Pisaq (Pisac) is an impressive hilltop Inca citadel 33km from Cusco in the Sacred Valley |
The ruins of the citadel are surrounded by extensive agricultural terraces |
Terraces, Pisaq |
Some of the terraces have been restored |
It's interesting that the Peruvians seem to have lost terrace farming after the Inca |
Terraces of Pisaq seen from the 10 km paved access road |
Parque Arqueologico Pisaq |
View of Pisaq from the parking area |
Village along the Pisaq access road |
I elected to explore Pisaq clockwise on my own while Pedro waited in the car |
The first of four main sets of ruins, with less refined stonework |
Agricultural terracing, Pisaq |
Lower ruins, a residential area - Pisaq |
Kinchiracay? - Pisaq |
Original Inca waterworks, Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Intihuatana - The sacred district of Pisaq |
Intihuatana and the summit of Pisaq's mountain |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Bridge over the Urubamba River at Pisaq seen from the citadel |
View south from Pisaq |
The highest quality Inca stonework at Pisaq is found in Intihuatana, the temple quarter |
One of the best things about Pisaq is that I had the vast site to myself - no tourist |
Inca doorway, Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Niches with round protrusions, Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Niches, Intihuatana - Pisaq |
View through an Inca doorway, Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
Climbing above Intihuatana |
Intihuatana - Pisaq |
View of the lower residential district from higher up the mountain |
Climbing towards the summit of Pisaq |
View of the valley along the Pisaq access road |
Wall along the upper ridge of Pisaq between Intihuatana and the Inca tunnel |
Village along the Pisaq access road |
Terraces seen from the Inca tunnel entrance, Pisaq |
Inca tunnel connecting Intihuatana with Q'allaqasa |
Southern tunnel entrance |
Inca tunnel at Pisaq |
Inca tunnel at Pisaq |
Northern tunnel entrance |
Inca staircase leading away from the tunnel |
Staircase, Pisaq |
Pisaq, looking south |
Terraces of northern Pisaq |
The northern ruins (Pisaqa or Kinchiracay?) Pisaq |
Northern terrances, Pisaq |
Citadel entrance, Pisaq |
Q'allaqasa - the Citadel at the summit of Pisaq's mountain |
Gate to the Citadel of Pisaq - Q'allaqasa |
Q'allaqasa - the Citadel of Pisaq, occupying the summit area |
Q'allaqasa - the Citadel of Pisaq |
Q'allaqasa - the Citadel of Pisaq |
The fourth set of ruins at Pisaq (Pisaqa or Kinchiracay?) |
Outer walls of the Citadel, Pisaq |
Walls of the Citadel (Q'allaqasa) Pisaq |
Stairs in the citadel, Pisaq |
Like the residential area below, the military district does not use as fine of stonework as the Intihuatana district |
Rocky summit of Pisaq's mountain |
Q'allaqasa - the Citadel of Pisaq |
Q'allaqasa - the Citadel of Pisaq |
Citadel of Pisaq, plesantly tourist-free...oh, what they're missing! |
Leaving the citadel, Pisaq |
Citadel of Pisaq from below |
Saddle area to the north of the Citadel of Pisaq |
Peruvian Indian in colorful costume |
All while I was exploring the Citadel, I heard beautiful native flute music in the distance |
...it was like he was playing just for me... |
...so he earned a nice tip |
Peruvian flute player in colorful costume with the Citadel of Pisaq |
He was later joined by a woman and child |
Agricultural terraces of Pisaq, Peru |
View from the northern ruins (Kinchiracay or Pisaqa?) Pisaq |
The northern ruins (Kinchiracay or Pisaqa?) are the least impressive |
Agricultural terraces, Pisaq |
Pedro shopping back by the car |