Inka Wasi, Ayacucho

Welcome, esteemed traveler, to the magnificent high altitude ruins of Inka Wasi in the breathtaking Ayacucho region of Peru. As you take your first deep breaths of the crisp, thin Andean air at an elevation of nearly three…

We begin our exploration standing in the very heart of the ancient complex, the expansive central plaza. This is an awe inspiring, vast open space that once pulsed with the vibrant, dynamic energy of up to twenty thousand…

Proceeding just a short, deliberate distance from the bustling main plaza, we are confronted by one of the most structurally extraordinary edifices remaining in the entire Andean world. This is the majestic Usnu. …

Directly behind the towering, terraced pyramid of the Usnu, our pathway leads us into the sprawling, highly restricted complex known as the Palacio del Inca, or the Inca's Palace. This sector was the exclusive domain of the…

Leaving the quiet confines of the palace grounds, we make our way back toward the edge of the great plaza to confront a striking, almost jarring visual representation of cultural collision. Before us stands the space originally…

Just a stone's throw from the imposing foundations of the church, scattered deliberately along the lower terraced walls, we find a highly intriguing collection of ceremonial artifacts and enigmatic rock carvings. Foremost among…

Our journey now leads us gently away from the massive, overwhelming monumental center of the city. We are walking slightly uphill into a quieter, more residential area known today as the Alto Peru neighborhood. …

Descending carefully from the quiet, elevated heights of the prophecy stone, our ears are soon greeted by the highly soothing, eternally constant sound of rushing water. Following the sound, we arrive at the beautiful Pileta…

For our final major sector of this tour, we mentally transport ourselves slightly outward, journeying a short distance to the associated, breathtaking archaeological complex of Intihuatana, situated serenely by the peaceful…

As we move slightly away from the primary ceremonial centers and the tranquil shores of Pumacocha, we enter a highly functional, yet equally impressive sector of the ancient city: the Qollqas, or the imperial storehouses. While…

As our comprehensive, deeply historical exploration of Inka Wasi and the greater Vilcashuaman complex finally comes to a close, let us pause together to truly absorb the profound, lingering weight of this majestic highland…