The Paucarcancha Ruins
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 May 16, 2021 by James Bustamante
The Paucarcancha Ruins are a set of Inca constructions that can be found high in the Andes mountains. They can usually be accessed via a detour taken during the classic 4 day Inca trail to Machu Picchu or via the Salkantay trek, you can even have one night where you camp near these ruins. Let’s go over some of the more important details regarding this Inca fortress located high in the Andes mountains.
Where Are The Paucarcancha Ruins?
The archeological complex of Paucarcancha is can be found in the district of Ollantaytambo within the Urubamba valley in a small community called Quesqa in Cusco, Peru. You can access these ruins via detours on the Inca trail, you can also camp near these ruins while taking the Salkantay trek.
What Are The Paucarcancha Ruins
The Paucarcancha Incan ruins are a group of platforms also known as “Andenes” that was originally used with agricultural purposes in mind. The complex has 2 distinct open-air sections that might have been used as backyards by the Inca empire. There is the presence of a large open area that was used to place living quarters for visitors as well as the locals that managed this Inca location.
There are large rectangular spaces with walls that are inclined at an angle, a trapezoidal door, and windows as well as niches. These were carefully placed around the entire construction for decorative purposes according to some scholars. The last Incan emperor to command this fortress was Manco Inca Yupanqui up until the Spanish conquistadors conquered Ollantaytambo.
Description of The Incan Ruins
The Pauycarcancha ruins are basically split into two separate sections. One is dedicated to the production of agricultural activities. This “Agricultural space” offers a marvelous view of the local landscape thanks to its location of over 10,000 feet above sea level.
The other part of these Inca ruins is apparently split into smaller subsections. The first is a type of open field. The last section of the Inca ruins features another 2 rooms and several fields the Inca used. One of the fields is on an elevated mound or hill. The ruins also feature the main square towards the middle of the complex, similar to several other Inca constructions.
The living quarters for the Inca shave a rectangular shape with walls on an incline. This was a typical design choice made by the Incan architects at the time. There are niches or windows placed around the complex. They were either used for decoration or for worship according to some scholars.
How Do I Get to The Paucarcancha Ruins?
To reach the Pucarcancha ruins you head from Huayllabamba following the Cusichaca river for about 1.24 miles (2 km). The mile-long path is an easy walk and has a nice view of the surrounding valley, the cloud forest is abundant in biodiversity that is only viewable in this part of the world.
On the way to the ruins enjoy the scents and view of orchids, begonias, and several more endemic species. The walk to the ruins will take around 3-4 hours on foot depending on how fast the group gets through the path.
If you are on the 5 day Salkantay trek then you are closer to these Inca ruins than you would be on the Inca trail. There is even a possibility for you to camp out near the Paucarcancha ruins while on the Salkantay due to its proximity to the ruins.
Paucarcancha Ruins Climate
The climate in the Paucarcancha ruins is quite pleasant with a maximum of 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees centigrade) with a very humid environment. The rainy seasons in this section of Peru will start in mid-November and continue all the way until late March. We recommend visiting the Paucarcancha ruins at any time of the year but if you are searching for the absolute best weather, try coming between April and October.
What is The Elevation Near The Paucarcancha Ruins?
The elevation around these sets of Inca ruins is 10,278.8 feet above sea level (3,3133 meters above sea level) making it a high elevation hike. Since you’ve most likely been on the Inca trail hiking before coming to Paucarcancha there is little chance to have elevation sickness at this location.
What to Pack for Paucarcancha
Since you will most likely be on a hike to Machu Picchu before arriving at the ruins, the packing list will be your trekking list.
- Sunblock – sunglasses
- Cap or hat for protection
- Chapstick or lip balm
- Insect repellent (particularly important during the wet season)
- Rain poncho
- Comfortable hiking shoes (boots not necessary)
- Hiking style pants
- T-shirts, light jackets, sweaters or jumper.
- Several pairs of socks
Yale University Archaeological Finds
There was a court battle between Yale University and the Peruvian government that went on for over 100 years where Peru wanted archaeological items (previously stolen)returned.
Originally it was thought that these items were taken from the Machu Picchu complex. However, upon further investigation, it was confirmed that such items were mostly taken from the Paucarcancha archaeological site and not the Machu Picchu citadel. This means that the Spanish conquistadors made it all the way to ruins but barely missed Machu Picchu.
Tips When Visiting The Ruins
As with several other Incan ruins in this region, make sure you are well protected from the sun. The high elevation makes it easy to get sunburned, even if it doesn’t feel hot. The temperatures in this area fluctuate but will mostly stay in the low to high 60’s so make sure to pack the appropriate gear for this area.
It tends to be a little bit colder than other parts of the Inca Trail or Salkantay trek. Lastly, comfortable shoes are very important since you will be walking quite a bit to get here.
Conclusion
These Incan ruins are somewhat out of the way but definitely worth the visit if you are ok with walking an extra couple of miles before your Machu Picchu tour. They make a perfect addition to the ruins you see along the way during the Inca trail or can make the Salkantay trek more of a cultural hike since it offers few Inca constructions along the way.
For more information about Inca ruins or a Peru tour package including hikes, hotels, guides, or anything Peru travel-related, make sure to contact our travel advisers today.
