How to Visit the Inca Ruins of Cusco: Sacsayhuamán, Tambomachay, and More

Cusco Inca Ruins Guide: Sacsayhuamán, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay & Ollantaytambo Explained

Cusco and the Sacred Valley are unmissable highlights of any trip to Peru.

But between the historic charm of the city and the breathtaking landscapes of the valley, many travelers overlook a true hidden gem: the 4 Inca archaeological sites just outside Cusco!

These impressive ruins not only offer stunning panoramic views and a deeper insight into the Inca civilization—they’re also very easy to reach, making them ideal for a half-day visit.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need: how to get there, what to see at each site, and my best tips to plan your visit with ease.

So, how can you explore Cusco’s Inca ruins? Let’s dive in!

Before You Go: Don’t Forget the Tourist Ticket!

Before visiting the Inca ruins around Cusco, you’ll need to purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket—it’s required, as individual tickets are not sold.

There are several options (1, 2, or 10-day passes), and you can find all the details here: What’s included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket?

Or, if you already know which one you need, you can buy it online now:

The 4 Inca Sites Near Cusco

1. Tambomachay

Tambo Machay or Tambomachay is a place of worship to the God of Water.

It has a system of pipes that circulates water to create waterfalls, used as ritual baths. It is even said that one of the fountains of the place is the famous Fountain of Youth, but what if it were true?

2. Puca Pucara

Opposite is Puca Pucara or Pukapukara, the “red fortress” in Quechua. Its name is due to the red color (actually more of a pinkish color) that the stones acquire at sunset.

Two theories circulate:

• Either it was a resting place for travelers and merchants before arriving or leaving Cuzco.
• Or Puca Pucara could have been a kind of checkpoint for people coming and going between Cuzco and the Sacred Valley.

It is true that the place offers a great view of the surroundings, as it is located on a hill!

3. Qenqo

Qenqo or Kenko, a place of worship where sacrifices and other rituals took place, including the mummification of Inca nobles.

Here you can see superb stones carved in various shapes, including that of a puma.

A large rock can be seen at the top of the site (the Incas attributed spiritual power to the stones). It is carved in the shape of a zigzag.

Chicha or llama blood was poured over it. The priest could interpret the answers to questions by observing how the liquid flowed.

Inside the rock there are corridors with niches. In them the mummies were kept, along with valuable gold and silver objects.

4. Sacsayhuaman

Sacsayhuaman is the best known of the sites around Cuzco, as it is here that the great celebration of Inti Raymi, the “Feast of the Sun”, takes place.

It is a beautiful fortress, built with the same technique as that seen at several sites in the SacredValley and Cuzco: the walls are made of huge blocks of stone, the largest of which is 28 ft. high and weighs 300 tons.

The amazing thing is that they fit together perfectly almost 500 years later, despite the fact that no cement was used. The secret of this perfect fit? An excellent polishing technique.

Even so, it took about fifty years and 20,000 men to build it.

How to Visit the Inca Ruins Near Cusco

Exploring on Your Own

If you only have 1 day in Cusco, there’s already so much to see in the city that I don’t think these 4 ruins should be your priority. But if you’re staying 2 or 3 days, then yes—it’s definitely worth it!

Here are your main options to visit the sites independently:

• By bus: Take a local bus to Tambomachay (20 min, ~4 soles), then walk back toward Cusco, visiting Puca Pucara, Qenqo, and Sacsayhuaman along the way. If you prefer starting at Sacsayhuaman, the ride is 2 soles.
• By taxi: A one-way ride to Tambomachay costs around 30 soles. From there, you can walk downhill, stopping at the other sites en route to Cusco.
• On foot: You can walk from the Plaza de Armas via Calle Resbalosa (about 30 min to Sacsayhuaman). But I don’t recommend doing this on your first day, as the altitude makes it challenging.

Personally, I took a taxi up and walked down—it’s the perfect balance of time, money, and energy!

Visiting on a Guided Tour (Recommended!)

If you want to make the most of your time, a guided tour of the Inca ruins around Cusco is a fantastic option.

The tour lasts about 5 hours (half-day) and includes hotel pickup. With a local guide, you’ll learn all about the history and significance of each site—something that’s hard to do on your own.

This is the best value guided tour I found, and I highly recommend it:

Practical map

Here is a map to help you locate the 4 Inca sites.

Rent a Car in Peru

Renting a car is one of the best ways to explore Peru at your own pace and make the most of your trip!

Personally, I always use Booking.com Cars for a few key reasons:

• Easily compare prices from all major rental agencies in one place—finding the best deal has never been easier!
• Free cancellation on most bookings, so you can reserve with peace of mind.
• Better insurance coverage at a lower price than rental companies—saving you money with no extra effort.

Click the button below to find the best car rental deals in Peru:

Traveling to Peru? These articles will help you!

Discover all my articles about Peru: All my tips and itineraries to plan your trip in one place!

40 EPIC Things to Do in Peru (+ My Best Tips)

• 30 Epic things to do in Cusco (+Tips)
• One day in Cusco: The Perfect Itinerary (1st time visit)
• 2 or 3 Days in Cusco: The Perfect Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
• 19 Free Things to Do in Cusco + My Best Tips
• How to Get to Cusco: Best Transport Options Compared
• Cusco Tourist Ticket Guide: Prices, Sites, and How It Works

• Machu Picchu: Tickets, Circuits, and Top Tips to Plan Your Visit

• Sacred Valley: 23 Best Places to Visit (+Where to Stay)
• Ollantaytambo: 15 Epic Things to Do in the Heart of the Sacred Valley
• Pisac: The 12 Best Places to Visit (+ Tips)
• Maras and Moray: How to Get There, Entrance Fees, and Tips
• Urubamba: The Best 10 Places to Visit
• Laguna Humantay (Cusco): How to Get There, What to Expect, and Tips
• How to Visit Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: Hike, Tours & Tips

• Itinerary: 5-6 days in Peru – Lima, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
• Itinerary: 7-8 days in Peru – See the maximum in one week
• Itinerary: 10 days in Peru – The ideal itinerary for a short stay in Peru
• Itinerary: 2 weeks in Peru – The classic route
• Itinerary: 15 days in Peru – An itinerary that includes northern Peru
• Itinerary: 3 weeks in Peru
• Itinerary: 3 weeks in Peru + Bolivia – The best itinerary for visiting both countries
• Itinerary: 1 month in Peru – What to see and do in 30-31 days

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