The walls
Irregular stonework.
Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Draceane — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Draceane — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Draceane — CC BY-SA 4.0
Puca Pucara is a small Inca site on a hill beside the road from Cusco to Pisac in southern Peru, about 5 km in a straight line north of central Cusco, at the edge of the city's valley. Its Quechua name means «red fortress», probably after the reddish colour its stones take on at dusk. It is thought to have been built in the time of the Inca ruler Pachacuti, in the 15th century. Its walls are made of irregular, roughly fitted stones, plainer than the fine masonry of nearby sites, which suggests it was built in a hurry. Its exact role is uncertain: it may have been a military post and checkpoint on the road into the heart of the empire, a resting place for travellers and nobles, or both. Visitors walk among walls, terraces, staircases, small plazas and enclosures, with the remains of channels that once carried water. The site stands across the road from Tambomachay, and the two are usually visited together, followed by Qenqo and Sacsayhuamán on the way back to Cusco. Entry is only with the Cusco tourist ticket, which also covers the other sites on the same circuit. A visit usually takes under an hour. Local families often sell crafts near the entrance.
Irregular stonework.
And stone stairs.
Just across the road.
Cusco–Pisac road, Cusco, Peru
Yes, the Cusco tourist ticket covers the site.
Usually under an hour.
