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06/17/2025 | 2 MINUTES READ

There Are More Ruins than Just Machu Picchu!

Rachel F.

Eureka College | Cusco

Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is just three hours away from Cusco, Perú! This Incan citadel is often one of the highlights for students traveling to Cusco. However, the truth is, there are so many more ruins, and to see many of them, you never have to leave the city of Cusco. Let’s have a look at some of them! 

Ancient Incan ruins at Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park in Cusco, Peru, under a blue sky with dramatic clouds.

Let’s first explore the Saqsaywaman National Archeological Park! It sits just outside the city. This fortress, built without mortar, is debated by experts on its purpose for the Incas. However, many believe it was used for defense. 

Stone doorway at Sacsayhuamán, Cusco, Peru.

Acawanapunku is a doorway found at Saqsaywaman. It leads to a staircase that takes you from the middle level of Saqsaywaman up to the top level.

Stone doorway at Sacsayhuamán, Cusco, Peru.
Ancient ruins of Pumapungo in the foreground, with cityscape of Cuenca, Ecuador in the background under a dramatic, cloudy sky.

After you walk through the Acawanapunku doorway and climb the stairs, you will see Muyyuomarka, a giant sundial created out of stones. The Incas used it to tell the time of day. In the past, people used to be able to walk through the sundial, but nowadays, you can gaze at it from a few feet away.

Ancient Incan ruins at Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park in Cusco, Peru, under a blue sky with dramatic clouds.

This giant circle aquifer, Qocha, is also found inside the Saqsaywaman National Park. It was discovered during an archaeological investigation in 1994. There were also artifacts of ritual and burial elements found within it.

Ancient Incan ruins at Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park in Cusco, Peru, under a blue sky with dramatic clouds.
Intricate rock carvings and formations at Q’enqo archaeological site in Cusco, Peru, set against a dramatic sky.

We are now exiting Saqsaywaman National Park and entering Q’enco Archeological Complex, less than a mile away! Sikllancha is a massive ruin. If you look closely, it shows the Incas’ ability to carve into the stone and make stairs. 

Ancient ruins with stone walls and thatched roofs among trees and rocks under a cloudy blue sky

Across the street from Q’enco Archeological Complex sits the Qochapata ruin. This ruin contains stone walls, thatched-roof buildings, and farming terraces. It is often very peaceful here because people forget to visit it when they visit the Q’enco Archeological Complex. 

Ancient ruins with stone walls and thatched roofs among trees and rocks under a cloudy blue sky
Ancient ruins at sunset in a valley, possibly Inca, near Cusco, Peru.

A little farther up the street (and the hill!), find the Temple of the Moon, or Amaru Markawasi. It is found in a breathtaking landscape. You can climb on top of the mound and sit in the throne that the Incas used. 

Overlooking the Inca ruins below, with horses grazing in a green field and the city of Cusco in the background.

Standing on top of the Temple of the Moon, you can see the city of Cusco in the distance and some of the ruins still standing around the mound. 

Overlooking the Inca ruins below, with horses grazing in a green field and the city of Cusco in the background.
Low-angle view of a cliff face with cave openings in Pietrapertosa, Italy.

Walk down the hill into the city, and you will find the Cuevos de Mosoqllataq. These caves were used to represent the connection between the earthly world and the underworld, so rituals were often performed here. There is a beautiful waterfall that runs just to the side of the caves.

A large rock formation overlooking Cusco, Peru, with green grass, a canal, and wooden crosses.

Follow the waterfall down, and you will discover Wak’a Mesa Ronda. The geomorphology of the location was used to create a ceremonial location for rituals and offerings.

A large rock formation overlooking Cusco, Peru, with green grass, a canal, and wooden crosses.
The ancient Inca ruins of Puka Pukara near Cusco, Peru.

The Rumiwasi ruin is located a little farther Southwest, just outside the city outskirts. This remarkably intact ruin has multiple buildings to explore, farming terraces, and even a tunnel built into one of the buildings that is big enough to climb through.

Ruins of Qorikancha with Santo Domingo Church in the background, Cusco, Peru

If you never want to leave the center of the city, have no fear, there are ruins to see there as well! Kusicancha, now a museum, is just a quarter of a mile from the city center, at Plaza de Armas. 

Ruins of Qorikancha with Santo Domingo Church in the background, Cusco, Peru
Ancient Inca stone wall with two window openings.

In the background of the previous picture, you can see Qorikancha, another very important Inca temple. The Incas were so proficient in engineering that they were able to create windows in all the rooms at the exact same level. This allowed people to see from one end of the temple to the other. 

I hope you enjoyed the picture tour of some of the many Inca ruins found within the City of Cusco! 

Rachel F.

Tags

  • Culture
  • History