in the quarry and then transported to their destination with the help of large and resistant ropes and rolling surfaces to move the stone masses.

Rooms:

The rooms are interconnected by doors with the typical trapezoidal shape of these buildings and all of them face the Plaza de Armas of Cusco.

The throne:

It is a piece carved in stone as a seat with a privileged view. Its structure is so perfect that it was given the name of Throne of the Inca.

Sacsayhuaman has much more to discover and is waiting for you to reveal its secrets. Plan your trip and live the Inca experience from beginning to end.