I visited the Pisac (or Pisaq) Ruins as part of a tour of the Sacred Valley. Admission to the ruins is included in the price of the Boleto Turistico del Cusco (Cusco Tourist Ticket). The tourist ticket can be purchased around Cusco for approximately $45 and includes admission to archaeological locations throughout the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The ruins are open daily from 7:00 AM until 5:30 PM.
The Pisac Ruins are located high above the renowned Pisac Market. If you are in good shape and have a full day at your disposal, you can hike the steep trail that leads from the market to the ruins. The ruins are located at 11,000 feet above sea level, which is more than 1,000 feet in altititude above the city of Pisac.
Rather than hiking the trails, my visit was part of an organized bus tour. This barely allowed us enough time to visit the ruins and visit the marketplace below. As we approached the ruins along the six mile road from Pisac, we were stopped at a checkpoint along the road. Here, everyone disembarked the bus to walk through the checkpoint where our tickets were examined and punched. We then boarded the bus on the other side of the checkpoint. Tickets were available for sale at this location along with a variety of snacks, drinks and other tourist-oriented items.
Our bus parked in a large parking lot outside of the ruins. The parking lot was well populated with local merchants selling a variety of crafts. There were also several merchants selling ice cold drinks. I stopped to purchase a couple of bottles of water before we entered the ruins. Remaining hydrated was a primary concern as my wife and I hiked around the sprawling ruins throughout our tours.
The tour begins at a set of fortifications (Qanshisracay) overlooking a set of agricultural terraces. Storms from the previous year damaged some of the lower terraces, eroding the rock walls and spilling the dirt into washed out slopes. Many of the rocks had been collected and stacked for a reconstruction project. Other portions of the wall appeared to be butressed with wood support beams.
After passing the agricultural terraces, we approached an area with steep terraces used for foundational purposes. These terraces were backed by a ceremonial bath with several fountains of water feeding into the stone walled area. A set of steps descended toward the small river below. Small streams of water that appeared to be irrigation ducts fed into a drainage system along the steps.
To our right was a path leading to restrooms. The restrooms did not charge a one sole fee (which is common) but did not include any paper products. It is a good idea to carry paper products with you as you travel in Peru. These restrooms were not ideal, little more than a hole in the floor. For male visitors, this may be less of an issue. However, the facility was minimal. It is advisable to wait until you arrive in Pisac, if possible.
Across from the ceremonial baths are a series of caves built into the wall of the opposite hill. This hill is a series of tombs that were sealed centuries ago. The Inca destroyed the paths leading to these burial places to prevent or discourage looting. Many of the stone walls covering the openings to the caves are still visible and well preserved.
From the ceremonial bath, we were given free time to explore the Temple mound to our left. Here, a rigorous path leads up the side of the fortress-like hill to a series of buildings. As you climb higher, you can see the change in masonry that indicates you have moved beyond dwelling places or fortifications into the Temple. There are two temples at this location, believed to be the Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon.
From this perspective atop the Temple hill, I had a phenomenal view of the Sacred Valley. Pisac was barely visible deep in the valley below. It was an awesome place to snap some memorable photographs. With time running short, we snapped some photos and descended back down the fortified site to the ceremonial baths. The hike included some steep sections, but there were elderly tourists in our group that made the trek with little difficulty. If you were to hike from Pisac, it would require a decent level of fitness and a degree of acclimatization. To hike within these ruins only requires modest mobility and a bit of stability on the steep trails.
From the Ceremonial Baths, we returned to the buses where the local merchants were waiting for us. Some of these merchants were a little more aggressive than the other historical sites we had visited. However, they generally go away when you assert that you are not interested. The site, overall, included some interesting structures with a somewhat cloudy history. Our guide offered little explanation regarding the purpose of this archaeological site, other than the obvious burial grounds and temples. The hiking was invigorating. If I had more time to spend in Pisac, I would have. It would have been interesting to hike the steep trail all the way from Pisac.
All photos are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.
