Would you like to discover the interesting history of the Inca Fortress of Sacsayhuaman? The ruin is located at the top of Cusco and was used for military purposes and for the protection of the city. This amazingly engineered site was the focus of many battles with the Spanish who conquered this site as well as the city of Cusco. The impressive and expansive site is a must visit while in Cusco before any tour to Machu Picchu.
History
In the 15th century, to the north of Cusco lived the Chanca’s an ancient civilization that were looking to expand their empire. In 1438 the Chancas taking advantage of the calm waged war on the Inca, closing Cusco. Pachacutec retaliated and had a great victory, clearing the way for the Inca Empire to head north. Later, Viracocha entrusted the building of Sacsayhuaman to his son, the young Pachacutec. The victorious Pachacutec decided to build Cusco in the shape of a Puma, the symbol of power in the Inca Culture. This is why Sacsayhuaman is in the shape of the head of the Puma. The Inca fortress was built during his reign between 1438 and 1471AD. It is believed that its construction lasted more than 90 years. More than 20,000 men were needed under the mita system (teamwork), making this place the greatest evidence of the organization and technique of the Inca empire.
The Spanish arrived in 1533, the fortress was used by Inca Manco Capac during the fight with the conquistadors. He won the first battle but later was defeated. Francisco Pizarro then sent his brother, Juan, to recover the fortress in a last battle in 1536. The Spanish used cavalry and ladders to climb the gigantic walls and towers of the complex. Breaking the defenses of the Inca fortress, the battle was bloody. Juan Pizarro died at the battle, but the Spanish won and managed to recover the fortress. The Spanish soon dismantled most of the site and used the stones for building in Cusco.
The Design of Sacsayhuaman
The complex design is based on the shape of the head of a puma, a sacred animal in Inca spirituality. It was the Inca Pachacutec who redesigned the city of Cusco to give it the shape of a lying puma, having Sacsayhuaman as its head. It is also worth mentioning that the fortress contains constructions for worship and residential buildings. You can also see warehouses, aqueducts, roads, towers, and shrines. The complex can closely resemble the style used in other sacred places such as Machu Picchu.
The purpose of Sacsayhuaman
Academics discuss the function of Sacsayhuaman, some have concluded that it was a center for the lightning god, because of the shape of terraces. Another indicates that the complex was a ceremonial neighborhood of high-level people, due to certain zones destinated to worship of deities. Others claim that the complex was a military fortress, because of its location and structure, this is the preferred opinion.
There is also evidence showing that the enclosure was used as a kind of deposit. It is believed that the Incas kept food, ceramics, valuable textiles, precious metal tools, armor even weapons.
The parts of Sacsayhuaman
The Towers
There were 3 towers at Sacsayhuaman only the foundations of the Towers remain. The buildings were destroyed in the early colonial period, their foundations covered with earth;
Muyuccmarca, “Muyuq” means round, “Marca” means settlement. Its circular bases confirm its circular shape, which features three concentric circles, all inserted into a square with unequal sides.
Paucarmarca is covered with earth, possibly could have been quadrangular “Pauca” means festive, beautiful, joyful, garden, it is believed to have been dedicated to the stars.
Sallaqmarca is next to Muyuccmarca and etymologically comes from “Sallaq” meaning rough, stony.
Enclosures
Found at the top of the hill, south of and a short distance from the towers. They are beautiful rooms situated against the hill, overlooking the plazas of the Inca city. The rooms themselves are characterized as long and narrow, connected by a series of trapezoidal doors.
The Bastons
Impressive irregular shaped stones assembled with perfect precision. The first Spaniards attributed their construction to demons; even today, it is said that extraterrestrials are the ones who made this work. These bastions are considered a marvel even today.
The Doors
Located in the central and middle part of the bastions with trapezoidal shapes, they served as entrance to the tower area.
Rodadero or Suchuna
A natural formation of diorite, of volcanic origin, which emerged modulating its surface with curves and stripes in the form of slides.
The Inca Throne
A succession of seats carved in diorite rock, located on the eastern part of the hill, from which there is a panoramic view of the complex.
Chinkanas or Tunnels
There are two, the smaller one is short in length and has become a popular with visitors. The larger one is further north, below a large limestone rock. This passage is flooded and not accessible. Some believe they are interconnected with the various Inca constructions, yet it remains a great mystery.
How to get to Sacsayhuaman
On foot: The walk to Sacsayhuaman is short but uphill, approximately 20 to 30 minutes from the center of the city of Cusco. The route offers great views of Cusco and the main square. To walk to Sacsayhuamán from the main square, go up Suecia street to Huaynapata and continue on Resbalosa, turn right after the church of San Cristóbal and follow the road. Here, you will join the ancient Inca route to Sacsayhuaman.
By taxi: The taxi service is a great option if you want to tour the entire archaeological complex. The journey will take approximately 10 minutes to the entrance of the archaeological park. It is essential that you agree on a price before taking the service. If you want the driver to wait for you agree on that also.
Guided tour: This is the best option. Most tours offered come with everything included, you will also have a guide who will explain about this wonderful place.
Every June 24th, the Inti Raymi is celebrated on the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman, which is a reenactment of the most important festival of the Inca era, the worship of the Sun God. This is one of the most important festivals of the year, tourists from all over the world gather to witness this wonderful, colorful spectacle.
Other Ruins close by
Qenko
Q’enko is one of the finest examples of an artfully carved rock and an excellent illustration of how the Incas worshipped. This large limestone rocks show complex patterns of steps, seats, geometric shapes and a puma design. Inside the rock are large niches and a possible altar.
Puca Pucara
The site has superb views over the surrounding countryside. Puca Pucara (which means “red fort”) was more likely a tambo, a resting place, rather than an actual fort. Travelers may have lodged here with their goods and animals before entering Cusco.
Tambo Machay
This small ruin consists of a beautifully constructed ceremonial stone bath. It was a site for ritual bathing. The excellent quality of stonework at Tambo Machay suggests that just the aristocracy used it, mainly for the baths on ceremonial occasions. The ruins basically consist of three tiered platforms. The top platform has four niches used as seats. On the next level an underground spring emerges directly from a hole to the base of the stonework.
The Cusco visitors Ticket
When you arrive into Cusco, it is a great idea to get a Cusco Visitors ticket. With this ticket you can enter most of the sites in Cusco, which includes Sacsayhuaman and the Sacred Valley. The cost will depend on if you buy a partial or full ticket.
Weather and Altitude
The city of Cusco two main seasons: dry and rainy. However, given the altitude at which Sacsayhuamán is located (3,700 m above sea level), it tends to have a cold climate. December, January, February and March, these are the rainiest months of the year in the city of Cusco and Sacsayhuamán. May, June, July and August being the driest.
The ancient Inca city of Sacsayhuaman awaits you on your tour to Cusco. Take the time to visit and explore. The site has amazing views of Cusco and is located high in the Andes. Combine with at tour to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Don’t miss out.
Trusted by travelers
Join the Thousands of Satisfied Customers who Rate us #1 on
TripAdvisor
Independent reviews from guests who explored Peru with our local team.
slamice
Aug 2026, 2026 · Solo
5 out of 5
Excellent experience on 2 day tour
A friend recommended me to Sam’s. It was a great experience. After making it to Cusco they walked me through everything at the office.
We were a small group which was great for faster pacing the tour guide Israel was a very nice and knowledgeable guy. He is also very patient and relaxed, which helped a lot. I think he knows every tour guide in Machu Pichu.
Everything Sam’s provided, including the food and accommodations was much appreciated. I took the two day Machu Pichu tour. The weather was bad for the 4 -5 day Inca trail but Sam’s made our tour work. 100% would recommend.
Posted on
Tripadvisor
DianaFran72
Apr 2026 · Couples
5 out of 5
Great 3-day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour
Henry shared a wealth of historical and cultural information during our first day in the Sacred Valley. Cristian then guided us patiently and cheerfully on the hike to the Sun Gate and around Machu Picchu. His love for his heritage made two long days especially memorable.
Posted on
Tripadvisor
Elisa Yaeger
Aug 2026 · Solo
5 out of 5
Salkantay Trek 4 days
SAME Travel is an incredible tour group. Saul responded to me immediately & took a phone call to answer any questions I had. Jose was my guide & wow was he amazing. The best smile, the most positive attitude, & the most encouraging (especially during the 9 hours of hiking in the snow & rain). I could not have asked for a better guide! The chefs were great & accommodated my vegan needs. & the horseman made sure our luggage arrived safely & dry! & another great aspect of this tour group is that the groups themselves are small, making it feel more personalized. I would definitely book another tour with SAM!
Posted on
Tripadvisor
19_traveler15
Aug 2026· Couples
5 out of 5
Short Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu
I contacted SAM Travel directly approx 8 months in advance to book the short Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu for my 50th birthday.
The typical tour is a return from Cusco, but we were staying in Ollantaytambo so I requested to join the tour from Ollayantambo and finish in Cusco.
Booking went very smoothly and over the coming months both Nicole and Edison were very responsive to any questions I had such as how my main luggage would be collected from Ollantaytambo and be ready for our return to cusco.
The night before our tour, our guide Juan contacted me to discuss the logistics for the following day. Upon arrival at the train station Juan recognised us immediately (I sent him a picture of us) and ensured that we were comfortable with the itinerary.
We were booked onto a group trip but to it turned out to be just my husband and I. Juan was absolutely amazing, He made our trip an unforgettable experience and we could not have asked for a better guide.
During the trek, Juan allowed us to walk at our own pace so that we could enjoy the scenery and manage the altitude. He explained the history of the Incan ruins and Machu Picchu in great detail and was very attentive to our needs.
He made sure that our overnight bags were waiting at the hotel in Aguas Calientes for our arrival after the trek and he also ensured that our main luggage was collected from Ollantaytambo and was on the bus with us back to Cusco.
Upon arrival in Cusco, Juan even made sure that we got checked into our hotel ok before eventually we had to say our sad goodbyes.
We cannot thank Juan enough for giving us the best experience and we would highly recommend him as a guide.
“Tupananchiskama, Juan! Sulpayki por todo”
.
Posted on
Tripadvisor
Eleonora T
Aug 2026 • Couples
5 out of 5
Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
We did the 3-day and 2-night tour, the first day tour of the Sacred Valley (truly incredible places) with explanations of the various sites of interest, day 2 short Inca Trail, the guide (Israel) was excellent with us, he set a good pace and breaks to explain some little curiosities. Lunch is included and is very good. Finally, the last day visit to Machu Picchu, exhaustive and interesting. The transportation is excellently organized, and the luggage delivery system was also very convenient for us! We highly recommend Sam Travel :)
Posted on
Tripadvisor
Daniel A
Aug 2026 • Friends
5 out of 5
Classic Inca Trail
We booked the 4 day Inca Trail during which we unfortunately encountered freak weather with torrential rain meaning parts of the trail were closed by the government due to mud slides after our first day forcing us to turn back the next day. Despite this our guides Ray and Jimmy immediately contacted the office and organised alternative routes, trains, busses, and accommodation allowing us to then complete the alternative trek starting from km 104 on day 3, enter Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate and return on Day 4 for a brilliant guide through Machu Picchu itself by which point the weather was brilliant again.
Posted on
Tripadvisor
Daniel Austin
Aug 2026
5 out of 5
What an experience of a lifetime. Our travel guide, Joseph, and our chef, Andres, both went above and beyond to make our trek incredible.
Joseph is a true master of the mountain trails. He is articulate, friendly, and encouraging to hikers on his care. He always makes sure you know the plan. A truly fun guy to hang out with, too. When a couple hikers in our group got sick, one of them on Sankaltay Pass trail, he put many extra steps in going back and forth to make sure the fellow hiker got to safety by horse, and he was in total confidence the whole time. You're in good hands with Joseph.
Now, regarding food, I am 20+ years vegan, and I fully expected to have a hard time when it came to the catering on the trail. Chef Andres not only fully understood what vegan means, he made every meal a culinary work of art, and the fellow hikers in my group were in awe of the dishes Andres made just for me. And he never made a mistake on vegan ingredients, always confident in what he made. Keep in mind, Andres and his crew made the hike with us every day, which usually kicked our asses, but Andres and his team made incredible dishes 3 times a day after hiking. It was just unbelievable how hard this crew works and how passionate they are about their work.
It was a great fortune to have booked through Sam Travel and to have gotten Joseph and Andres taking care of us out there.
Posted on
Google
Yasamin Vafai
Aug, 2026
5 out of 5
Elias Usca was an amazing guide for our 4 day hike for our honeymoon. Originally we were going to do the Inca Trail, but then we had to reschedule into this trek because there was a landslide on the Inca Trail. Elias make sure that this experience was unforgettable, even if it wasn’t what we had originally planned for, we were happy that we ended up doing the Salkantay with him! When I was struggling with the altitude, he helped me, and even helped carry my bag and arrange a horse for me. He was great at thinking on his feet and even helped our group with having different schedules for the third day based off of everybody’s preferences and abilities. Every night the accommodations were so comfortable and even had hot showers! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the food, with multiple delicious dishes for every meal prepared by our chef Evereth. Elias was very knowledgeable and shared great facts about the nature and the history of the Inca people during our time with him. He and our group were also super fun, and I was so sad when the trip was over! The vibes were the best.
This was definitely worth the money, with everything smoothly planned from the first hotel pickup to the final meal! I can’t recommend it enough!.
Posted on
Google
Omid Boozarpour
Aug 24, 2026
5 out of 5
We had an amazing time on our salkantay trek with Elias Usca as our guide! We actually were supposed to be doing an inca trail trek with SAM travels, but a landslide caused the trail to be closed! They contacted us promptly and helped us find an alternate trek immediately that would still get us to machu picchu. We were worried about the difficulty, and although it was certainly tough, our guide went above and beyond to help us all the way. Got us horses for the harder bits, even offered to carry our packs when things got tough. The whole while he was encouraging and so friendly. Cracking jokes and keeping our spirits up. He knew so much about the sites and was always offering information and pointing out interesting things. Cant say enough good things about him. We wouldnt have made it without him as well as Eberth and our cook/porter team who kept us well fed and happy! Another thing was sam travels as a whole was always looking for ways to tailor the trek to us and they helped find alternate paths when some in our group were unable to continue as planned. Definitely will be recommending to others!.
Posted on
Google
Alice
Aug 21, 2026
5 out of 5
amazing hike, amazing guides, amazing group, amazing everything !! despite the rain and the closing of the trail, our great guides Jimmy and Ray still found a way to let us safely experience this hike while enjoying the food Edison cooked for us.
we’ll never forget this experience and the stunning inka trail :)
(and also a special thanks to the team of porters who hiked and set up camp in the rain, you’ve been amazing)
Posted on
Google
Elisa Yaeger
Aug 20, 2026
5 out of 5
SAME Travel is an incredible tour group. Saul responded to me immediately & took a phone call to answer any questions I had. Jose was my guide & wow was he amazing. The best smile, the most positive attitude, & the most encouraging (especially during the 9 hours of hiking in the snow & rain). I could not have asked for a better guide! The chefs were great & accommodated my vegan needs. & the horseman made sure our luggage arrived safely & dry! & another great aspect of this tour group is that the groups themselves are small, making it feel more personalized. I would definitely book another tour with SAM!.
Posted on
Google
Cecilia Castelli
Aug 19, 2026
5 out of 5
We had an absolutely amazing time with Chris and Daniel during our three-day Sacred Valley experience, including the Short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, followed by a trip to Pallay Punchu.
Every single place we visited was absolutely stunning, and the service throughout the entire trip was exceptional. Everything was perfectly organized, which allowed us to simply enjoy the experience and take in the incredible scenery.
Chris was absolutely the best! He is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and passionate about what he does. He had an answer to every question we asked and shared so much interesting information along the way. Beyond his knowledge, he is simply a wonderful person who made the experience even more special.
Daniel, our driver, was also fantastic. He was so kind, warm, and professional, and always made us feel comfortable and well taken care of. Honestly, it felt less like touring with guides and more like traveling with close friends or family. Both Chris and Daniel were incredibly sweet, welcoming, and genuinely cared about making our trip memorable.
I cannot recommend this company highly enough, and I would especially recommend Chris and Daniel to anyone visiting Peru. They made an already incredible trip truly unforgettable!
Posted on
Google
CA
Carolyn
Jun 29, 2026
5 out of 5
Rainbow Mt and Lake Titikaka
For the second part of our Classic Inca Trail package, we hiked Rainbow Mountain and then toured the islands of Lake Titikaka. On this portion of our trip package, we were able to spend a day/night/morning with a local family on Isla Amantaní. What an incredible experience to really got to understand the culture! Our guide Christian (Chris) from Sam’s Travel was an incredible resource helping us to not only navigate where to be, but also helped us converse with the local community. In addition to being an excellent guide and very knowledgeable, Christian was an AMAZING photographer for our group so we are all in all of the photos!.
Posted on
Trustpilot
JC
Joann Campos
Apr 24, 2026
5 out of 5
The Ultimate Birthday Bucket List Experience – The Dream Team of Liz and Abdul!
I recently checked a major dream off my birthday bucket list with an incredible 3-day tour of the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain. This experience was everything I hoped for and more, largely because of the outstanding duo of Liz Montesinos and Abdul. If you are booking with SAM Travel, I cannot recommend this pair enough—they work so perfectly together as a team that it made our entire journey feel seamless and special.
Liz Montesinos is an absolutely wonderful guide who brought so much heart to our experience. What stood out most was her intense passion for her culture and her country; she doesn’t just share facts, she shares her heritage with a deep pride that makes the history of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu truly come alive. She was also incredibly attentive, always making sure we were comfortable and helping us capture the most stunning photos of our milestone trip.
While Liz provided the incredible storytelling and cultural depth, Abdul was the perfect partner behind the wheel. He is a fantastic driver who made us feel completely safe and relaxed, even on the winding mountain roads. Seeing them work in tandem allowed us to just focus on the magic of Peru. They truly operate as a "dream team," and their combined energy and professionalism made this a birthday I will never forget. If you want the best experience possible, be sure to ask for Liz and Abdul together!.
Posted on
Trustpilot
SU
Susan
Oct 9, 2025
5 out of 5
The Inca Trail with the best guide.
We did the 3 night, 4 day Inca Trail with Sam Travel Peru and our guide and organiser was Josep Quiñonez Alvarez. It was a fantastic experience and Josep made it extra special. He is extremely experienced so was able to read the group very well and make adjustments to the route when necessary. His knowledge of the Incan civilisation was excellent and he was able to convey it in superb English with passion and enthusiasm. Despite the ardours of the trail we had a great 4 days, which undoubtedly was definitely down to Josef.
Posted on
Trustpilot
JT
Jen Thomas
Oct 3, 2024
5 out of 5
An amazing adventure
Sam Travel Peru were brilliant from start to finish on the 4 day classic Inca Trail. They were well organised which made for a smooth and enjoyable experience. The guides Henry and Jimmy were amazing, so fun and helpful. They were informative about Inca history and really knew how to keep the group energised and having a good time. The chef (Mario) came up with some delicious food, pretty incredible at such remote locations. So thankful for the porters too, who made the experience so much more enjoyable by carrying everything to make camp each night (as well as our duffle bags). An all round spectacular experience, so grateful to a wonderful team.
Posted on
Trustpilot
Isabel Batteria
Apr 17, 2024
5 out of 5
Patient and supportive guide
Raymier respected my pace on the Short Inca Trail, never rushed me and supported me throughout. He was knowledgeable, funny and knew the best places for photos.
Posted on
Tripadvisor
