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Willka Raqay

Posted On: 16 April 2020 #TierrasVivas 429

Willka Raqay is an Inca ruin on Patallacta that was used as a checkpoint. It is situated southeast of the archaeological site Patallaqta above the right bank of the little river Pampa Qhawa, an affluent of the Willkanuta River, near the village Chamana. 

 

Important Data of Willka Raqay

Region: Cusco

Province: Urubamba

District: Ollantaytambo

Altitude: 5700m / 18500 ft)

 

Etymology

Willkaraqay or Willka Raqay, is a Quechua word from two words: willka = grandson / great-grandson / lineage / minor god in Inca culture, an image of the Willkanuta valley (Vilcanota Valley) worshiped as God / holy, sacred, divine, willka or wilka Anadenanthera colubrina (a tree); raqay = ruin, a demolished building / shed, warehouse or dormitory for farm workers / a generally old building with no roof, only walls. Hispanicized Spellings Huillca Racay, Huillca Raccay, also Wilkaracay, Willkarakay)

 

Location

Huillca Raccay or Huillca Racay is an archaeological site in Peru located in the Cusco region, Urubamba province, Ollantaytambo District.

 

It is located southeast of the Patallacta archaeological site, on the right bank of the small Pampa Qhawa river, a tributary of the Vilcanota river, near the town of Chamana.

 

Willka Raqay Ruins

Huillca Raccay is located on a strategic promontory called the Lower Valley. It is made up of 5 different groups, made up of 34 venues. This archaeological site corresponds to the preinka period, almost entirely.

Huillca Raccay is an Inca ruin on Llactapata that was used as a checkpoint.

 

Tourism in Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (route to Willka Raqay)

The 4 day Inca Trail Tour to Machu Picchu is one of the most attractive tourist routes for those who love trekking worldwide. These are also known as Caminos del Inca and are a series of roads that were built during the period of Inca expansion and all of them had the purpose of connecting the conquered cities with the center of Tahuantinsuyo: Cusco.

 

Although there were many roads that connected different parts of what is now Peru and neighboring countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Argentina and Chile, one was and still is the main one; This is called Cápac Ñam which in the language of those men means “Camino Real” and this was important since in the journey that was made through it different religious and ceremonial practices were carried out that were directed to deities such as the mountains or the snowy.

 

The discovery of the Inca Trail occurred in 1915 by Hiram Bingham, the same one that four years ago discovered Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail comprises a wide territory that generally covers more than 30,000 kilometers, adding up all its routes between the highlands and the coast. The Inca trail to Machu Picchu, included in this extension, is one of the few that have managed to reach part of the Amazon Forest.

In order for the interested party to be able to travel the Inca Trail, it is necessary that this contract the services of an authorized company, since the tour is done with guides. The visitor is recommended that their trip be made between the months of April to August, although visits are also allowed the other months of the year except in February when there is a tourist closure.

 

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu generally lasts four days, and the area is guarded by people in charge of guaranteeing the maintenance and respect of the road, as well as the safety of the visitor. The construction of bonfires is prohibited on the route, as well as leaving the authorized roads and camping in areas outside the established ones.

 

Among the routes offered by the different companies are: the route that starts from Piscacucho - Cusicancha - Huayllabamba –Wiñay Wayna - Machu Picchu Citadel; it is followed by the Qoriwayrachina-Huayllabamba –Wiñay Wayna - Machu Picchu Citadel route; the third that goes from Chacabamba - Wiñay Wayna and the Citadel of Machu Picchu.

 

Whoever decides to opt for these paths to reach the citadel will enjoy an incomparable landscape that varies according to the altitudes of the walk and that goes from beautiful mountains, forests and streams to become a more jungle environment, in which it is possible to observe the variety of local fauna and flora.

 

Alternative Treks to Inca Trail

Edwin Caviedes Profesional guide

Edwin Caviedes is the founder and manager of Tierras Vivas, a company that benefits native people communities.