Cusco is not only home to Machu Picchu, one of the most visited destinations in the world. It also offers small wonders for adventure trekking, many of them little spread or overlooked by most tourists, but offering the same attraction and cultural richness than the historic sanctuary.
One of these hidden wonders is Huchuy Qosqo, an archaeological jewel located in the heights of Cusco. Touring this area will allow you to get to know Andean communities, archeological centers, and enjoy beautiful landscapes that many people do not yet know.
Its name comes from Quechua, which means “little Cusco”, but it is also known as Qaqyaxaqixawana and Qaqyaqhawanaa, which means “Place from where you look at thunder”.
Being located 800 meters above the Sacred Valley of the Incas, it offers an incredible spectacle of lights when the lightning and thunders descend from the sky.
Not being a traditional destination, or as popular as Machu Picchu, it is perfect for people who want to avoid the crowds of tourists who come to visit some of the best-known destinations in the imperial city.
And in the Huchuy Qosqo trek, you will not only appreciate flora and fauna of the area, but you can also enjoy the lagoons that surround it. As well as the villages and a unique view of the snow-capped mountains located in the area, such as Pitusiray.
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According to Inca mythology, it was the favorite place of the Inca Wiracocha, who also encouraged the construction of the city, making it his resting place. Over time, in his old age, he decided to move away from the government and the movement of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire, seeking tranquility in this area.
However, according to the historian María Rostworoski, Wiracocha and her son Inca Urco took refuge in this area due to the discontent generated by the latter’s inability to govern the villages of the Urubamba Valley. According to the stories shared by the villagers, Wiracocha died in Huchuy Qosqo at age 80.
The archeological center of Huchuy Qosqo is located in the peasant community of the same name, less than 5 kilometers from the city in the district of Lamay, province of Calca.It may interest you: Live extraordinary experiences thanks to luxury tourism
It is one of the most important archeological complexes of the Urubamba Valley thanks to its peculiar architecture, designed on polished stone bases of fine finish. And although its conservation is inferior to places like Pisac and Ollantaytambo, due to the antiquity of its constructions, the ruins that conform it are impressive.
One of its main attractions is a 3-level building; the first two made with finely carved stone and the third made of adobe. Despite not having a roof, it has been preserved for more than 500 years.
Also, it has a long rectangular building which has a large number of doors facing the valley.
In the same way, it has small loose enclosures such as outposts and surveillance that were probably built to have a broad view of the valle; as well as platforms, courtyards, squares, buildings, a pedestrian path, esplanades, and Kallanka, state center where Inca officials were staying.
As in any new adventure, it is essential to be prepared with the appropriate basic implements, especially if you are going to travel a destination like Huchuy Qosqo. Among the things you can not forget to bring are:
Our team of experts in luxury tourism has designed a 2-day and 1-night tour through ancient Inca roads, crossing mountain passes and walking near beautiful lagoons overlooking snow-capped mountains of the Andes, all this before reaching the Archaeological Center of Huchuy Qosqo.
It is a perfect tourism package for all those who do not have much time, or families who do not want to leave Cusco without first having the opportunity to camp in the Andes.
Now that you know Huchuy Qosqo, one of the hidden wonders of the navel of the world, are you ready to visit this amazing place? In Terra Explorer, we have several itineraries for you, get in touch with us, and we will help you design the trip of your dreams!
To ensure the well-being and safety of our travelers and staff throughout our operational chain, Terra Explorer will comply with the health and safety measures and protocols established by the Peruvian Association of Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism (APTAE), and implement the Covid-19 health and safety guidelines for adventure tourism developed by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).
Our experiences are designed considering the least possible exposure, where the final destinations are usually remote places. By their very nature, our adventure activities are considered to be low risk, mainly because they are performed outdoors where ventilation is constant and making it easy to achieve social distancing.
During these times we are working together with a small staff of honorable people who have been part of the Terra Explorer family for many years. They and their families are aligned with the established health and safety measures. Employing these staff members also seeks to reactivate the local economy.
We guarantee a safe, soul-fulfilling trip to all our travelers for whom we make these adventures possible.
Terra Explorer will strictly comply with the safety, cleaning, and hygiene protocols during our internal processes, third parties, and throughout your trip. This involves:
Follow the instructions related to health and safety given by the Terra Explorer team and your guide, before and during your trip.
Stay home if:
With the intention of delivering the most flexibility at the time of confirming your trip, we will determine the amount of the initial deposit individually and according to your itinerary characteristics.
Secure your trip with a deposit and pay the rest in one or more payments, at a time that suits you best. Please make sure you adhere to our policy and pay in full at least 31 days prior to your trip date.
If you need to cancel your trip, we will apply the following flexible policies.
For more detailed information on our terms and conditions and Covid-19 policies, please contact us at [email protected]
