Sacsayhuaman aka: Sacsayhuamán, Saksaq Waman

a less touristy option for all the archaeology-lovers

A curious but common experience in Cusco is having a local gesture in the general direction of Cristo Blanco – the big white Jesus gesturing atop a Cusco hillside – and ask, in what sounds like perfectly clear English, “Have you seen sexy woman?” No, they don’t take Catholicism quite that far. They refer to this complex of Inca ruins on the next hillside. Interesting construction, partly fashioned from impossibly large boulders, partly deconstructed ages ago to build Spanish churches in town. It’s a visually stimulating place to wander about and it affords excellent views of Cusco and the valley. Very worth the hike up from San Blas (or the cab ride for the lazy and the altitude-sick).