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Home , Machu Picchu, Tambomachay

PHOTO: LINDSAY THOMAS 8 5

TAMBOMACHAY is situated at just 9 km (5.6 mi) WAYNA PICCHU is the most famous of several from , in the side of a hill. It is believed that short walks around Machu Picchu. The climb up the Incas may have used this complex for religious the steep mountain of Wayna (also spelled Huay- ceremonies either directly dedicated to water wor- na) Picchu is located at the back of the ruins. At shipping, or for other rituals that included the use first glance it appears a difficult climb; but despite of flowing water. the steep ascent it’s not technically that hard (not taking into account the effects from the altitude, The Tambomachay site is composed of a liturgical which is 2,720 m or 8,920 ft at its peak.) The up- fountain and three terraces, consisting of a series ward climb, which on average takes 45-90 minutes, of thoughtfully engineered aqueducts, canals and takes you through a short section of Inca tunnel. waterfalls that run through the terraces. The struc- ture has 3 levels and as was common amongst Inca The fabulous views from the top are definitely buildings, this one has also been built with perfect- worth the huffing and puffing, even for trekkers The Machu Picchu area is teeming ly fitting together unequal-shaped bricks without just stumbling in off the Inca Trail. Take care in with an extremely diverse variety of the usage of mortar. Even after many centuries, PHOTO: LINDSAY THOMAS ALL PHOTOS THIS PAGE: LINDSAY THOMAS wet weather as the steps get dangerously slippery. flora and . the stones still appear well-polished and strongly A pastoral view of the outlying valley Just beyond the central plaza between two open- There are 372 different species of stick to one another. and mountains from Tambomachay. fronted buildings is a registration booth where orchids in the Machu Picchu area. you must sign in. It is advised to work your way These are Sobralia dichotoma At the Tambomachay site there are two fountains orchids (top right). towards the registration booth upon entering Ma- that constantly function throughout the year, chu Picchu in the morning, as guests wanting to Wild thrive in the cloud forest whether it is the rainy or dry season. The crystal- climb Wayna Picchu are limited to 400 visitors daily, around Machu Picchu (middle). clear water is sometimes drunk by tourists who at staggered start times based on your position in Tread lightly and observe carefully, come here, as it is rumored to be a “fountain of the queue. The first 200 begin at 7:00 AM, with the and you just may see an endangered youth,” but locals also use it for drinking and wash- second group starting at 10:00 AM. Machu Picchu Arboreal Chinchilla ing as well. (We here at Lonely Planet advise you Rat (bottom upper right). not to drink from Tambomachay! In order to avoid any possible parasitic contamination, we strongly advise you to drink only bottled water.) Tambomachay is usually never busy or overrun with tourists. It is one of the places in the where you can feel relaxed as you study and admire the brilliantly designed Inca construction, reflecting on your travels while taking in the scenic PHOTO: LINDSAY THOMAS views of the valley and outlying mountains. The crystal-clear water flows through both the rainy and dry seasons.

GO TO : MACHU PICCHU AND THE SACRED VALLEY PHOTO: diarosdebolivia.files.wordpress 6 Sacsayhuaman 7

is a walled complex on the Lonely Planet Tip: SACSAYHUAMAN northern outskirts of the city of Cusco, Peru, the One of the best deals for former capital of the . The complex is as visitors to Cusco is the Boleto Turístico, a “tourist ticket” many other Inca constructions, made of large pol- that gets you into 16 of ished dry-stone walls, each boulder carefully cut to the most important places fit together tightly without mortar. The stones fit of interest in and around so perfectly that no blade of grass or steel can slide Cusco, including some of the major draws in the Sacred between them. The site, at an altitude of 3,701 m. Valley of the Incas. (12,142 ft), was added as part of the city of Cusco You can purchase a ticket at to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. Cusco’s tourist offices and at It is believed that Sacsayhuaman was built in the most of the sights included on the ticket. 15th century during Pachacutec and Tupac Yupan- qui’s ruling. Its construction lasted over a decade. Entrance to the following PHOTO: RANKIN TIPPINS/svheartoftexas.com Inca ruins are included It is said that more than 30,000 men were needed with the ticket price: to build the giant superposed walls. The longest Another interesting construction is Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puka of the three Sacsayhuaman walls is about 400 me- the Muyucmarka, which is a small Inca , Tambomachay, Pisac, ters long and 6 meters tall. Some of the limestone ruin consisting of 3 concentric circles, , Chinchero, blocks that construct the walls weigh up to 300 all connected with radial walls. It is Pikillacta, and Tipón. located within the Sacsayhuaman site. tons. The transportation of the stone blocks at that Ticket Price is S/130 General or S/70 with valid student ID. time is quite astounding. Some of the larger lime- Ticket is good for ten days. stone blocks had to be transported more than 50 boletoturisticocusco.com miles across rugged mountainous terrains. As the Incas did not use wheeled vehicles such as chariots at the time, many enchantment and otherworldly theories (such as alien visitation), exist on the con- struction of Sacsayhuaman. Every 24th of June, the day of the winter , the Raymi takes place in the grand square of the fortress to honor the Sun God the way the In-

cas did in the past, though this time performed by PHOTO: DUSTIN KEIRSTEAD archaeologists and historians, and geared towards tourists, which is why locals commonly refer to the In several locations, the stones were event as “Gringo Raymi.” laid out to represent various sacred PHOTO: DUSTIN KEIRSTEAD Incan animals. This is a in stone. PHOTO: universalconnection.files.wordpress

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