Huchuy Qosqo Information

The archaeological site of Huchuy Qosqo (Small Cusco)

The Inca era known as Qaqyaqawana (which in Spanish means “place from which you look at thunder“) Huchuy Qosqo does locate in the district of Lamay, within the province of Calca, Cusco, specifically in a plain found on the top of a mountain. At an altitude of 3 550 meters above sea level. Thanks to the “Ministerio de Cultura,” it is currently considered the Cultural “Heritage of the Nation.”

How to Reach Huchuy Qosqo

Due to the narrow road, it is necessary to make a trek. The Huchuy Qosqo trail lasts 03 hours from Lamay. On the other hand, you can also go from Chinchero, using half a day of pilgrimage. And if you want to make a trip to the site of a longer duration, in which you need to camp, you can take the route from the City of Cusco, as this route takes a whole day.

The entrance to the site costs S/20. Recommended the company of tour guides or groups. Another recommendation is that this route is carried out in the dry weather period, between April and October, to avoid slippery areas due to the rains.

Historically, this site is known to be the favorite place of the Inca Wiracocha, which it chose as a place of rest and retreat and where, according to the myth, it died at an advanced age (80 years). It also said that different ethnic groups had already populated this area before the Inca’s arrival, so they had to expire. Another fantastic story about the site is that the Inca Wiracocha would not have arrived only there. But in his son’s company: Inca Urco, the worst ruler of the Empire, left the Tahuantinsuyo to their fate after the Chanca attack that ended up being stopped by His other son, “Cusi Inca Yupanqui.” Finally, another important reason for this site is discovering a mummified body found during the Conquest and attributed to the old Inca monarch, although later burned by the brother of Francisco Pizarro.

There is an excellent view of the snowy Pitusiray along with the town of Calca.

There are architectural remains that appear still preserved; there are at least 02 buildings. We can observe one of three floors without the name; a mixture of building materials characterizes this first construction. Since the two lower levels make from carved stone, the latter preserves an adobe-based structure. The second building, also without a name, is a rectangular base construction made with Adobe, believed to have had the purpose of being a space for the apprenticeship of the women of the Empire. There are also relics of smaller enclosures almost destroyed because of natural events, including rainfall and vegetation.