CuscoDay trips

Sacsayhuamán and the Inca sites above Cusco

Four sites on the hill above the city, and walls on a scale the city below does not repeat.

By Aleksejs Mamikins

Updated October 18, 20262 min read

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The long zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán on a green lawn under a blue sky and a white cloud — The walls of Sacsayhuamán · Cusco, Peru

At a glance

Duration: 5 h
Starts: 9:00 a.m. · 1:00 p.m.
Effort: Moderate

Sacsayhuamán looks down on Cusco from above the rooftops. It is the first of four Inca sites along the road out of the city, with Q'enqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay beyond it. Together they make a half day, about five hours.

The walls

Some of the stones weigh more than a hundred tonnes, and they are fitted so closely that a knife blade will not slip between them. No two blocks share a shape. Each was cut to meet the ones already set beside it.

Every stone was cut for the stone next to it.

The walls run in long zigzags across the lawn, and their scale is the reason to come. Nothing in the city below repeats it.

The three sites beyond

Past Sacsayhuamán, the road climbs on to Q'enqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay. The half-day tour links all four, with short steps and uneven terraces between them.

All four sit on the same partial ticket of the Boleto Turístico, the circuit of archaeological sites around Cusco, which is valid for one day. A guide is a separate fee.

The long stone walls of Sacsayhuamán under a wide sky

When to go

The tour starts at nine or at one. Clear light brings out the stonework, especially on the dry slopes.

The sun is strong at this altitude, and the steps are uneven. On June 24, Inti Raymi ends at Sacsayhuamán, and the site fills for it. We wrote about the seasons and the feast in The best time to visit Cusco.

Where it sits in a week

The climb is brief, and best taken slowly while the body is still adjusting to the altitude. We wrote about why in Why altitude changes the shape of a Cusco trip.

A half day above the city, and back in time for the evening.

Back in the center, the Plaza de Armas is where the evening gathers.

Terraced Inca walls on green slopes under a heavy sky

You can see it in context in our free 5-day Cusco route and 7-day Cusco route.

Worth knowing

The longest of Sacsayhuamán's three terrace walls runs about 400 meters, nearly four soccer fields end to end.
Cristo Blanco, on the next hill, was a 1945 gift from Palestinians.
Cash is still king. Cards work in central spots. Keep some cash for taxis, markets, and tips.