Beyond Paq'amayo on the 4 day Inca Trail Tour, at an altitude of approximately 3,600 m, the path crosses the river on a small footbridge and climbs towards Runkurakay Pass; at 3750m elevation, this round ruin has magnificent views. It is about an hour of walking.
Runkurakay ruins is an archaeological site located in Peru. It is located in the middle of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. Its rooms are semicircular in shape. The structure is made of slate stone and gray granite. Possibly it would be a place of rest or ritual.
Important Data of Runkurakay
Region: Cusco
Province: Urubamba
District: Machu Picchu
Latitude: -13.2283
Longitude: -72.5018
Runkurakay Pass Elevation: 3732 masl
Etymology
Runkurakay is a Quechua word meaning "Abandoned or Collapsed House".
Location
The Runkurakay archaeological site is located on the mountain of the same name, in the Machu Picchu district, Urubamba province, Cusco department. Located southeast of Machu Picchu.
Runkurakay Pass has a elevation of 3,760 m. / 12,335 ft.
Runkurakay ruins on the Inca Trail
It is a kind of citadel that is located in the middle of the Inca Trail that leads to the imposing Machu Picchu. Unlike other buildings of Inca origin, Runkurakay ruins presents the peculiarity of having circular enclosures among its structures, something unusual in the design of the tambos or Inca cities.
It is a semi-circular construction, with a central plaza and enclosures, which border the construction; niches or niches can be seen on the walls, as well as trapezoidal doors.
Structurally, the Runkurakay archaeological complex features structures made with the use of slate stone and gray granite. The predominant building of the complex has the shape of a semicircle in which six rooms are distributed that surround a patio that faces northeast.
Due to the shape and different vestiges found in Runkurakay ruins, it is thought that the place would have functioned as a resting place, which in some way also served to maintain control and surveillance of this area of Tahuantinsuyo. The ritual end of the set is not ruled out either, due to certain features that the structures possess.
The site is surrounded by dense vegetation, abundant flora of jungle and mountain eyebrows and is located in a prominence, it seems that it hung from the sky, because the clouds are always under construction, undoubtedly it has a spectacular view of Runkurakay ruins, to Sayaqmarka is 5 km.
History of Runkurakay
Runkuraqay or Runku Raqay (Quechua runku basket, raqay shed / derelict house / ruin) is an archaeological site on a mountain of the same name in Perú located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, and Machu Picchu District. It is situated southeast of the archaeological site Machu Picchu and south of the Vilcanota river.
The ruins lie on the southern slope of the mountain Runkuraqay near the Runkurakay Pass, northeast of the archaeological site Sayacmarca and southeast of the site Qunchamarka.
Acoording to the history of Runkurakay, Hiram Bingham III visited the site in April 1915. Then, the history of Runkurakay says Paul Fejos visited in 1940.
Tourism in Runkurakay ruins
Cusco is a privileged land at the level of archaeological tourism, since in this region of the country the heart of Tahuantinsuyo had life, that kingdom that was dominated by the Incas for a considerable number of centuries, which is why it is Cusco, where there is a striking amount of archaeological complexes that can be visited by tourists to have a better understanding of Inca culture.
One of these complexes is Runkurakay, a kind of citadel that is located in the middle of the Inca Trail that leads to the imposing Machu Picchu. Runkurakay ruins, unlike other buildings of Inca origin, has the peculiarity of having circular structures among its structures, something unusual in the design of the tambos or Inca cities. Due to the shape and different vestiges found in Runkurakay ruins, the place is thought to have possibly functioned as a resting place, which in some way also served to maintain control and surveillance of this area of Tahuantinsuyo. The ritual end of the set is not ruled out either, due to certain features that the structures possess.
Structurally, the Runkurakay archaeological complex features structures made with the use of slate stone and gray granite. The predominant building of the complex has the shape of a semicircle in which six rooms are distributed that surround a patio that faces northeast.
On the sides of the entrance to the patio, two of the six enclosures mentioned are located, where it is possible to observe the presence of niches and windows, a common space of the Inca structures where, for the most part, idols used to be placed. As part of the complex, there is also a lower room on which a platform flanked by smaller rooms on each side rises. In addition to the semicircular structure of the complex, where the six environments are observed, a more rectangular-shaped environment that is located outside the group and almost in the lower part of the land occupied by Runkurakay is also recognized as part of the structures; This seventh room is rectangular in shape, and would also have played an important role for the ensemble, which can be supported by the presence of niches on its walls.
Runkurakay ruins is not only an Inca archaeological complex worth knowing because of its archaeological value, but also in terms of ecological aspects, since its environment allows you to enjoy an exquisite and varied flora and fauna, so visits to the complex are also recommended for those who like ecotourism, environmental photography, and the like. It is worth saying also that the place is a fantastic viewpoint that allows not only to observe, but also to photograph beautiful landscapes.
In order to get to this beautiful archaeological attraction of Cusco, the visitor has to choose to follow the Inca trail (Classic Inca Trail, Machu Picchu 3 day hike, 2 day Inca Trail, 2 day Inca Trail with camping, one day Inca Trail) that leads to Machu Picchu and which, in addition to allowing them to get to know the sanctuary, gives them the possibility of enjoying less frequented archaeological sites in Cusco such as the Runkurakay.
