Puka Pukara and Tambomachay

Tambomachay

Tambomachay is an archaeological site of the Inca Empire. It is also known as El Baño del Inca or 'The Bath of the Inca'. It is formed by a series of canals and fountains flowing through terraces in tiers.

Its use is uncertain; it could have served as a military post for the control of people travelling to Cusco, as a spa for the Inca elite or as an imperial bath. Finally, it could also have been a religious site.

By arriving very early in the morning, you can avoid the crowd.

Puka Pukara

In Quechua, puka means red and pukara fortress, thus the red fortress. Its name probably comes from the fact that the stone forming the military complex turns red at sunset.

View from the fortress.