Pisac Market and Inca Archaeological Site
The Complete Tour of Pisac’s Ruins and Market
Pisac is a small town in Peru, situated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is around an hour outside of Cusco and may be reached by automobile or bus. Pisac is well-known for its Sunday market as well as the nearby Inca ruins, which are among the finest preserved Inca sites in the country.
The Pisac ruins, situated in Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas, are among the most significant archaeological monuments in the country. Pisac is located 32 kilometers northeast of Cusco on the long crest of a 3,300-meter-high (10826-foot) mountain that overlooks the southern end of the Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley.
Cities were often made to mimic animals, since this was a popular technique in Inca construction. As a result of its likeness to a partridge, Pisac gained its name. The views from the countryside and the ruins themselves are both captivating, as are the markers that have been set around them. You may succumb to the urge to stay in town for a longer period of time than you had anticipated.
The Past of Pisac is Revealed Here
Pachacuti, the ninth Inca ruler (1438–1472 AD), directed the construction of the site during the Incas’ expansion in the 1400s. The Killke culture lived in Pisac during the Late Intermediate Period (900 AD –1200 AD), as shown by ceramics discovered during the excavation. This occupation lasted from the 1990s through the 1200s.
Pisac was an important center for agricultural output, economic activity, and a religious place at the Inca Empire’s peak. Temples, agricultural terraces, storage facilities, and dwellings for Inca aristocrats were all part of the massive Pisac complex built by the Incas.
Pisac is located at the crossroads between the Inca Sacred Valley, the Amazon, and the area south of Cusco. Because of its strategic location, Pisac was a key military center, helping to control the regions to its immediate north and south.
Several of Pisac’s temples and mansions were destroyed by Spanish conquistadors and Pizarro in the early 1530s. Viceroy Toledo founded the modern town of Pisac in the valley right below the archaeological site around 1570.
Visitors and locals alike visit the town on a regular basis to witness the well-known Inca ruins and market, which are both famous tourist attractions. proximity Cusco to Pisac and the Sacred Valley, as well as its ease of access, have contributed to the town’s increased appeal among travelers in recent years. The town has a number of hotels, restaurants, and diners, as well as a variety of boutiques selling traditional Peruvian handicrafts.
Despite its growing popularity, Pisac is still a very small town. It is estimated that there are around 5,000 people living there. This number, however, greatly rises during the tourist season, when the town’s market and laid-back feel draw a large number of tourists.
Archaeological Site of Pisac
The Inca archaeological site is situated on a hill with a view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This region was occupied by the Incas from the 14th to the 16th centuries. Among the constructions that may be seen at Pisaq are temples, palaces, plazas, and a complex network of terraces. Agriculture was performed on the terraces, providing food for Pisac’s large population.
The following are the most important buildings at Pisac:
Terraced agricultural hillsides
Pisac’s agricultural terraces are one of Peru’s most recognized and magnificent sights. They are a series of terraces built by the Incas many centuries ago to harvest the land; they are an astonishing feat of engineering built without the aid of modern technology or tools. Instead, the Incas built them entirely with their own hands and minimal tools.
The terraces’ principal construction elements are stone, mud, and soil. They are held in place by a sophisticated network of water channels that have been shaped to adapt to the mountain’s contour.
The cemeteries and tombs
The village of Pisac has one of the most massive and well-preserved Inca cemeteries. There were around 10,000 people buried here; however, the bulk of the tombs were robbed by Huaqueros (also known as “tomb robbers”) since the Incas were renowned for burying their dead with gifts and commodities.
Intiwatana
Among the remains of the Inca city of Pisac is the huge stone building known as the Intiwatana. The Incas used a Quechua language, and this word translates to “Hitching Post of the Sun” in Quechua. During their stay there, the Incas used the Intiwatana as an astronomical observatory as well as a calendar. The Spaniards demolished the Intiwatana because they were determined to erase every vestige of Inca culture and religion. Today, a section of this amazing building can be seen, which is still impressive.
Dooways of Pisac Perú
The Pisac Dooways are the main attraction in the town of Pisac. The town’s architecture was built using a blend of indigenous antiquities and elements brought in by Viceroy Francisco de Toledo. Pisac is well-known not just for its many sites of interest but also for its fascinating and dynamic environment.
The following is a list of some of the beautiful locations you must see while in Pisac:
Pisac marketplace
This vintage craft market will wow you with its one-of-a-kind goods handcrafted by local artisans. The Pisac market is a gold mine for the best goods, and compared to Cusco, visitors to this market are quite cheap. Bright colors are used to decorate a range of handmade objects, such as silver jewelry, flutes, purses, ornaments, chullos, and alpaca wool. Although it is open every day, the market is officially hosted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. On Sundays, the Quechua communities in the surrounding area bring their organic produce to town, making it the biggest day of the week at the market.
The Community-Oriented Market in Pisac
- The Pisac Community Museum and Market The Pisac Community Museum.
- The museum, which is situated on the corner of Avenida Federico Zamalloa, opened in 2009.
- Ceramics and traditional textiles made by members of the local Quechua community are shown here.
Potato Park, Peru, is well-known for its abundance of potatoes. During your visit to Pisac, you may want to go to Parque de la Papa (Potato Park). Following your tour of the efforts undertaken to conserve the potato, you may enjoy a potato-themed lunch prepared by locals.
Villagers of Paru paru, Potato Park
Villagers of Paruparu: Potato Park Jardin Botanical
This garden, also known as the Felipe Marin Moreno Botanic Garden, was founded in 1917 by a Peruvian adventurer and botanist and is contained within a fenced-in colonial garden. He amassed his collection over many years via different modes of connection with botanists all across the world.
On the road traveling south, there is a rock structure known as “Nusta Encantada,” also known as “The Enchanted Nusta.” The ruins of Princess Inquill carrying bags on her back atop Nustayoc Hill are thought to be the source of this rock sculpture. During the rainy season, the chief Huayllapuma and his people were exposed to invasions by their neighbors, according to legend. These neighbors took advantage of the advantageous circumstances to launch attacks against the kingdoms.
Chumpi, Wankar Kuichi’s oracle, predicted that the princess could only marry a prince who could build a bridge over the river in a single night. Once upon a time, a young man came and decided to build the bridge over the course of the night while the princess proceeded forward, carrying their belongings on her back. She was never allowed to turn around and look back. When she turned around, the ground started to quake, and she changed into a rock.
The City Constructed of Towers
It is frequently referred to as the “City of Towers,” owing to the presence of over twenty towers on the mountain’s most visible locations. You may ascend the mountain and examine the many towers that are placed there. The view is definitely worth the effort of climbing to the summit since it is breathtaking.
Pisaq Food Delights and Specialties
The town has gained a national reputation for its delectable street food. Visitors who have visited the city suggest that you sample the local specialty known as “choclo,” which consists of cooked corn covered with cilantro and hot pepper sauce and served with a slice of fresh country queso for chewing.
As previously said, you may also like to visit the Potato Park and sample the picnic meal. A variety of Peruvian potato recipes are served during the picnic lunch. Pisac, Peru’s gourmet sanctuary, celebrates diversity in all of its forms by beautifying landscapes, planting tubers for food, and employing other sorts of plants for religious and ceremonial reasons.
Pisac is one of just a few places on earth that evokes ideas of paradise, but it is undoubtedly one of them.
The best Pisac sightseeing tours
The Valley of the Incas: A Full-Day Tour of the Sacred Valleys with Maras Moray Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Chinchero Travel Guide.
Pisac is a small town in Peru, situated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is around an hour outside of Cusco and may be reached by automobile or bus. Pisac is well-known for its Sunday market as well as the nearby Inca ruins, which are among the finest preserved Inca sites in the country.
The Pisac ruins, situated in Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas, are among the most significant archaeological monuments in the country. Pisac is located 32 kilometers northeast of Cusco on the long crest of a 3,300-meter-high (10826-foot) mountain that overlooks the southern end of the Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley.
Cities were often made to mimic animals, since this was a popular technique in Inca construction. As a result of its likeness to a partridge, Pisac gained its name. The views from the countryside and the ruins themselves are both captivating, as are the markers that have been set around them. You may succumb to the urge to stay in town for a longer period of time than you had anticipated.
