Sacsayhuaman Cusco

Sacsayhuaman - Cusco Peru

Sacsayhuaman ( c.f. aymara saqsaw, a drink place, and waman hawk, meaning “place where the hawk is satisfied”) is a “fortress ceremonial “inca , located two miles north of the city of Cusco. Began to be built during the reign of Pachacuti, in the 15th century .

However, was Huayna Capac who gave the final touch in the 16th century.
From the fortress, there is a unique panoramic view of environments, including the city of Cusco.

Sacsayhuaman Location

The “ceremonial site” of Sacsayhuaman is located 2 km from Cusco , capital of the ancient Inca Empire , is situated at an altitude of 3,700 m above sea level and covers an area of 3,093 hectares . The valley is surronded by mountains Ausangate, Pachatusan and Cinca and is bathed by the river Tullumayo. This area has a beautiful landscape , rich flora and fauna , among wich stand out the flames and hawks.

Sacsayhuaman Architecture

Design of Sacsayhuaman

The zone where this fortress corresponds is to the head of the sacred animal and one translations that this word has is precisely, head of puma. Pachacuti INKA Yupanqui, the ninth Inka, redesigned the city and gave way to lying puma (puma is the guardian of Earth things).

The area covered by its contructions is particularly large; what most striking are the three stone walls that suggest the figure of the fortress.

Features of Sacsayhuaman

The construction itself is peculiar, since some of the stones that are there are giant and makes one be wondering how is managed them to carry. The stones were embedded with an almost unimaginable precision. It is inexplicable, to the West, decipher how the incas could cut stones with such mastery that does not even a knife blade between two stones. The complex also comprises a sort of large stones where the visitor can slip.


The velvety softness of the stone highlighted in these formations. There are figures designed in stones and rocks, entrances to underground tunnels or chicanas, amphitheatres and ritual constructions probably related to the cult to the water . This site played an important role in the Inca ritual activities.

It is thought that corresponded to a military fortress, where he trained the warriors. There are doubts, since, according to its architecture, could have had a religious purpose and have been built as a great temple to the Sun god. However, during the time of the conquest, showed its effectiveness as a fortress to defend the city. Its main feature is the way in which it was built; It has large blocks of stone, reaching the highest 9 m. It asserts that its construction took 50 years approximately, starting in the period of Inca Tupac Yupanqui. It was built by 20,000 men.

Temple of Sacsayhuaman - Cusco Peru

Inside of the fortress there were large stores of food and weapons, and channels for the distribution of water. The throne of the Inca, located next to the fortress consisted of a large rock carved and polished in several levels, where the sovereign presided over the holidays, celebrations, parades and gave orders.
Today, there are vestiges of three staggered buid-up walls of limestone rock of sedimentary origin and fossiliferous formation. Sacsayhuaman is divided into different sectors: Sacsayhuaman, Rodadero, Inca throne, Warmi K'ajchana, Bath of the Inca, Amphitheater and towers bases , among others.

The towers of Sacsayhuaman

There were three towers located on the top of the fortress: Muyucmarca Sallacmarca and Paucarmaca. The first had a cylindrical shape with a height equivalent to about four floors and a diameter of 22 meters. It was in the Center. The second was quadrangular form. From there the entire city of Cusco is descried. The third also of a square shape , was located at the other end of the Sallacmarca.

Temple of Sacsayhuaman

The Fortress was the scene where the Incas worshiped the Sun in this temple for religious ceremonies. I is thought that tens of thousands of people were traveling for special events and made offerings and certain types of pilgrimages.