The Huchuy Qosqo Archaeological Site
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on September 28, 2021 by James Bustamante
Huchuy Qosqo is an Incan site that is located to the north of Cusco in Peru. The archaeological site’s name is in the Incan language of Quechua and it translates to “Little Cusco.” Scholars agree that this site must have been a type of royal estate in 1420 by the Inca Emperor called Viracocha. Let’s dwell a little deeper into Huchuy Qosqo and its respective hike.
Where is Huchuy Qosqo Located?
Huchuy Qosqo is located at 11,980 feet(3,650 meters) above sea level, in order to get there we drive towards Pisac for a little over an hour. The site itself overlooks the Sacred Valley of the Inca giving it scenic views of the surrounding landscapes.
This Inca site got the name Huchuy Qosqo in the 20th century, previously it was called Caquia Xaquixaguana or Kakya Qawani.
The Huchuy Qosqo Archaeological Site
The Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site is a group of buildings made from stone and adobe. One of the key constructions in the entire site is the Kallanka or “great wall” which spans 131 feet(40 meters) in length. Its main purpose was to provide water for the site as part of an irrigation channel built by the Inca.
In the 1500s the Spanish took complete control of Huchuy Qosqo and turned it into a farming site. Many of the buildings made by the Inca were demolished and replaced by large water reservoirs for farming purposes around the year 1540.
Just below the main constructions of the Huchuy site we find “qolqas” which are storage houses. These Qolqas were used to store dried meat (usually llama or alpaca), corn, quinoa, beans, and various types of potatoes.
It can be somewhat of an adventure getting to the Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site, it is, by all means, inaccessible by road. The method of getting to see these Incan ruins is a moderately difficult hike from the towns of Lamay or Tauca. If we depart Lamay this Peru hike will take around 3 hours up some rather steep terrain.
Leaving from the community of Tauca might the more scenic option. We hike for around 2 hours uphill until to around 14,436 feet (4,400 meters) above sea level to then begin our hike downwards where we’ll visit other Inca structures along the way. There is also the possibility to take these routes on horseback instead of on foot.
The entire hiking portion can be made into a full day or a 2-day hike through the Andes. we would begin in Tauca then head to Lamay before arriving at Huchuy Qosqo
The Qosqo Royal Estate
The archaeological site of Huchuy Qosqo dates back roughly to 1400 CE. Pedro de Cieza was a Spanish chronicler, he stated that the site became a type of royal estate for the revered eighth Inca ruler “Viracocha”.
The Inca controlled the land and how the labor was distributed, they did not believe in taxing its citizens on income. The leaders of the Incan empire would acquire large estates in order to increase power and wealth, these were passed down to their descendants.
These royal estates would also serve as fortresses in times of war as well as country houses for the Inca elite. The name Huchuy Qosqo was given to the site due to its purpose as a fortress or country house for the most important Inca.
This estate was rather large, in order to properly maintain the site, Viracocha and his descendants would need many workers. The Inca Empire made it compulsory to assist in the maintenance of the royal estates. Remember that Inca did not believe in taxing its citizens on their income, as a tradeoff, they demanded contributions in the form of labor.
This was called “Mit’a”, mandatory public service in the society of the Inca Empire. Regular Inca citizens would then dedicate their time to the estate’s affairs. There were three more ethnic groups that helped in maintaining the Inca’s massive estates.
Mitmaqkuna was a Quechua term used to describe families and ethnic groups that would be relocated to different areas of the Inca empire. These groups were also used in the maintenance of royal estates like Huchuy Qosqo.
Another form of labor the Inca would use to maintain their estates was called Yanakunas. This group was considered permanent servants to the Incas. They still had the chance to rise in society to high-ranking positions but would always be considered to be servants to the Inca elite.
The last ethnic group the Inca used to maintain estates is called Aqllakuna. This group sequestered women that lived together under the rule of the Inca, they produced textiles as well as an alcoholic drink called chicha. The Allakuna were also used in arranged marriages, often to men who had served the Incan empire.
These four groups would help manage the Inca royal estates, they might control several acres of land, agriculture, mines, textile factories and have several other responsibilities. They might control several thousands of workers at once, all dedicated to preserving the Inca sites.
Removal of Viracocha
At one point, the emperor Viracocha had a revolt on his hands, the Chancha people would attack and try to invade the capital city of the Inca empire, Cusco. As a result, Viracocha left the capital and took refuge in Huchuy Qosqo. His son Pachacuti stayed to defend the capital city and eventually was able to put down the revolt. This resulted in the removal of Viracocha as emperor and Pachacuti stepping in as the new ruler known as Sapa Inca (1438 – 1471).
In the year 1534, the Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro went ahead to attack and loot Huchuy Cusco. After the looting had taken place, Pizarro decided to burn the mummified remains of the Inca Viracocha.
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek Itinerary
If you want to head out on the Huchuy Qosqo trek, below we have laid out the itinerary for the entire hiking experience.
Total Distance: 9.07 miles (14.60 km)
Maximum Elevation: 14,557 feet (4437 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
- We begin early in the morning, our driver and guide will pick you up at your hotel. We then continue towards the Sacred Valley of the Inca, past the Piray lagoon, and onto the popular highland town of Chinchero.
- We begin our 8-hour hike at the town of Tauca. Once we begin hiking through the terrain you will be greeted with picturesque sights of the morning sun gently showering its rays on Mount Veronica as well as the Vilcabamba mountain range.
- The hike will take us upwards towards the Pucajasa pass, at this point of the trek, we’ll begin to see majestic mountain ranges surrounding the Sacred Valley of the Inca. The Pucajasa pass permits some spectacular views, it is 656 feet (200 meters) long and has an elevation of 14,000 (4,393 meters).
- Next, we will descend near the valley and see sections of the traditional Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The change in elevation brings a different, much greener terrain. We eventually reach Huchuy Qosqo, which is located at 12,099 feet above sea level. We stop to have a much-needed lunch break.
- After we spend some time resting, we can begin to explore the Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site. Some of the main ruins we see are the double jamb doorways, several 3 story houses, stone and adobe constructions, and of course, amazing mountain landscapes that surround the complex.
- We continue our journey through the countryside before we descend past a steep trail leading to the Lamay village. Our private transport will be waiting for you to take you back to the city of Cusco. We will reach Cusco in the early evening.
Conclusion
The Huchuy Qosqo complex can be visited in a one or two-day trek that takes you through a high elevation hike. This historical site is one of the lesser-known Incan ruins that has been gaining popularity as of late. To know more about Peru, The Hike to Machu Picchu, or anything related to visiting the country, contact our travel advisers today!
