Saqsaywaman, Head of the Puma

This half-day Cusco experience tells of how the Incas shaped, protected, and gave meaning to their capital. Hosted by a local archaeologist, Delsi, who has worked at Saqsaywaman, the experience brings the sites together through first-hand stories and research-backed theories about Inca construction and cosmology. Tambomachay explores the Incas’ relationship with water, where natural springs are incorporated into a sacred site. The focus shifts to movement and protection at nearby Puka Pukara, a hilltop complex monitoring the road to Cusco. At Qenqo, underground passages, hulking monoliths, and ceremonial spaces reveal the spiritual side of Inca life. Finally, you'll see how the monumental Saqsaywaman forms the "head of the puma" according to Cusco’s pre-Hispanic urban layout. Together, the sites show how the Incas approached architecture as a carefully designed landscape where engineering, ceremony, movement, water, and the natural world were fundamentally connected.

Visiting Saqsaywaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay with an archaeologist offers a deeper understanding of how the Incas engineered their world, organized their society, and saw their place in the cosmos. Rather than viewing the sites as isolated ruins, Delsi connects them through the stories and theories that reveal how they may have worked together. Having worked at Saqsaywaman, Delsi brings first-hand knowledge to the experience, drawing your attention to details overlooked by the untrained eye. Here, the precision of the zigzagging stone walls raises questions about construction techniques and cosmological beliefs. At Qenqo, a labyrinth of carved rocks and subterranean passages offers clues to the ceremonial rituals the Incas may have performed. At Tambomachay, the flow of water offers clues to the Incas’ engineering and ritual practices. Delsi separates established facts from ongoing debates, exploring what we know, what remains uncertain, and why it matters.

Delsi Espinoza is a fully licensed archaeologist from San Sebastián, Cusco. Since graduating from the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco in 2014, she has led excavation projects, maintenance programs, and education initiatives across the region, working directly with Peru’s Ministry of Culture, international organizations, and local municipalities. Her work has taken her to archaeological parks including Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán, and Pikillacta, as well as the Urubamba valley. Delsi co-hosts with either Daniel, her husband and business partner and a fellow archaeologist from Ireland, or her sister Yessika, an economist and cultural educator from Cusco. Both translate Delsi’s commentary into English and add their own knowledge and insights.

Original passport (or equivalent identification card) is mandatory for site access. Sun and rain protection, depending on the season. Comfortable footwear for uneven ground. Light layers or a sweater for shifting weather. - A small daypack with water, snacks, sunscreen, and a camera. ** Advise Dan/Delsi about dietary limitations in advance via Fernwayer Chat.