The Imperial City of Cusco was the heart of the Inca Empire, thereby, the region became an important religious, commercial, and military center during the pre-Columbian era. There are many archeological sites within the Peruvian Andes, some of them are well-recognized and others were left forgotten in these vast lands.
The Tarawasi Archeological Site is one of these Inca remains that got lost among the many settlements of the region. However, it is of great importance since it offers a strategic location for ceremonial practices and a resting point for those who ventured out to the Chichaysuyo.
The Incas had a complex trail network system that connected different parts of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire and Tarawasi was located in one of those paths that led to other regions and archeological sites.
Unfortunately, many details were lost during the colonization process, but we can just assume some key points according to the most accurate chronicles and how it was structured. Nowadays, the site remains as a paid tourist attraction and it’s certainly a destination that you can’t miss.
Dare to uncover the mysteries of the Andean region and learn everything about the famous culture that marked our country with a prevailing legacy that continues to amaze us every day. Below you’ll find detailed information about the Tarawasi Archeological Site.
Tarawasi was an important ceremonial center built during the reign of the Inca Pachacutec. Through Inca times, the site was known as Limatambo, the actual name of the region where it is located. Currently, it is called Tarawasi, a composed Quechua word where “Tara” means “Bushes” and “Wasi” translates to “House.”
Apparently, the Tarawasi site had another purpose during the pre-Columbian era since it was mainly constructed as a Tambo, a place used as a resting point for travelers and the Chaskis, who were the messengers of the Incas.
The site has an extraordinary architecture style, where its walls are made with perfectly carved stones with an octagonal shape. The Incas managed to put them together without the need of any type of mortar.
Likewise, the structure is composed of agricultural terraces with their respective irrigation channels that supplied water to the whole precinct. There’s also an important altar called “Usnu,” which was located on top of the ceremonial center.
The “Usnu” was part of different archeological sites that were connected by a series of imaginary lines that came from the so-called Temple of the Sun in Cusco, the Coricancha Temple. These lines were called “Ceques” which represented a complex network connection between the most important religious centers of the Inca Empire.
Nowadays, the site has withstood centuries of earthquakes and it’s one of the most well-preserved Inca structures in Cusco. During the colonization, the Spanish people built an Hacienda on top of the first terrace of the site, however, it is currently deteriorated due to time action.
Tarawasi is located in the Limatambo region, almost 75 kilometers away from the city of Cusco. If you’re planning to do this on your own, keep in mind that you will need to hire a certified taxi for a round trip ride since transport is nearly limited in this area.
However, we advise you to take a tour where you’ll get to visit this and other attractions such as the Humantay Lagoon. That could be an additional stop on the way to the famous turquoise water body. Luckily for you, we have an exclusive attraction that can take you through those places.
At the moment we’d like to highlight that this can only be done by taking a private and personalized tour. Please contact us for more information.
The Tarawasi Archeological Site is open all year long. However, to enter the complex you’ll need to pay an entrance fee which costs S/. 10 for adults and S/. 5 for children.
There are so many things to do in Cusco city that you definitely can't miss, we'd love to show you everything it has to offer so you can make the most of your experience while you're here!
