Sacsayhuaman

Welcome to Sacsayhuaman, an archaeological masterpiece resting at an astonishing elevation of over eleven thousand, five hundred feet in the Peruvian Andes. Take a moment to catch your breath, not just because of the thin, crisp…

We begin our journey in the vast, open expanse known as the Chuquipampa esplanade. Stand perfectly still for a moment and look out across this broad, flat grassy plaza. …

As we step closer to the magnificent first tier of the zigzagging megalithic wall, the sheer, incomprehensible scale of Sacsayhuaman finally comes into sharp, undeniable focus. You are now standing face to face with one of the…

We now ascend the ancient stone stairways that guide us toward the second and third tiers of the complex. As we rise higher, notice how the building material subtly shifts. …

We have now reached the absolute summit of the Sacsayhuaman hill. This elevated plateau, resting above the three massive zigzag walls, was once the crowning glory of the entire complex. …

Moving away from the central circular foundation of Muyucmarca, we arrive at the rectangular footprints of the flanking towers, historically known as Paucamarca and Sullcamarca. As you look at the right angles and straight lines…

Leaving the manicured plateau of the towers behind, we venture slightly to the north, moving toward the rugged, natural rock formations that frame the backside of the complex. We are now approaching the enigmatic area known as…

Continuing our walk behind the main hill, we arrive at a fascinating geological and archaeological anomaly. We are standing before a massive, naturally occurring volcanic extrusion, a place where marshy, ancient lava once…

For our final stop, we return to the very front edge of the complex, walking out past the great zigzag walls to stand at the breathtaking scenic overlook facing the south. Step up to the edge, lean against the low stone retaining…

As our exploration of Sacsayhuaman draws to a close, take one last, lingering look at the massive, grey monoliths towering against the darkening Andean sky. We have walked in the footsteps of emperors, high priests, and the…