Sacsayhuaman

We took a cab to the ruins on top of the mountain behind Cusco. These ruins are different from the others we’ve seen because they are made of HUGE stone blocks. The fortress was much larger in Incan times, but Spaniards, and later the locals, used the large stones as their own quarry. Only the largest stones remain. The largest stone is about 8.5 m high! It is amazing to see such large stones fit so well together. They are all cut, but not into squares or rectangles like most stonework. These are giant, multi-sided stones that can have 4-8 sides or more and are generally not at right angles to each other. The stones form three tiered walls.

From the top of the ruins, you get an incredible view of Cusco from above. You can see the Plaza de Armas, Qoricancha, Pachacutec Monument, a few stadiums, and millions of rooftops. You can also see the big Jesus cross on the next hilltop (and walk there fairly easily). The large grassy area is perfect for a picnic or soccer game, several, in fact. Across the field is an awesome rock outcrop that you can walk around. It is supposed to be a nice place to watch the sunset, but it was cloudy so we couldn’t see anything.

Several local women sell their crafts near the entrance or you can pay to take a picture with a llama. Cabs gather at either entrance so you should have no problem getting a ride back. You can also walk down a sort of steep path 2 km back to the city. These ruins are included on the Cusco ticket.