Pisac Ruins

Pisac ruins is one of the highlights of the Sacred Valley. The Inca site of Pisac is well-known for agricultural terracing, which sweeps around the south and east flanks of the mountain in vast, graceful curves, almost unbroken by steps.

A fortress city

The Pisac ruins, the largest fortress city of the Incas and one of the largest of ancient America, sit high above the modern day village of the same name. They constitute a stupendous ruin complex of the finest Inca stonework, with many attendant buildings, baths and storehouses, exceptional flights of terracing, and quantities of tombs, all well defended by walls, gates and towers. The complex seems to feature some example of almost everything the Incas did in terms of architecture; with religious, administrative and residential constructions.

Visiting Pisac

A tour of Pisac can combine both the archaelogical site and the market at its foot. The incan ruins are in the Sacred Valley and can be visited en route to or from Cusco, or in combination with more of the top incan sites of the Sacred Valley such as Ollantaytambo or Chinchero in a full day tour.

Monuments of the Incas

Guests on our Trip of the Century visited the beautiful site with the expert guidance of historian John Hemming. Dr. Hemming’s expertise on the subject is exemplified in his book Monuments of the Incas, which is a thorough investigation and interpretation of the architecture of several Inca sites.