• AliceAlainPeruTraveler
    1Inca terraces. Look very carefully to spot the zigzag stone steps up the terrace walls
    The terraces are extremely steep and beautifully preservedStairway between levels, very similar to the stone steps that can be found in EuropeThe street through an old villageAll that's missing the door and the roofTop view of one of the little settlements of Inca times. Modern village in the backgroundA central ceremonial areaThe top of the door has lasted 500 years, don't worry!Entry door to the large solar dialSolar dial from aboveHigh quality Inca buildings near the solar dialMost buildings have many of these trapezoidal niches used for sacred iconsLooking up the Sacred valleyThe Alpacas take care of the grassMany areas are perched on the steep mountainOur path looking very exposed with the modern town of Pisaq below1Modern Pisaq town

    Pisaq Inca terraces

    October 27, 2025 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Above Pisaq are the Inca Pisaq ruins. This extensive site scales 400m of steep mountain. It is most famous for the very steep and well engineered Inca terracing, but it also includes ceremonial, military and urban areas. We spend a happy day climbing up through this quiet site, exploring the many parts and enjoying the views. The terraces were constructed to allow farming on the slopes and included drainage and irrigation in addition to the retaining walls. Some of the higher steeper terracing was for structural stability.

    The quality of the stone workmanship varies from the rustic stone work for the terraced walls to the perfectly crafted and polished stones of the ceremonial areas. The trapezoidal shapes seen in the doors and niches and the precise dry stone walling have the advantage of providing extra resistance to earthquakes which are a feature of the Andes.    Read more