Qenqo: archeological sites and outdoor walks

Did you know that when you stay at Atoq San Blas you can walk all the way to Qenqo and do it through the ancient Inca paths that are part of the Qapaq Ñan? In this post, we share a little bit more information about this beautiful place that combines nature, outdoor energy, and history.

Qenqo’s archeological site is located to the northeast of the city of Cusco, and it is part of most city tours that leave from Cusco historic center. The archeological remains consist of massive rock structures located within a beautiful forest that has the city as a background. In Qenqo, visitors can see the room of sacrifices which consists of an underground chamber with huge rocks with amazing carvings as well as the Intiwatana, which is present in most of the ceremonial sites from the Incas and was used to pay tribute to the god Sun. Finally, the amphitheater has an area of 55 meters approximately and it is said that it was a space used for different ceremonies. At this site, travelers can admire the work of ancient Peruvians as they worked with stones to create impressive structures always molding themselves to their surroundings.

Now that you know a little bit more about Qenqo we can tell you about how to get there from our hotel and some alternative plans to do while visiting. As we mentioned before, visiting Qenqo is part of most city tours, however, you can also get there by taxi leaving from the hotel, it has a cost of 20 soles and the trip is roughly 20 minutes long. If you want to arrange this, just ask at the front desk and our team will be happy to help you. Another option is to walk there, you can start by leaving the hotel and walking through 7 Diablitos, a pedestrian street. At the end of this street, you will find an uphill road which is part of the Qapaq Ñan, you can even see a map of all the roads that are part of this ancient network which at its most advanced stage went all the way from Ecuador to Argentina. Walking through this road you will reach and cross the main road called Av Circunvalación, on the way up you can take beautiful pictures of the city, these spots are perfect for a little break. Once you reach Av Circunvalación you can either follow the road and reach the entrance to Qenqo or cross it and keep going through the forest.

Around Qenqo you will see the beautiful forest, smaller remains such as the Temple of the Monkeys, and flat open areas. These esplanades are free to access, and many locals use them to walk their dogs or practice sport. You can use them to practice yoga if you decide to go early in the morning, the air is fresh and clean, and the vibe is amazing, we are sure that you will be happy and filled with great energy afterward. Also, you can visit these parts in the afternoon, the area is perfect for a walk around the woods, or a romantic picnic to see the sunset and take beautiful pictures.

General information
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 07:00am to 06:00pm.

Access:
Qenqo is part of the touristic ticket, you can buy the full ticket which gives you access to 16 sites and has a cost of s/.130.0 for foreigners and s/.70.0 for Peruvians. You can also get a half touristic ticket, which gives you access to 4 sites, Qenqo among them, and has a cost of s/.70.0 for foreigners and s/.40.0 for Peruvians. You can get your ticket at the main entrance of Qenqo.