A Guide to Visiting Sacsayhuaman Ruins in Cusco, Peru
Sacsayhuaman (sometimes spelled Saqsaywaman) in Cusco is a must-visit ruin while exploring the Peruvian region of Incas. Our travel guide includes tips on visiting Sacsayhuaman independently; we share how to get there from Cusco, things to know, what to expect, tours, or accommodation.
Sacsayhuaman, a former Inca fortress perched atop the hill above Cusco, is a perfect trip to acclimate to the altitude and a great introduction to what you can expect from the area - ancient ruins and eye-catching landscape.
Thanks to its location, Sacsayhuaman is one of the best half-day trips from Cusco that is a must-include in your Peru travel itinerary.
The best part is that you can walk to Sacsayhuaman directly from the city's main square, Plaza de Armas. On top of that, you don't need a guided tour to get there, not even public transport or taxi, but that depends on your mood and energy.
On a clear day, the views over the puma shaped city and valley will take your breath away.
The Sacsayhuaman itself is an extraordinary site with three terraces serving for fortification purposes built by the Incas. Moreover, Sacsayhuaman is a part of UNESCO sites in the Cusco area.
Fitting the huge boulders together with surgical precision was Inca's trademark, and this site has some excellent structures proving this point. And Incas did all this precise work without using a mortar.
The fact that more than twenty thousand workers moved the massive chunks of stone from the local quarries without the knowledge of the wheel is just another mind-blowing piece of trivia.
This site is also known for a little bit more shallow reason. The pronunciation of Sacsayhuaman noticeably resembles Sexy Woman in English.
Therefore everyone calls it that way, especially the local touts selling the tours in the city center.
Speaking of which, there are many different ways to spell Sacsayhuaman (Saqsaywaman, Saqsayhuman, etc.), a fact you will soon notice while wandering the streets of Cusco's historical center as the name is spelled differently on almost every board.
Without any doubt, Sacsayhuaman is the best ruin in Cusco.
In this travel guide, you will find everything you need to know before visiting Sacsayhuaman. We've put together our tried and tested tips on reaching the ruins from Cusco and all practical information to help you plan a perfect visit.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN SACSAYHUAMAN
Getting to Sacsayhuaman from Cusco's Centro Historico is ridiculously easy and doable on your own.
Arriving at the Inca site from Cusco is the preferable direction for many visitors; we planned our trip a bit differently, though - but no worries, we'll share with you all the alternatives down below.
As we were waiting for the departure dates for Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek, we decided to visit Pisac Ruins first.
Even though we hiked to Pisac Ruins independently, in the end, the whole trip was shorter than we had expected.
We knew that there are a few more Inca Ruins on the way back to Cusco from our previous research.
So after we reassured ourselves that we are not tired nor hungry (luckily, we had menu del dia in Pisac), we decided to get off the colectivo at the upper entrance to Sacsayhuaman.
After a short walk from the drop-off point, we arrived at the famous Inca site built (and expanded) by Pachacuti in the 15th century. The earliest traces of human activity in the Sacsayhuaman dates back to 900 CE.
To this day, Sacsayhuaman is full of unsolved mysteries.
As soon as we entered, we were impressed by the size of the Sacsayhuaman's entire complex.
One of the best things to do in Sacsayhuaman is to roam freely around this place. The whole complex covers a vast area and is far more extensive than meets the eye.
And what can you see and expect from Sacsayhuaman?
There are plazas, altars, doorways, steps, walls, more walls, terraces, towers, aqueducts, caves, roaming llamas. Simply put, the fortress is monumental.
The most exciting part is the lower one, where you will find the terraces and the giant boulders.
You can walk through the doors, climb the stairs, and explore one of the best megalithic structures in Peru, just stay on the designated path. The stone structures survived earthquake after earthquake, and this is one of the incredible features that all Inca ruins have in common.
Standing next to one of the stones makes you wonder if the aliens didn't help Incas a bit. But jokes aside, you must have only respect for the Inca builders, engineering skills, and their civilization.
Unfortunately, during the Spaniard conquest of the Inca empire, the stones from Sacsayhuaman were used for the new colonial structures in the city. It's too bad we can't see the site in its past glory, only what Spaniards left of it.
However, the most impressive and heaviest stones remained, and some of them weigh more than 120 tons. Five hundred years later, and you still wouldn't be able to fit a knife between the stones. The stonework is that good.
Given the tools Inca used for stacking up the massive stones so perfectly, it leaves you in awe.
Sacsayhuaman was used for many purposes. As a fortress, storage depot, ceremonies, and even the sun temple devoted to the sun god Inti were there.
Nowadays, Sacsayhuaman is a must-visit place in Cusco popular with tourists from all over the world.
In June, a traditional religious ceremony Inti Raymi is being held at Sacsayhuaman each year to celebrate Inti, the ancient Incan God of Sun. The festival is one of the most important events in Cusco.
Getting around the complex is easy, and you shouldn't get lost. In fact, signage is quite good, so unlike many archaeological places near Nazca, Sacsayhuaman is perfectly fine to visit without a guided tour.
Being said that, you should read some facts and history to make the most of your trip as there aren't interpretive panels.
On the opposite side of Sacsayhuaman is the Cristo Blanco statue.
However, the reason to visit this miniature copy of Rio's Christ Redeemer is the superb views of Cusco. Walking to the statue is only worth it if you have spare time. Otherwise, you can enjoy the views from the Inca site. This attraction is free.
HOW TO GET THERE
The easiest and quickest way to get to Sacsayhuaman from Cusco is by taxi. The ride is relatively cheap and fast. Taxis are everywhere around in Cusco; just make sure to settle on the price first before you get in.
As we have already mentioned, taking the taxi to the upper entrance will save you a lot of energy. If you are worried about safety when hailing a cab on the street, ask the front office clerk at your hotel to arrange it for you.
However, the best way to get to Sacsayhuaman is on foot.
Assuming you are staying in the tourist area near Plaza de Armas, the walk to Sacsayhuaman is much more rewarding.
Leave Plaza de Armas from the northeast side of the square via Cuesta de Almirante (Cordoba del Tucuman).
After a short walk, you arrive at a small and picturesque Plaza de las Nazarenas, head north, and follow the Pumacurco street all the way to the Don Bosco u-turn.
The entrance gate is located on the side of the Don Bosco road.
Last but not least, it is possible to jump on a colectivo heading to Pisac and ask the driver to drop you off by the upper entrance. The price for the ticket should not be more than S/.3.
Compared to getting to Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman is way more accessible.
ENTRANCE FEE
Sacsayhuaman is not free. In fact, the entrance fee is quite expensive. The ticket costs S/.130, but it includes 16 attractions in the area and is valid for ten days.
Despite the initial steep price, buying the general ticket in Cusco, also known as Boleto Turistico, is well worth it.
Especially if you want to visit awesome places in the Sacred Valley such as Moray, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, or Pisac as well. And even for people traveling on a budget.
There are three different circuits, including all 16 attractions split into three separate groups, and each ticket costs 70 soles for each circuit.
Cusco Archaeological Sites circuit include Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay.
The cheaper ticket is only worth it in case you are short on time or want to visit only a specific circuit. In our opinion, it's better to pay a bit more to get that extra value.
One of the things to know about Peru is that cash is still the king there. Bring cash with you to pay for the ticket on the spot.
OPENING HOURS
The Sacsayhuaman is opened from 7 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Sunday. The opening hours are similar to other Inca ruins in the valley.
The best time to visit the complex is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. If you want to avoid crowds, though, midday is the time to go in.
HOW MUCH TIME YOU NEED
One of the best things to know about Sacsayhuaman is that you might spend there as much time as you want. What a change from the rush and time slots at Machu Picchu.
If you are arriving with the tour, then your itinerary is set.
On the other hand, independent visitors can take things more slowly. By walking, it takes about thirty minutes to get there from the main square. Add the same amount of time for the return trip.
Once you arrive at the gate, it depends on your preferences how much time you want to devote to Sacsayhuaman.
Walking around the ruins is fun. It took us nearly two hours to walk around the whole complex. But we took our time, admired the exceptional stonework, and enjoyed the splendid (almost aerial) views from Sacsayhuaman.
Tour buses pull in and out throughout the day, but the beauty of independent travel is that you can always wait until they leave.
ENTRANCE GATE
You can enter the Sacsayhuaman complex from either the southern lower entrance or northern upper entrance.
Our advice is to walk to the ruins from Cusco and back as visiting places at higher altitudes and being active helps to acclimate.
Of course, to make your life simpler, our advice is to take the taxi up to the Sacsayhuaman, explore it for some time, and walk down afterward.
TOURS
Compared to some other day trips from Cusco, such as Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake, the Sacsayhuaman is so close to the city that most tours usually include some other places and activities to make the itinerary more exciting.
Even though our travel guide encourages you to visit Sacsayhuaman independently, it's never a bad idea to explore the local sights with a knowledgeable guide.
As usual, the history of Sacsayhuaman is fascinating, and by hiring a local guide, you will get far more out of your visit.
The Sacsayhuaman and Cusco Ruins Tour have one more ace in the sleeve.
It includes Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay ruins as well.
These three other ruins on the way between Cusco and Pisac are relatively small and not worth visiting on their own. Being said that, they are a terrific addition to the Sacsayhuaman.
Unless you are fluent in Spanish, make sure to hire a guide who speaks English well. Thank you, captain obvious.
But really, some of the bilingual guides in Peru are not that bilingual, and especially mixed Spanish-English tours might leave you disappointed.
It happened to us few times, with the Colca Canyon tour being the best example.
The guide gave a detailed description in Spanish, and it seemed that she would talk forever and then said a couple of sentences in English and moved on.
ALTITUDE
The city of Cusco is in the Peruvian Andes at an altitude of 3400 meters above sea level. Sacsayhuaman's altitude is 3700 meters above sea level.
Acclimatization is essential at this altitude to prevent altitude sickness.
Therefore hiking to Sacsayhuaman is a perfect activity for your first day in Cusco. Some of the altitude sickness symptoms are dizziness, nausea, headache, shortness of breath, tiredness, etc.
Take your time in Cusco slowly, soak up in the atmosphere, acclimate. Luckily, Cusco offers plenty of things to do.
And by the way, one of the best ways to deal with the altitude is to stay hydrated.
Carry a reusable water bottle to lower the plastic footprint and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
ACCOMMODATION
Cusco is a large city spreading across the bottom of the valley with the snow-capped Andes in the distance.
Searching for accommodation in Cusco is actually not that hard. The most exciting part of the city is the Centro Historico. Therefore it makes sense to book a room in its vicinity.
Since Cusco is a gateway to Machu Picchu accommodating thousands of tourists each day, the hotel selection is wide.
Regardless of your travel budget, you will find a nice place to stay.
Here is our choice of the three best hotels in Cusco.
Budget | Cusco Bed and Breakfast - Spacious and clean rooms, comfortable beds, very quiet at night, excellent location.
Mid-range | Tierra Viva Cusco Centro - Providing a tranquil environment, beautiful rooms, and also has one of the top-rated locations in Cusco.
Luxury | JW Marriott El Convento Cusco - The hotel features impressive interiors, has a charming colonial courtyard, luxury rooms, and Cusco’s cathedral or main square are only three blocks away.
WHAT TO PACK
Comfy sneakers, a daypack, and a rain jacket are three essential things you should pack.
You can leave your hiking boots behind this time.
It gets windy at the top, plus the sun is very strong at the altitude. Use sunscreen with high SPF.
We visited Sacsayhuaman on a beautiful sunny and warm day, so we would also recommend bringing a hat as there is nowhere to hide.
Being located in the mountains, the weather in Cusco is not always lovely, though. Makes sure to pack an extra warm layer in case of bad weather.
We also brought our travel camera with a telephoto lens that allowed us to take some close-up shots of the Centro Historico.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
