The Fortress of Kuelap, was built in the 18th., century b.C. It is located at 74 kilometers from Chachapoyas, in the county of Luya. It is considered one of the major Peruvian archeological monuments. From its 20 meters high walls and an altitude of 3.000 m.a.s.l., to the wall-flanked alleys with cone shape, make this city a curious and misterious place.

There are three entrances to the heart of Kuelap. In one of the hallways get so narrow that only one person can pass at a time, which made it easier to defend the fortress. At the left of the ways there is a series of semi-circular dwellings perfectly conserved. A few meters ahead is the Tintero (structure with tilted walls). It is assumed that it was for human and animal sacrifices.

Archeological Site of Chavin: Province of Ancash

Archeological site of Chavin, located at 109 kilometers from Huaraz in the county of Huari. Also known as "El Castillo de Chavin de Huantar", it was one of the main religious centers of the west hemisfery.

This archeological site that dates back from 1200 b.C., is made of ceremonial chambers built with stone blocks (estelas, heads, obelisco and the famous lanzon ). In the inside, there are subterranean galleries. The sculpture was carved with cats, birds and snakes. (Chavin Culture). Why this important culture disappeared is still a mistery.

It was declared Cultural Patrimony by the UNESCO in 1985.

Archeological Site of Saywite: Province of Apurimac

Archeological site of Saywite, ceremonial center and archeological place located in the community of Concacha, at 47 kilometers from the road Abancay-Cusco.

The monolith of Saywite is a sedimentary stone carved in high and low relief of 2,28 meters height. On the platforms it can see representations of animals and geometrical figures; like: animals, irrigations, platforms, lagoons and stairs.

On that monolith there is a picture of a great mountain or sierra, with peaks, slopes, one of which is very steep, with cliffs and creeks, glaciar valleys, and small and big rivers. On the highest part there are three lagoons that provide water to all parts, the canals and streams run first through the country side and then through the pampa to a rectangular crop land.

300 meters away it can see other small monoliths like Rumihuasi or "House of Stone" with stairs, geometrical shapes and canals. And the Intihuatana "Sundial" that was possibly an Inca observatory used to observe the astronomical movements.

Archeological Site of Sondor: Province of Apurimac

Archeological site of Sondor, or "Sitio Inca" (the Inca Place). It is located at 21 kilometers from the city Andahuaylas. It is a ceremonial center and archeological site located in the Pacucha district, at 30 minutes from Andahuaylas. According to studies, it has architectonical elements of monumental character.

According to the hypothese of the investigation of the University of San Cristobal de Huamanga, Sondor was a place where there were religious activities; that is the reason of its location and the shape of its central pyramid and its strategical sight of the Pacucha Lagoon.

The first discovery is Muyu Muyu Ruins, sacred promontory of Sondor; with stairs and restored terraces. At 500 stairs up, on the top of the central pyramid, there is a huaca where presumably human sacrifices took place.

In the Sondor Ruins, at present, the epopey of Chanka is represented. In which the leader Anccohuayllo marched against Cusco facing the menace of the Incas for his people.

Archeological Site of Choquequirao: Province of Apurimac

Archeological site of Choquequirao, located at 120 kilometers from the city Andahuaylas. It is a ceremonial center and archeological site located in the province of Cusco, district of Vilcabamba. Due to its accessibility it is visited through the district of Cachora, from the county of Abancay. The place is considered a tourist attraction of big archeological importance.

This site is located at the west of the Salccantay Mountain, on the limit between the provinces of Cusco and Apurimac. It has an altitude of 3.500 m.a.s.l.., and 80 kilometers from the citadell of Machupicchu.

Archeological site of Cchoquequirao is covered by exhuberant vegetation, due to which the constructions can not be seen clearly. But there is a clearance where it can see a main plaza and at the side a palace that led to the platforms. At the west there are constructions with an outstanding huge room. In it there are rings incrusted in the walls every 10 centimeters. It is assumed that these rooms where the work-place of the weavers.

The rooms are generally of two floors. They are built with stones united by mud. Some doors are of stone with Cusco style, and in all buildings there are abundant big ornaments. There are also small windows between rooms and camouflaged windows to see outside which point out to the theory that it was a military site.

The inside of the walls are made of mud and painted with different colors. A non-habitual element are the stone sheets or plates laid out like aisles between the first and second floor of the houses to protect the inhabitants from the sun and the rain.

Archeological Site of Sacsayhuaman: Province of Cuzco

Archeological Site of Sacsayhuaman, located at 2 kilometers from Cuzco. A colossal building that was built by 20.000 men over a period of 50 years. It could have been a religious building for its location and style, but when the Spanish and chronists saw it for the first time, all agreed that it must have had a military function.

It is assumed that it was there that the most important temple of Hanan Qosqo or Cusco de Arriba, devoted to the Andean cosmology, for the veneration of the Inti (sun), Quilla (moon), Chaska (stars) and Illapa (thunder) laid.

Archeological Site of Qenko - Kenko: Province of Cuzco

Archeological Site of Qenko - Kenko, located at 6 kilometers from Cuzco. A religious center with a semi-circular amphitheater and seats of stone. It was considered a sacred place where ceremonies to honor the sun, moon and stars were carried out.

Archeological Site of Pukapukara - Puca Pucara: Province of Cuzco

Archeological Site of Pukapukara - Puca Pucara, located at 7 kilometers from Cuzco. A place used as "tambo" or rest place and hostel. According to the stories, everytime the Inca visited Tambomachay, he was accompanied by a great commitive that stayed in Pukapukara.

Archeological Site of Tambomachay: Province of Cuzco

Archeological Site of Tambomachay, located at 9 kilometers from Cuzco. The place has a surface extension of a half hectare and was built around the year 1500 a.C. According to researchers, Tambomachay had an important religious function linked to the water and the regeneration of the earth.

Archeological Site of Raqchi or Wiracocha: Province of Cuzco

Archeological Site of Raqchi or Wiracocha, located at 112 kilometers from Cuzco. Known as the temple of Wiracocha. It is one of the audacious works of engineering of the Incas. It dates back from the 15th., century.

Archeological Site of Choquequirao: Province of Cuzco

Archeological Site of Choquequirao, located at 90 kilometers from the city of Abancay. It is a site of architectonic constructions of stone with hundreds of platforms, rooms and watering systems. Choquequirao - Chuqui KÅ½iraw, "golden cradle", could be one of the lost cities in the valley of Vilcabamba, place where the Incas took shelter since 1536.

Archeological Site of Tipon: Province of Cuzco

Archeological Site of Tipon, located at 25 kilometers from Cuzco. According to the legends, Tipon is one of the royal gardens built by Wiracocha. It has twelve terraces with walls of perfectly polished stone and huge platform, canals and water falls that have an impressing landscape along with the flora of that place.

Archeological Site of Ollantaytambo: Province of Cuzco

Archeological Site of Ollantaytambo, located at 97 kilometers from Cuzco. It was built as a fortress for administrative and militay tasks; with different established areas. A space called "Araqama Ayllu" for the cult and religion. Another space called "Qosqo Ayllu" for living.

Updating, August 2008