Quick Summary: Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay are the three smaller Inca sites on the road above Cusco, and they share one ticket with Sacsayhuamán: the S/70 (about US$20) Circuit I partial of the Boleto Turístico, sold in person only. The best plan is a taxi up to Tambomachay, the highest at about 3,805 m (12,480 ft), then a walk of roughly 8 km back down, which takes about 3 to 6 hours with stops. Operator guides updated in 2026 list all three as open daily, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This guide is for travellers with a few days at altitude behind them; for the great walls themselves, see our Sacsayhuamán guide.
Q'enqo: Carved Rock and an Underground Altar
Q'enqo sits about 4 km from the Plaza de Armas, just past Sacsayhuamán. COSITUC, which runs the Boleto Turístico, says the Quechua name means "labyrinth" or "zigzag", after the channels and galleries cut into the rock. The Ministry of Culture's 2024 master plan for the Saqsaywaman park describes Q'enqo Grande, at about 3,600 m (11,820 ft):
- On top: carved "seats", steps and a winding channel that ends in a circular basin.
- Underneath: galleries leading to underground chambers with carved altars and table-like platforms beside niches.
- To the north: a semicircle of niches around a standing stone block. Trexperience Peru (2025) gives the arc as about 55 m with 19 niches, and the block as about 6 m tall.
Popular accounts say Q'enqo hosted sacrifices and mummification. That rests on interpretation, such as bones reported in the carved channel by Wikipedia, so treat it as likely, not settled. The Ministry rates parts of the site as in poor condition, so stay off the carved surfaces.
Puka Pukara and Tambomachay: Checkpoint and Water Shrine
Puka Pukara ("red fortress") sits on a rise beside the road to Pisac at about 3,785 m (12,420 ft), per the master plan. COSITUC says the stones turn reddish at dusk and that the site probably served for control, watch and rest on the way to the valley. The plan lists rooms around a patio, two viewpoint terraces, fountains and about 170 m of Inca road. It is small: Tierras Vivas (August 2026) says a visit takes no more than 20 minutes.
Tambomachay is the highest site on Circuit I, at about 3,805 m (12,480 ft), up a gravel track of about 800 m off the main road. Its core is four stacked terraces with a channel feeding a finely built two-spout fountain (master plan), where, COSITUC notes, water still flows.
The twist most tours skip: in the chronicler Bernabé Cobo's 1653 list of Cusco's shrines, "Tambomachay" was a house where Inca Yupanqui lodged when he went hunting. The master plan's history volume notes that John Rowe and Susan Niles identify that shrine with Puka Pukara, while archaeologist Brian Bauer reads today's Tambomachay as the next shrine on the list, "Quinua Puquio", a fountain of two springs. The names may well be swapped.
At a Glance: Altitude, Time and Ticket
| Site | Altitude | Time on site | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tambomachay | About 3,805 m (12,480 ft) | 30 minutes to 1 hour | Circuit I partial (S/70) or full ticket (S/130) |
| Puka Pukara | About 3,785 m (12,420 ft) | Up to 20 minutes | Circuit I partial or full ticket |
| Q'enqo | About 3,600 m (11,820 ft) | Up to 1 to 2 hours | Circuit I partial or full ticket |
| Temple of the Moon | About 3,655 m (11,990 ft) | No reliable estimate | None: not on the Boleto |
| Sacsayhuamán (for reference) | About 3,590 m (11,780 ft) at the zigzag walls | 30 to 90 minutes | Circuit I partial or full ticket |
Altitudes are rounded from the master plan's reference points (many guides say 3,700 m for Sacsayhuamán). Cusco's centre sits at about 3,399 m (11,152 ft), so Tambomachay is roughly 400 m higher. Times come from Boleto Cusco (November 2025), Tierras Vivas, the Inca Rail blog (March 2025) and the master plan's Sacsayhuamán walking circuits.
Tickets and Opening Hours
All three sit inside the Saqsaywaman archaeological park, where Ministry staff check the Boleto Turístico. COSITUC's FAQ says there is no single-site ticket.
- Circuit I partial: S/70 (about US$20) for foreign adults, covering Sacsayhuamán, Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. COSITUC's tariff page says it is valid 5 days, its home page 1 day. Do all four in one day and the conflict stops mattering.
- Full ticket: S/130 (about US$38), 16 sites over 10 days. Two partials cost S/140, so if the Sacred Valley ruins are also in your plan, buy the full ticket. Our Boleto Turístico guide covers student and child prices.
- Buying: in person only, at the Av. El Sol 103 counter or at the included sites (COSITUC FAQ), so the Tambomachay gate works. Bring your passport and soles: Salkantay Trekking (April 2026) reports a 3.15% fee on card, Plin or Yape payments.
- Hours: daily, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., per Tierras Vivas (October 2026), Explorandes (September 2026) and Salkantay Trekking. We found no official hours page.
Avoid Sunday 15 November 2026: Pope Leo XIV's official programme includes a meeting at the Saqsaywaman park, so expect restricted access.
The Best Way to Do It: Taxi Up, Walk Down
Tambomachay is about 8 km from the centre and roughly 400 m above it, so ride up and walk down, not the reverse.
- Taxi: about S/15 to 20 (US$4 to 6) and about 30 minutes, per a Cusco transport company's fare table (updated October 2026). Real Cusco Tour (January 2026) quotes S/15 to 25 and Explorandes S/20 to 30, so about S/20 is a fair middle. A taxi that waits at all four sites runs S/60 to 100 for 2 to 3 hours (same table).
- Bus: combis toward Pisac leave from Avenida Tullumayo, and the local Señor del Huerto line passes Tambomachay and Puka Pukara (Explorandes, Tierras Vivas). Quoted fares run from S/1 to about S/6; ask to be dropped at Tambomachay.
From the Tambomachay gate, the walk down:
- To Puka Pukara: about 900 m to 1 km (Tierras Vivas). Walk down the track to the main road; Puka Pukara is a short way along, across the road.
- To Q'enqo: the long leg, about 4 to 4.7 km beside the road, per Tierras Vivas and Adventures of Nicole (updated April 2026). Brooke Beyond (updated 2022) timed it at about 45 minutes. Tired legs can flag a combi for this stretch.
- To Sacsayhuamán: about 1.7 km to the Cristo Blanco statue, then about 1 km more (Adventures of Nicole).
- To the Plaza de Armas: about 2 km (Salkantay Trekking), steeply downhill; Brooke Beyond says about 20 minutes.
Adventures of Nicole says a casual visitor can finish in about 3 hours (the author took 6), and Brooke Beyond suggests 4 to 6. Start by 9:00 a.m. to finish in daylight with time for lunch.
Free Sites Nearby: The Temple of the Moon and Kusilluchayoq
Near Q'enqo, off the main road, sit carved-rock shrines that are not among the Boleto's 16 sites.
- Temple of the Moon (Amaru Markawasi): also called Salonpunku, per Wikipedia. The master plan describes a large cracked rock with galleries leading to chambers that hold carved altars, Inca walls built against it and a carved fountain. A 2025 history thesis from Cusco's national university ties it to the lands of Amaru Tupaq Inka, a son of Pachacútec. Maximo Nivel (2022) says entry is free and puts it a 20 to 30 minute walk from Q'enqo Chico, on the path that forks left off the main road.
- Kusilluchayoq: a name usually translated as "place of the monkeys". Another carved outcrop with niches and seats, about 310 m south of the Temple of the Moon (master plan) and about 500 m east of Q'enqo (Trexperience Peru).
The Ministry says visitors have opened new paths that damage the Temple of the Moon's walls, so keep to existing trails.
About the horses: local guides wait with horses at the field before the Temple of the Moon (Maximo Nivel). We would skip them. The master plan says agency horse rides damage stretches of Inca road, naming the Amaru Markawasi and Kusilluchayoq sectors, and calls riding in the park harmful and on its way out.
Safety on the Walk
- Traffic: the Puka Pukara to Q'enqo leg follows the paved road to Pisac, and Brooke Beyond found the roadside walking unpleasant. Walk facing the traffic and keep children close.
- Crime: Canada's travel advice (updated 15 October 2026) says armed robberies occur in tourist areas, particularly when travellers walk alone, and that pickpocketing is frequent in Cusco. Walk in company, especially to the Temple of the Moon, and keep your phone out of sight.
- Taxis: the UK Foreign Office (updated 9 October 2026) advises against hailing taxis in the street; use an app or a hotel-booked taxi.
- Daylight and altitude: the sites close at 6:00 p.m., so be past Q'enqo by mid-afternoon. The CDC Yellow Book advises only mild exercise for the first 48 hours at altitude, so make this day three or later (see our altitude sickness guide).
Explorandes notes muddy paths in the November to March rains, so pack a rain layer. For the rest of the city, see our Cusco safety guide.
Our Pick: Best Order and Whether to Hire a Guide
Best order: Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, Q'enqo, then Sacsayhuamán, finishing on foot in the city. The master plan describes the circuit the other way round, and some tours follow it, but on foot that order is uphill all day. Top-down puts the long road leg on a gentle descent and saves the biggest site for last. If the road leg looks dull, take a combi from Puka Pukara to Q'enqo; you lose nothing but tarmac.
Guide or not: skip a private guide. Tambomachay and Puka Pukara are small and easy to read, and their history is contested anyway. Q'enqo rewards explanation most, and the cheap way to get it is a shared city tour: a Nomades listing (read October 2026) charges S/23 (about US$7) for 5.5 hours, with the Boleto and Qorikancha (S/20) extra. The catch: it gives Sacsayhuamán only 30 minutes.
- Walk it if: you have two or more days at altitude behind you and enjoy a long downhill day.
- Take the tour or a waiting taxi if: you are in your first 48 hours, have small children, or it is raining.
- Look further afield if: you have a whole free day; our day trips from Cusco guide ranks the options.
FAQ
Do I need a ticket for Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay?
Yes. COSITUC sells no single-site tickets, so you need the Circuit I partial (S/70 for foreign adults) or the full Boleto Turístico (S/130), both sold in person, including at the site gates.
How much is a taxi from Cusco to Tambomachay?
Guides from 2025 and 2026 quote about S/15 to 30, with about S/20 typical for the roughly 30-minute ride. Agree the fare first, or use an app or a hotel-booked taxi.
How long does the walk from Tambomachay back to Cusco take?
The route is roughly 8 km and mostly downhill. Walkers' accounts give about 3 to 6 hours including the sites.
Can I visit these three without Sacsayhuamán?
Yes, but the same S/70 ticket already includes Sacsayhuamán, and COSITUC's home page gives it only 1 day of validity. Fit all four into one day rather than paying twice.
Is the Temple of the Moon included in the Boleto Turístico?
No. It is not among COSITUC's 16 sites, and guides from 2022 and 2023 describe it as free to enter. It is a 20 to 30 minute walk from Q'enqo Chico.
Is it safe to walk between the ruins?
Many visitors do it independently, but the main leg runs beside a road and Canada's travel advice warns of robberies when travellers walk alone. Go in daylight and in company.
Can I do this on my first day in Cusco?
We would not. Tambomachay sits about 400 m above the city and the CDC advises only mild exercise for the first 48 hours, so if it must be early, take a taxi between the sites.
Is a horse ride a good way to see the temples?
We advise against it. The Ministry of Culture's master plan says horse rides damage Inca roads around Amaru Markawasi and Kusilluchayoq and calls the activity harmful.
Limitations
As of October 2026, prices, validity and sales points can change: COSITUC reported on 1 August 2026 that a new Boleto Turístico law creates committees to set circuits and prices and moves gradually to digital tickets, and its own pages already disagree on Circuit I validity (1 or 5 days). Hours come from operator guides, fares are not fixed, walking distances come from traveller and operator accounts, and free entry to the Temple of the Moon rests on 2022 and 2023 guides. Access may be restricted on 15 November 2026 for the papal visit. Work-around: check COSITUC's tariff page before you go, confirm the validity printed on your ticket at the counter, agree any taxi fare in advance, and ask at the Tambomachay gate about closing time that day.