Pisaq was declared by the National Institute of Culture of Cusco, as Cultural Heritage of the Nation (R.D.N. N° 429/INC-2002). It has an extension of 9,063 hectares.
Pisac: Living History in the Heart of the Sacred Valley
Pisaq is one of the most visited destinations in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, located in the Peruvian Andes. The Sacred Valley was one of the most important for the Inca Empire, due to its climate, its lands, and its spiritual connection with nature. This is how the Incas built impressive cities and one of them is Pisaq known for its archaeological complex and its handicraft market, located on the mountain of the Apu Inti Huatana hill, in the town of the same name, about 30 kilometers from the city of Cusco, which is in the district of the same name in the province of Calca.
The archaeological complex of Pisaq that has terraces, temples and a great fortress that protected the valley, is a mixture of living Inca history as Inca structures and colonial as its colonial streets, and its traditional colonial oven of 1820 where today they still make their delicious empañadas, breads.
History of the Archaeological Park of Pisac
The archaeological park of Pisaq, is located on the mountain of the Apu Intiwatana hill, today it is known as an astronomical observatory.
The town of Pisaq is located at 2950 masl, and the archaeological part at about 3300 masl. According to historians, Pisaq was invaded by the Spanish in the sixteenth century, the main sites of this monument were damaged, and the Inca cemetery was destroyed and looted.
Pisaq is divided into 2 zones, the old one located in the upper part which is the Archaeological Park, and the current lower part in the valley dating from colonial times, where the main square of Pisaq is located, a place full of colors and its diverse craft market.
It is one of the most visited and important of the Sacred Valley, is located east of the Cordillera del Vilcabamba, as was customary in Inca architecture cities were built on the basis of figurative traces of animals, Pisaq assumes the form of puna partridge (Nohoprocta ornata branicti Taczanovski).
Architecture of Pisac: A Testimony of Inca Engineering
Pisaq was declared in 2002 as Pisaq Archaeological Park, it has several attractions along 4 km. among these are the towers or Pucaras, cone-shaped architectural pieces that were used as water channels and forts in the Inca period, two types have been identified, the habitat towers and towers Atalaya. What is most striking is the beauty and planning of these constructions, on the other hand you can meet 5 neighborhoods located in different geographies and with particular architectural features among these are the neighborhood of Qaschisraqay, the neighborhood of K¨allaQ “asa, the neighborhood of Intiwatana, the neighborhood of Pisaq ”a, and the neighborhood of Tianayuc. Also are the 40 platforms of Acchapata, this set of platforms forms an inverted triangle, which was used especially for agriculture, in these places you can see buildings such as temples, palaces, courtyards, rooms and altars, each kept a purpose at the time and its value is unique.
The Inti Huatana is considered as the Temple of the Sun of Pisaq, because it fulfills a function of astronomical observatory.
Main Structures
The main structures of Pisaq are:
The Walls: Set of walls of great dimension that served as entrance to the enclosure in the eastern part. It has five doors or income where the “Amaru Punku” stands out, a Quechua word that means “Snake Gate”.
The Tunnels: Two corridors inside the mountain of Pisaq that had been used to perform religious rituals. The first one reaches 16 meters and the second one 3 meters.
The Inca Puete: The bases of several Inca hanging bridges in Pisaq are located on the western side of the enclosure. These bridges were made of thatch and were widely used throughout the empire.
The Intihuatana: The most important structure of Pisaq is the Intihuatana Quechua word that means “sundial” made of stone on several levels, is in the upper part of the enclosure. The upper surface is in the form of a table.
The Colcas or Deposits: These were circular constructions where food was stored. In Pisaq there are up to a set of six deposits arranged in rows of equal size, built in various parts of the Inca Empire.
The Inca Cemetery: In front of the archaeological park of Pisaq there are cavities nestled in a high peak, which housed up to 10 thousand tombs that belonged to the ancient Inca cemetery, which believed in reincarnation by them were buried with some ‘belongings, this cemetery was removed and destroyed by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century.
The Towers: At the top of Pisaq there is a set of polished stone towers of great dimension. these protected the enclosure of possible dimensions. they would have also served for the flow of water in the place.
The Enchanted Ñusta: On the way to Pisaq there is a rock formation in the shape of a woman carrying saddlebags on her back, as was the Inca tradition. This structure is attributed to the oral tradition of the legend of the princess Inquill, who was turned into stone as a punishment from the gods for not obeying her father.
The Tiyanacuy: located in the lower part of the city. formed by several neighborhoods or sets of enclosures, which include various smaller buildings, here you can find a perfect seat for two people, carved into a stone. this structure would have been destined to the same Inca Pachacutec and his wife.
La Calla Casa: It is a rustic group of buildings of irregular outline located on the top of the mountain, taking advantage of the rocky formations at the top of the hills, it is difficult to access because you have to avoid some dangerous ravines.
Pisaq: or Pisaqa, this neighborhood would have the shape of a Pisaqa, a kind of Andean partridge or Lluthu “The figure of a Pisaqa or P ‘esaqa, bird that would be represented in this place measures about 240 meters long, from the beak to the tail and about 60 meters wide’, there are a set of more than twenty enclosures of carved stone of good quality.
Strategic Location
Located 30 km from the city of Cusco, the Pisaq Archaeological Park is located in the district of Pisaq in the province of Calca, department of Cusco.
Transportation Options
For the section Cusco- Calca- Pisaq by land, you can take these buses from Puputi street, or Tullumayu Avenue, it is about 32.4 km to 48 minutes approximately.
For the section Cusco- Calca- Pisaq, terrestrial about 9.3 Km about 15 minutes approximately, from the Plaza de Armas of Pisaq to the archaeological park, and a private mobility or cab.
Schedules and Prices
Visiting hours:
- Monday to Sunday – Every day.
- Schedule of 7 am – 18:00 pm
- The cost of integral tourist ticket is of S/ 130.00 soles and includes 15 places of visit and Partial tourist ticket S/ 70.00 soles (Foreign rates) this ticket can be the archaeological part of Sacsayhuamanan, Quenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay or can be the Sacred Valley (Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray), Integral Tourist Ticket for Peruvians S/ 70.00 soles and the Partial Ticket S/. 40.00 soles.
Visiting Tips
For your visit to Pisaq you can consider the following recommendations:
- Bring your tourist ticket.
- Wear a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen.
- Light clothing in the rainy season, a jacket or rain coat.
- Hiking shoes.
- A small backpack.
- Water, snack.
- Cash.
- and your camera and capture the best moments.
Cultural and Spiritual Importance of Pisac
Pisaq has a great cultural and spiritual importance within the history, traditions and heritage, was a religious and military center of great importance to the Incas, a place where ceremonies were held and worshiped deities such as the Sun and the Moon.
- The name comes from the Quechua Pisaqa, which is the name of a ve similar to the Andean partridge.
- It was an important citadel.
- It was a religious center where Inca ceremonies were held.
- Famous for its folkloric dances and typical costumes.
- In the main square of Pisaq masses are held in Quechua.
- In the market you can see ancestral customs.
- On Sundays, the villagers come down from their high Andean communities to sell or exchange their products.
- Pisaq was a religious center where ceremonies dedicated to Inca deities were held.
- The structure of its terraces and temples demonstrates the advanced knowledge of the Incas about engineering and agriculture.
What to See Near Pisac Archaeological Park
The closest places to the Archaeological Park of Huchuyqosqo, we have the town of Lamay, Calca Valley, El Nevado de Veronica, the Vilcanota river, the town of Ollantaytambo, the town of Chinchero, Maras.
