This complex is the most important archaeological center in the Urubamba Valley, after Ollantaytambo and Pisac. The ruins are impressive, although the conservation of the site is inferior to that of Ollantaytambo or Pisac, because they are older.
But unlike the aforementioned places Huchuy Qosqo has a peculiar architecture: the buildings have been built on polished stone bases of fine finish, with clay plaster (they are the best preserved parts) and the highest floors are made of adobe.
The Hispanic chronicles refer that Huchuy Qosqo (probably a place known in Inca times as Caquia Jaquijahuana) was the favorite work and place of the Inca Wiracocha. To this, Maria Rostworoski adds, in his work "History of Tahuantinsuyo", that this sovereign secured the conquest over the peoples of the Urubamba Valley and chose as his successor his son Inca Urco who, dizzy with power and vices, proved to be a total incapable to govern. Inca royalty was very confused with this choice and tried to conspire to impose another son of Wiracocha, Prince Cusi Yupanqui. Social unrest and tension increased every day and to make matters worse, the darkest night fell on Cuzco: the Chancas came to the gates of the capital and were ready to destroy it. It is the year of 1438. Wiracocha left the city to his fate and, accompanied by his son Inca Urco, took refuge in his palaces in the Urubamba Valley, among which was Huchuy Qosqo.
After the Spanish conquest, Gonzalo Pizarro found here the mummy that, supposedly, belonged to the Inca Wiracocha and ordered to burn it. The descendants of the Inca kept the ashes in a vat that the chronicler Polo de Ondegardo would discover many years later.
5:30 Pick you up from the hotel and transfer to Chinchero where you will appreciate the Archeological Complex of Chinchero and a living height of the Andean textile
7:00 Reach the Community of Tauca where you will appreciate the lagoon of Piuray
7:30 Start our walk until we reach the first Abra de Pucajasa (4,100 masl) for 10 minutes
7:40 Descend in approximately 1 hour 50 to the Archaeological Complex of Huchuy Qosqo
9:30 Visit to the Archaeological Complex for two hours of visit.
11:30 Continue our walk of a descent with a spectacular view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the district of Lamay for 1 hour and 30 minutes
13:00 Return to the city of Cusco in our transport for 45 minutes.
Distance to travel: 14 km
Walking Time: From 7 to 8 hours including rest and stop for lunch.
Maximum Height: 4,393 meters above sea level
Difficulty: Moderate and with drops
Temperature: cold, with winds in the afternoon
This excursion will take approximately 8 hours of walking (including breaks, refreshments and visit to the Archaeological Complex), visiting ecological areas such as Quechua, Suni and Puna, with its characteristic flora and fauna.
We will depart from the city of Cusco, early in the morning, taking the north road to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along the road to the town of Chinchero, we can appreciate the extensive fields of cultivation, used since ancient times. We will walk along one of the shores of the Piuray lagoon where you will observe migratory birds and flora to the community of Tauca (3,762 meters above sea level / 12,343 feet), where our trek begins.
We will take a disused chariot trail, gently sloping, to the Abra de Pucajasa (4,393 masl / 14,413 ft); where we will have a spectacular view of the Andes Mountain Range and the Urubamba Mountain Range. This open, has a route of 200 meters approximately.
We will begin the descent and we will find parts of the Inca trail, as well, we will be able to appreciate the radical changes between the ecological floors of the Cusco Region. We will arrive at Huchuy Qosqo (3,688 masl / 12,099 feet), where we will enjoy our refreshment.
After a short rest, we will begin the visit to the archaeological complex and then descend to the town of Lamay (2,938 masl / 9,639 feet), where we will take our transport back to the city of Cusco.
