PISAC, A HIDDEN TREASURE NEAR THE SKY

Pisac, one of the most visited pre-Columbian citadels of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, built approximately in the 15th century, is located in the province of Calca, 30 km (18.64 miles) from the city of Cusco and a 40-minute drive from it.

Pisac (archaeological park) is located at an altitude of 3,400 m.a.s.l. (11,154 ft.) and nestled to the east of the Vilcabamba mountain range, the strategic location of Pisac shows us the ability and skill that the ancient inhabitants had to adapt to the geography of the territory, climatic conditions and limited accessibility to conquer the top of the mountains and turn them into an extensive habitable area with perfect conditions for the development and rise of a civilization such as the Andean people.

ETHYMOLOGY: as in the case of the archaeological park of Pisac, many of the Inca constructions, were made taking into account the location with respect to the sunrise, considering the adaptability of the construction material to the territory and also the figurative traces of animals that were considered sacred in the past; It is because of this that it is said that the western part of the citadel of Pisac was designed with the shape of a puna partridge, due to the natural formation of the mountain and the constructions of the agricultural terraces and the retaining walls complete the shape of this bird.

LA ÑUSTA (Urban Legend): as in many civilizations and ethnic groups, Pisac is no stranger to famous legends and myths dating back to ancient times. On the opposite side of the mountain where the great Inca citadel stands, a natural rock can be seen to this day, a protuberance that has the shape of a human statue, this statue looks like the figure of a woman with her montera or hat, it is located with her back to the colonial town and the Inca citadel; different stories have been woven regarding this rock, however, one is the one that is most identified with the people of Pisac:

It is said that the governor of Pisac, the cacique Huayllapuma had a very beautiful daughter named Inquill, loving his daughter so much and not wanting to give her in marriage to any man, he called the princes and strong men of the empire and offered her in marriage to the man who could build in just one night the bridge over the Willcamayu River or Sacred River, this bridge would be of great importance as it would connect Pisac with the road to the capital of the Empire, Cusco. Despite the hard task, Asto Rimac, a handsome prince decided to accept the challenge and ask for the hand of the princess. The local authorities arranged for Asto Rimac to begin the construction work, and the princess was entrusted with the task of climbing the mountain opposite the citadel of Pisac, but without looking at the construction of the bridge no matter what happened, otherwise the punishment would be that she and her fiancé would be turned into stone. Then at dawn, it is said that the prince had already finished with the work, but hearing noise and much disorder, the princess Inquill, could no longer with his curiosity and turned to see what was happening in the valley, is that at that moment she and her beloved was turned to stone; that is why until today you can see the rock with the shape of the princess petrified on the mountain.

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK: Pisac is one of the most perfect examples of Inca architecture in the development of the Inca empire, the hydraulic and architectural engineering works are unique and incomparable, the construction of its agricultural terraces are the result of the development of a great civilization in the southern hemisphere. It is strategically built in a place of difficult access and on top of a mountain, with an impressive and majestic panoramic view.

The Pisac Archaeological Park is composed of residential areas, aqueducts, connecting cobblestone roads, bridges, watchtowers, granaries, a large cemetery, ceremonial fountains, Inca neighborhoods, large-scale agricultural terraces, among others, all located in an area of more than 9,000 hectares (22,000 acres). Pisac as well is divided into 4 areas or Inca neighborhoods: Pisaqa, Intihuatana, Q’allaqasa and Kinchiracay; each one has different structures such as agricultural terraces, temples and tombs.

In pre-Hispanic times, Pisac was a citadel with administrative, political, economic, religious and astronomical functions. The important connection between Pisac, Cusco (the capital of the Inca empire) and Piquillacta was confirmed; since the 3 form an almost perfect triangle, with an approximate distance of 33 km (20.50 miles) between each of them; an important reason that suggests that Pisac also fulfilled the vital function of protection and defense of the capital of the empire as a gateway and exit between the jungle and the Andes.

ARCHITECTURE: In Pisac we can find different styles of architectural stonework, mostly of great quality, with fine finishing and extraordinary precision masonry. The material used for the construction of this citadel, comes from the nearby quarries, granite rocks or red porphyry, limestone and even sandstone, cut with great precision, designed to fit perfectly with each other and polished to give the last fine finish; many of these walls, are embedded and seated perfectly with the natural rock that looks like a fusion between block and rock. In the construction of the citadel of Pisac you can find styles ranging from the most rustic or called p’erca (in the quechua language), adobe constructions, cellular style, polygonal, and in the solar observatory of imperial classic Inca style (the finest in Inca architecture).

THE INTIHUATANA: translated into Spanish means “Sundial” and is located at the top of the mountain, was the temple dedicated to the “Sun”, and also served as an astronomical observatory, is a natural rock structure, in the middle has a small protrusion worked as a bracket and is surrounded by a semicircular wall of thin blocks, used to study the stars, the movement of the constellations, observe the solstices, equinoxes and agricultural cycles. Also, in this sector are the most beautiful constructions, of fine finish and perfect settlement, without joints or mortar mortar between blocks, for its style (classic imperial Inca), it may indicate that it belonged to the nobility or people who fulfilled a role of higher hierarchy.

THE TOMBS: The Andeans glorified and erected magnificent constructions and temples in honor of their Deities, especially the Sun; but they also gave importance to their dead, building royal mausoleums, public cemeteries and tombs, many of which are located in the same mountain, carved and worked in the rock and on the edge of the cliff. All these tombs and burials found provide us with valuable information about the funerary practices and rituals dedicated to their dead and to the belief in the next life, since the burials were carried out with personal objects of the deceased and offerings for their deities, in order to be accepted in the afterlife, Unfortunately since the Spanish conquest, these sacred places for the Incas, were plundered for the jewels and other treasures that were kept inside, later and profaners of tombs were responsible for disappearing what was left and today you can only see small holes (what was left of the tombs) product of the desecration and destruction of them.

CHINCANAS OR TUNNELS: as in any natural formation, especially where there is the presence of limestone and granite, we will also find subway tunnels, caves that were used by the ancient settlers to work them and make a corridor or a path that connects one construction with another, or in the case of Pisac a tunnel inside the rock with stairs whose function is to connect an Inca neighborhood with the area of the intihuatana or the temple of the sun, they are not very extensive as Sacsayhuaman, but it has the same functionality.

GRANARIES OR WAREHOUSES: it is very common to find in every Inca citadel, the granaries or Qolqas, as the ancient inhabitants of the Inca empire called them, since the basis of the Inca economy was agriculture; which served to store all the production of the agricultural terraces of Pisac and supply the entire region of Tawantinsuyu of grains, tubers, vegetables, spices, among others. In the archaeological park of Pisac, 6 granaries of equal size have been identified, built in the highest parts and almost at the edge of the mountain in order to take advantage of the winds coming from the snowy peaks and to ventilate the products stored inside.

THE INCA WALL: every Inca citadel has constructions of different sizes, styles, as well as different functionalities; In the case of Pisac, the most important constructions, as well as the Intiwatana are surrounded by a great wall of polygonal style, whose blocks are very well assembled with each other and perfectly polished, which suggests that these constructions within the wall, were of a higher hierarchy than the rest, but also indicates that it served as a defensive wall against a possible invasion which indicates its military function that could have had. Along the wall, there are 5 access gates, being the main one called “Amaru Punku” or serpent gate, in honor of this pre-Hispanic deity.

INCA AGRICULTURAL TERRACES: In pre-Hispanic times. The main economic activity was agriculture, which made possible the construction of cultivation terraces throughout the territory of the Inca empire, terraces that do not erode the geography of the mountains, but are molded to it, agricultural terraces that cover the mountains as mantles woven on them, which is why in Pisac, the Incas built more than 16 sectors of terraces that served to produce the best products of the valley and at the same time served as retaining walls to prevent erosion and landslides. These cultivation terraces were made using different techniques, which makes them resistant to the rains of greater magnitude, as well as to the telluric movements, the Inca terraces are built from the base of the mountains, valley level at 2,800 m.a.s.l. (9,180 ft) to 3,600 m.a.s.l. (11,800 ft) approximately.

INCA BRIDGES: Definitely the most famous Inca bridge and spread throughout the world is undoubtedly the “Bridge of Qeswachaca”, a bridge that even today is still renewed through festivals and annual rituals; however, it is also known that the entire Inca empire was connected not only through roads, but also suspension bridges, solid bridges made of tree trunks, stone bridges, among others. Pisac, shows today the vestiges of the existence of bridges that connected this great citadel, where you can see the stone bases that served as support for suspension bridges, as well as the chroniclers indicate the existence of them.

THE TOWERS: because of the location where the archaeological park of Pisac is erected, it is very common to find many watchtowers, whose function was the control, security and protection of the whole complex. Most of these watchtowers are built on the cliffs, where the panoramic view is wide and deep, giving the sensation of controlling everything that the view reaches and beyond.

INCA TRAIL FROM PISAC TO THE COLONIAL VILLAGE: Pisac as a whole offers many options for hiking and connecting with nature. The Inca trails that run along the top of the mountain, take us through unique scenarios with a view of the entire sacred valley, with exceptional and dreamlike views, finding on the route flora and fauna native to the place that makes the experience of the hiker unique and unforgettable. The hike from the archaeological zone to the colonial town is one of the few adventures known to the visitor, since it requires time to visit the archaeological remains in all its magnitude and to make the hike along the Inca trail. This hike is ideal to explore the surroundings and enjoy outdoor activities, it is an excellent option to understand the Inca legacy, relive the past and connect with nature in all its splendor, all this in the heart of a fertile and sacred valley, as it was for our ancestors, the Incas.

COLONIAL TOWN OF PISAC: Pisac town, is seated on one of the most extensive Inca terraces at the base of the mountain, like all colonial population, its architectural layout is distinctly Hispanic, with long parallel and transverse narrow streets, which as a whole looks like a maze, a feature of the colonial town of Pisac are the houses. Many of them are still built of adobe material, two-story, with white facades and small windows and balconies painted blue, colors that symbolize the Catholic religion.

This town originated from the “reductions of the Indians” in 1572, which consisted of concentrating by force the indigenous populations in towns or reductions, in order to control them politically, exploit them economically and evangelize the entire population, Pisac was one of those villages that were subjected to the system of reductions.

Today, the town of Pisac is a forced passage for all visitors to the archaeological park, the town is one of the most colorful, bustling and touristic places in the Cusco region, the town is also very famous for its Sunday fairs and its large craft market that is open throughout the year. The craft centers, alpacas textiles and jewelry are characterized by offering all kinds of work, different styles, colorful, varied, made by the same local artisans and others imported to the customer’s taste.

THE TOURIST MARKET OF PISAC: is a fair with hundreds of craft stalls offering all kinds of unique products made by local artisans and nearby communities. Among the products on offer are looms, chullos, garments made with alpaca, sheep and synthetic wool; jewelry and silver ornaments, flutes, backpacks and other accessories; all are handmade and decorated with bright colors that result in a work of art, products of different qualities for all tastes and economies. At every step you will be amazed with all that each stand offers, always accompanied by the beautiful sound of the flute of a strolling musician of the place.

Another detail that conquers the visitors of this place is the warm and jovial treatment they receive from the vendors. Bargaining is allowed here, a good buyer will be able to negotiate the price and take home a souvenir at a good price.

SUNDAY MARKET OF PISAC: This fair dates back hundreds of years and is characterized as a purely tourist market, every Sunday mass is celebrated in the village church at 11.00 am. And the religious festivity is celebrated in the ancestral language, the Quechua, reason why many people from different rural communities of Pisac, go down to the town dressed all of them with their traditional attire such as poncho, shorts, shirts, chullos; all of them with their respective pututus or sea shells, instrument used as a trumpet to blow and emit a loud sound, this sound is a sign of the call to congregate all to go to participate in the mass.

Once the mass is over, the Varayoc or mayors leaders of the peasant communities followed by their community members and children, go all over the town of Pisac showing their clothes and their wind instrument, they move through all the streets as a parade calling the attention of locals and visitors; this unique representation of the fusion of ancestral customs with the colonial and modern, can only be seen every Sunday in the colonial town of Pisac.

Also, and only on Sundays, in the main square of the town, one can delight in the different agricultural products brought from the different rural communities, staple foods such as fruits, organic vegetables produced in the valley, jungle products and high Andean products. Also, on this day, the gastronomy offers some typical dishes and novo Andean dishes of the region, as well as the inevitable corn chicha (or chicha de jora) obtained from fermented corn. For years, this market has also offered frutillada made from strawberries grown in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Until a few decades ago, bartering was practiced in this market, exchange of products between vendors from the highlands and the jungle, but with the advent of modernity, this practice has been completely lost.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

¿How much is the cost of the trip on my own (Cusco – Pisac)? you must take a public transportation (minivan) in puputi street, located only 15 minutes from downtown. this trip costs 7 soles and takes approximately 1 hour.

¿Is it possible to walk up from the town of Pisac to the archaeological site? yes, the walk will take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

¿Where to buy a tour to Pisac? you can buy a tour to pisac and all the sacred valley here: https://andinaamazonica.com/

¿How long does it take to tour the entire archaeological site? the archaeological site of pisac is huge. touring all its neighborhoods, buildings and roads can take 2 hours or even more.

¿Is the visit dangerous? No, the archaeological site of pisac has well marked roads with signs for tourists.

¿What is the weather like in Pisac? Being located in the sacred valley of the incas, the climate in the archaeological center of pisac is quite pleasant. the rainy season starts in november and lasts until march. the rainiest months are january and february and there are always cloudy skies. at this time of the year the average temperature is 8 °c to 20 °c. the winter season usually starts between april and may and lasts until august. at this time of year the temperature reaches up to 22 °c during the day and drops rapidly to 2 °c at night. and the coldest months are the months of may, june and july, with temperatures that can reach 0 degrees.

¿What to do in Pisac? Visiting the sacred valley of the incas, the town of pisac and the archaeological site of pisac is undoubtedly the best choice for your next trip to peru. in pisac you can find an endless number of activities for groups, families or individuals. since this place is characterized by offering all its visitors innovative activities in terms of tourism. In these green landscapes you can go hiking, water sports such as river rafting, experiential tourism, horseback riding, extreme adventure sports and more. also, the local people will be happy to share a moment with you telling you great legends and secrets of their customs and traditions.

¿Are there restaurants in Pisac? In the town of pisac and the places near pisac there are many restaurants to enjoy the best gastronomy of the area. from small quintas or picanterias to large and exclusive restaurants for the most demanding palates. in fact, we suggest trying typical food of the area based on guinea pig, corn and especially organic vegetables produced in the sacred valley.

¿Are there hotels in Pisac? in the town there are not so many exclusive hotels, but there is a varied selection of small hotels, lodges and airbnb houses that will be delighted to have you in their facilities. but throughout the sacred valley you will find the best collection of the most exclusive hotels in the cusco region.

¿where to buy the Pisac admission tickets and schedules? the boleto turístico general cusco is the only document or admission ticket allowed to enter the archaeological center of pisac. in fact, it is a personal and non-transferable document. moreover, the general tourist ticket is valid for 10 days and you can access up to 16 tourist attractions. and the partial tourist ticket ii of cusco is valid for 2 days and you can access up to 4 tourist attractions of the sacred valley. as pisac, ollantaytambo, moray and chinchero. The entrance hours for Pisac are available from 8:00 a.m. until 16:30 pm. It is open to the public 365 days a year, without exception of holidays. But during the month of February it is sometimes closed due to heavy rainfall in the place.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE VISIT:

1. Acclimatize yourself days before the excursion.
2. Carry your Passport and the admission ticket for the archaeological site.
3. Wear light clothing and a jacket that keeps you a little warm later.
4. Wear appropriate footwear.
5. Hydrate yourself, drink plenty of mineral water.
6. Wear sunscreen.
7. Wear a cap or wide-brimmed hat.
8. Take with you money in cash and peruvian currency.