Day 8, Cuzco Sacsayhuaman Inca Ruins

Cuzco

This morning, we flew from Lima to Cuzco, about an 1 hour 20 minute flight. Cuzco is at 11,152 feet altitude. We would be at altitudes close to 8,000 feet up to (measured on a tour mate’s app) 14,800 feet for the next eight days. You can get altitude sickness, which is a reaction to having less oxygen to breathe at high altitudes, above 8,000 feet. I had a prescription to prevent altitude sickness (acetazolamide) which I started taking yesterday in Lima and would take for the next three days, the time that usually takes someone to adjust to the altitude. Other people on my tour had different prescriptions with different directions as to when to take them. There is no one preventative measure. Some people chew coca leaves and drink coca tea, which help and were available at all our hotels. Altitude sickness can be quite serious, resulting sometimes in a coma. I had some headaches and tiredness and was very thirsty. Coca leaves helped. Some other people complained of shortness of breath. These really were minor compared to other symptoms of altitude sickness. Something to read up on if you are planning a trip to Peru. Photo: On the way to Cuzco ruins from the city. It was raining off and on.

Cuzco

Sacsayhuaman Inca Ruins

Cuzco was the historical capital of the Inca Empire. There are a number of Inca ruins near Cuzco. We visited the Sacsayhuaman Inca ruins on an optional tour. The Killke culture was at the spot from 900 to 1200 AD before they were taken over by the Incas. The Incas added more to the complex and made it into a fortress over the city of Cuzco, which was built in the shape of a puma, a sacred animal of the Incas. Sacsayhuaman was the head of the puma.

Sacsayhuaman Inca Ruins

Sacsayhuaman

The fortress was made of limestone rocks. It took 90 years to build and the workers came from villages under Inca control. The workers were paying off taxation or paying tribute to the state for their villages. There were architects, engineers, astronomers, driller, craftsmen, and extractors and haulers of the rocks. When the Spanish came, they used most of the rocks to build their buildings and houses in Cuzco, so not too much remains today of the fortress. Photo: closer–up to the rocks.

Sacsayhuaman

The Incas built terraces.

Sacsayhuaman

The rocks that were too big to move were left by the Spanish. The walls of the fortress were constructed without mortar and were precision–formed to leave no space between the rocks.

Sacsayhuaman

Close–up.

Sacsayhuaman

Close–up.

Sacsayhuaman

Close–up.

Sacsayhuaman

My Tour Guide

To get an idea of how big some of these rocks were, I asked our tour assistant, Jutbar (spelling?, pronounced like Jupiter without the “i”), to stand in front of one of the really big rocks.

My Tour Guide

Sacsayhuaman

Looking to the right.

Sacsayhuaman

I think the photo shows the flat esplanade where rituals were celebrated.

Sacsayhuaman

Vendors

Vendors were at the other side of the road. The Andean women wear different hats to tell which area of Peru they are from. The decorated goat and llama are, of course, so you want to take photos of them. I did. It is expected that you will pay something for the photos.

Vendors

Vendors covering their wares in the rain.

Vendors

Sacsayhuaman

There was more to the fortress on the other side of the road.

Sacsayhuaman

I didn’t follow my tour group down the steps on the other side as my foot was hurting. Instead, I walked down the road and viewed the rest of the fortress from it.