Provincia de Calca: Inca Sites, Hot Springs and Hiking Trails

The Provincia de Calca brings together archaeological sites, thermal waters and routes with very different time requirements. The Parque Arqueológico de Pisac is located in the town of Pisac; other highlights range from the terraces and platforms in Huchuy Qosqo to the thermal pools and plant populations in Pampacorral. Calca is part of the tourist circuit of the Valle Sagrado de los Incas. When planning your trip, it is worth first prioritizing the experiences that should define it and taking the respective starting points into account when choosing your hotel base.

Inca Sites and Architecture

The Parque Arqueológico de Pisac is located in the town of Pisac in the province of Calca. It is now described as an astronomical observatory and is considered an Inca heritage site associated with the Inca Pachacútec. In Huchuy Qosqo, also known as Qaqyaqawana, the architectural elements take center stage: the Inca architectural complex includes terraces and ceremonial platforms.

The Zona Arqueológica Urqo is another Inca site. Its features include terraces, a tower and the carved Huaca Wiracocha Urqo. At this site, the water festival Unu Urqo is associated with the month of October. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the current dates locally.

Thermal Waters and Excursion Options

The Baños Termales de Lares have six thermal pools with temperatures between 35 °C and 48 °C. Water temperatures can vary. There are campsites around the hot springs.

Machacancha is a hot springs attraction in the district of Calca. Lares offers six thermal pools with varying water temperatures between 35 °C and 48 °C and campsites around the springs; Machacancha is a hot springs attraction in the district of Calca.

Routes, Starting Points and Time Planning

The route from Lamay to Huchuy Qosqo is described as a six-kilometer hiking trail with a walking time of about three hours. For the Cascada Natural de Sirenachayuq, the final approach starts at the Chuquibamba turnoff: from there, a 650-meter footpath leads to the destination, with about 25 minutes indicated for the walk. These two estimates differ significantly in the time required. For your excursion planning, you can allow about three hours for the hiking trail to Huchuy Qosqo and around 25 minutes for the final footpath to the Cascada Natural de Sirenachayuq.

For the Zona Arqueológica Urqo, the described route starts at the main square of Calca. First, there is a two-kilometer stretch on a paved road to the road junction; then a further 3.95 kilometers by private car are indicated. Road conditions can vary. For the Parque Arqueológico de Pisac, the distance from the main square of Pisac is given as 9.3 kilometers. The route follows a paved road and takes about 15 minutes by private car; travel time can vary. The different starting points and modes of transport give you concrete reference points for deciding which routes to consider when planning your days.

Pampacorral and Unique Plants

The stand of Puya de Raimondi in Pampacorral contains around 1,200 specimens of the protected Puya de Raimondi. A visit to the stand is for observing the Puya de Raimondi, which blooms only about every 100 years. The Private Conservation Area “Pampacorral” includes the population of Puya de Raimondi. Those interested in plants will find a clearly defined reason here to include this distinctive feature in their travel plans.

A horseback riding tour through the Provincia de Calca also offers the opportunity to visit Lamay, Calca or Lares. The range of available providers can change, so check it when making specific plans for a tour. The experiences mentioned range from archaeological sites and hot springs to hiking and horseback riding. Choose your hotel base with the places and excursions that are most important to your trip in mind.

Discover more destinations: Manto, Quispicanchi, Espinar, Pisac, Aguas Calientes, Provincia de Paucartambo.

Go to the main travel overview: Cuzco.