culture

images : awl images ; alamy

MACHU PICCHU

Peru ’ s most famous Inca site was sequestered for centuries , unbeknown to the Spanish invaders who overran the Inca capital . High in the Andes , the stone-walled city was abandoned in the 16th century and its 200 distinct structures were only discovered by the outside world in 1911 . Explore the narrow laneways to learn about day-today life in this Inca stronghold and catch vertiginous views of the massive agricultural terraces that cascade down the Andean mountains .

A highlight of the Sacred Valley ruins strewn throughout Cusco ’ s mountains , Ollantaytambo ’ s colossal stone stairways once served as an emperor ’ s estate . Building outward into a thriving farming community and ceremonial center , the town was a hub of agricultural innovation — fertile lands were gouged from the harsh terrain of the upper Andes , sustaining a flourishing empire . Head here to learn about the complex irrigation and road systems in the rugged landscape .

PISAC

Standing sentinel over the strategically critical Urubamba River and the fertile plains of the valley below , Pisac ’ s imposing mountaintop ruins were a crucial stronghold for the Inca Empire . Invaders attempting to approach Cusco were scuppered by the defenders at Pisac . The gigantic slabs of ocher stone that characterize the site form wide windows — peer from the fortress or the temple for panoramic views of the Sacred Valley and its alluvial plains .

THREE MORE : THE INCA EMPIRE

Ingapirca , Ecuador Despite being unique among South American archaeological finds , the Temple of the Sun gets relatively few visitors . Those who do visit can learn about the civilization ’ s proclivity for offering humans to its bloodthirsty gods .

Isla del Sol , Bolivia In Inca theology , the empire began when the sun god cast its founders to Earth . They landed on Isla del Sol . The Temple of the Sun was built to mark the spot in the late 1400s , adding to the myriad Inca sites dotted across the island . Visit the ruins individually or by hiking the Willa Thaki ( Sacred Route of the Eternal Sun ) trail .

Sacsayhuamán , Peru Built with bricks bigger than an average human torso , hauled to the heights of the Andes on the backs of llama caravans , Sacsayhuamán was once the capital of the Inca Empire . Explore the stepped walls of towers and shrines , roads and aqueducts , and the homes of regular residents of the one-time imperial core .

summer 2024 • 27