Huchuy Qosqo

Huchuy Qosqo is an archaeological site at 3,650 meters (12,000 feet) elevation with stone structures spread across multiple terraces that include rectangular ceremonial rooms and agricultural platforms. The layout demonstrates careful water management through channels and shows how different areas served distinct purposes.

Emperor Viracocha founded this royal estate around 1420, establishing the site as a refuge during the Chancha revolt while his son Pachacuti managed events elsewhere. This early foundation shaped its role as a strategic retreat for the ruling family.

The site served as a royal estate where the mit'a system shaped daily roles, requiring people to contribute labor rather than pay taxes to maintain the grounds. The terraced layout reveals how closely settlement and agricultural use were intertwined in this mountain location.

The site is accessible via a moderate hiking trail from Lamay village or by a two-hour drive from Cusco along the Tambomachay road. Visitors should prepare for high elevation and wear comfortable hiking shoes, as pathways are uneven and sometimes steep.

The site contains an irrigation channel that stretches across the grounds, demonstrating advanced Inca engineering for water management in this high mountain environment. This hydraulic system was designed to support the agricultural terraces and take advantage of seasonal water flow patterns.