Pisac

Pisac (or Pisaq in Quechua-spelling) is a small town about 35 km from Cuzco. Pisac is most of all famous for its Sunday market, but also for some ruins dating from about the same time as Machu Picchu. Pisac lives at a very different pace than nearby Cuzco. There is something very harmonious about the whole place, a harmony that evades explanation.

[edit] Get in

From Cuzco there are frequent busses leaving at Av. Tullumayo 207 (2 soles).

 Get around

 See

Boleto turistico A boleto turistico is required for access to some of the sights in and around Cuzco. It can be bought at the Oficina Ejecutiva del Comité (OFEC), Av Sol 103, Cuzco, ph: 227 037. There are three different kind of tickets: A full ticket (valid for ten days and for all sites), 70 soles; A student ticket (ISIC sudentcard required as proof), 35 Soles; A partial ticket, (only valid for one day and a limited number of sites) 40 Soles. The ticket gives access to the following sites in Cuzco: Santa Cataline Monastery, Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo, Museo Historico Regional, Museo del Sitio del Qoricancha, Museo de Arte Popular, Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo Danzas Folklórico and Monumento Pachacuteq. And around Cuzco: Sacsayhuamán, Qénqo, Pukapukara, Tambomachay, Chinchero and the ruins of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Tipón and Pikillacta.

• Spread out on the mountains above the town are the Inca ruins of Pisac. There is a large agricultural section with terraces and several ruins. Allow for at least a couple of hours to visit. You can climb up there or take a taxi up to the site (s/. 10). Admission is by boleto turistico.

 Do

• Although very small, it is worth putting several hours to a whole Sunday aside for the Pisac market. People are coming down from the highlands with their products, including some very fresh food, raw materials, tomatoes, rice, potatoes. It is worth sitting down with the locals for a lunch eating just that, along with trout clearly just pulled from the river. It costs about 5 soles, but is a meal to remember.

 Buy

• Furthermore, there are bazaars along the streets of Pisac, if you want to buy local handcrafts, it is worth checking them out here.

 Eat

• Sit down with the locals and try some of the typical food of the region at one of the food stands at the market.