Tipón, Archaeological site in Quispicanchi Province, Peru

Tipón is an Inca archaeological site in Quispicanchi Province, near Oropesa, at 3,250–3,960 m above sea level. Its best-known sector is a group of right-angled monumental terraces fed by canals and a fountain channeling water from a natural spring. The complex covers 239 hectares, enclosed by a defensive wall about 6 km long, and was built with basalt and andesite.

The site originated in the early Inca period, possibly under Pachacuti or Topa Inca Yupanqui, as a specialized settlement for agricultural experimentation. The Inca refined and expanded this location over time into a center for testing cultivation methods in the mountain region.

This site served as a center for agricultural experimentation where the Inka tested different crops under controlled conditions. The terraced fields still reveal the careful planning that went into refining farming techniques across varying elevations.

The site is about an hour away from Cusco by taxi or public transportation and is accessed via a walking path. The terrain is uneven and rolling, so plan time according to your fitness level and interests.

The American Society of Civil Engineers recognized this site as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark for its water management system. This rare honor for a pre-Columbian project demonstrates that Inca engineering techniques impressed modern specialists.