Inti Watana, Ayacucho, Archaeological site in Vischongo District, Peru.

Inti Watana is an Inca archaeological complex covering 3,000 m² near Lake Pumaqucha in Vischongo District, Vilcashuamán Province, Ayacucho Region, at 3,126 metres above sea level. It comprises a tower, the Intiwatana or solar clock, the Inca baths, a palace and a stone used for ritual purposes. The site is regarded as a residential and resting area of the Inca.

The complex developed in pre-Columbian times and served as an astronomical observatory for the region's inhabitants. The site received official protection status in 2001 through national heritage designations to preserve its importance in understanding pre-Hispanic cultures.

The name comes from Quechua words meaning 'sun' and 'to tie', referencing its purpose as a solar observation point. Local visitors today see it as a connection to how ancient people understood the connection between the sky and the land.

Inti Watana lies at 3,126 metres beside Lake Pumaqucha in Vischongo District, Vilcas Huamán Province, Ayacucho Region. The 3,000 m² site has uneven ground, so sturdy footwear helps. Allow time to acclimatise to the altitude before walking the ruins.

The precise alignment of the stone elements allowed priests to determine key dates like solstices and equinoxes with remarkable accuracy. This made the location essential for planning crop planting and religious ceremonies, setting it apart from ordinary settlements.