Saqsaywaman
Right after I arrived in Cusco I went to explore the city. The map showed an archaeological site right next to Cusco, that is called Saqsaywaman. This building complex was part of the Capital of the Inca Empire and now it is on the Unesco World Heritage list.
When I arrived they told me that the entrance fee was 70 Soles. I thought it was a scam. I refused to pay and checked the price online. It was indeed 70 Soles. Official scam by the Peruvian government…
EventuallyI paid. I wanted to see it. And in fact the tickets include 3 other sites but 2 of them are further away. Isn’t really a walking distance.
I’m still annoyed that they are making us pay almost twenty Euros to see a bunch of rocks packed together. And then when I found out that this place was ruined by the Spanish settlers who used the rocks to build their own buildings I got angry. It even ruined Cusco for me. I couldn’t enjoy the view of the city centre the same way after learning this.
Even though my experience wasn’t flawless. I would recommend doing a whole day trip and visit all four sites that are included in the Ticket. Sure, there isn’t much left of the city but those remaining walls are still extraordinary.
