Ankasmarka Archaeological Site Near Calca in Cusco

Ultima actualización en 26 September, 2026 por Jhon Quispe

Last Updated on 26 September, 2026 by Jhon Quispe

Ankasmarka is much quieter than the major Sacred Valley archaeological parks, but its architecture tells a different story. Rather than monumental temples dominating the visit, the site helps explain how highland communities lived, stored goods and moved between the valley and the surrounding Andes.

A visitor explores Ankasmarka’s circular enclosures above the Calca area.

Ankasmarka at a glance

Ankasmarka and Ancasmarca refer to the same archaeological site

You will see the site written as both Ankasmarka and Ancasmarca. Ankasmarka reflects a Quechua-based spelling commonly used locally, while Ancasmarca also appears in archaeological publications, maps and travel searches. Both names refer to the archaeological complex near Calca.

The meaning of the name is less certain. Published interpretations have connected its components with ideas such as an eagle, the color blue or a settlement or place. These should be treated as proposed Quechua interpretations rather than one definitive translation.

Ancasmarca preserves groups of circular stone structures spread across the Andean slopes.

Panoramic view of Ancasmarca’s circular stone structures spread across an Andean hillside in the Cusco region of Peru.

Ankasmarka location and how to get there

Ankasmarka lies in Calca province in the Cusco region, high above the main Sacred Valley floor near the Accha / Accha Alta area. The archaeological site is reached using the road that climbs from Calca toward Lares.

Its elevation of roughly 12,630–12,665 ft (3,850–3,860 m) places it considerably higher than Calca and much of the Sacred Valley. Weather, wind and physical effort can therefore feel different from the lower valley.

Visiting independently

You can visit Ankasmarka independently, but it requires more planning than major Sacred Valley sites such as Pisac or Ollantaytambo. Arrange your transport and return journey before leaving Calca rather than assuming vehicles will be waiting at the archaeological site.

Carry water, some cash and saved route information. Shops, reliable restrooms, guides and strong mobile data should not be assumed at the site.

Warning:

Ankasmarka sits above 12,600 ft (3,840 m). If you are not acclimated, walk slowly, hydrate and avoid turning a short archaeological visit into a strenuous hike.

What was Ankasmarka used for?

Ankasmarka should not be reduced to a group of Inca storehouses. Archaeological interpretations indicate a settlement with several overlapping functions, including domestic activity, storage, workshops, agriculture and funerary use.

Published descriptions refer to several hundred structures across the archaeological complex, although counts vary depending on which sectors and types of remains are included. This is more useful than presenting one exact number as if every structure were identical or served the same purpose.

Evidence from the area spans the Late Intermediate Period and the Inca period. Parts of the settlement therefore existed or developed before and during Inca rule rather than belonging to a single construction episode.

Circular and ovoid enclosures reveal the scale of the Ankasmarka settlement.

Circular enclosures and architecture

Many of Ankasmarka’s most visible structures have circular or ovoid plans and were built with local stone together with clay or mud-based materials. Small doorways and compact interior spaces appear repeatedly across the complex.

Other sectors contain rectangular structures, pathways and agricultural or terraced areas. The variation in architecture is important because it indicates that the settlement was not designed for one activity alone.

Storage, domestic and funerary functions

Some sectors have been associated with storage and are often compared with qolqas, the storage facilities used across the Andes for agricultural products and other goods. Local descriptions also connect storage activity with crops such as potatoes, corn and quinoa.

Other structures and sectors have been interpreted as domestic spaces, workshops or funerary contexts. Those distinctions provide a more accurate picture of Ankasmarka than describing every circular enclosure simply as an Inca granary.

What to see at Ankasmarka

• Circular and ovoid enclosures: the site’s most distinctive architectural forms.
• Rectangular structures: buildings associated with domestic or other activity areas.
• Storage sectors: spaces interpreted in connection with food and goods preservation.
• Funerary contexts: sectors archaeological interpretations associate with burial activity.
• Old paths and road remains: evidence of connections between the Sacred Valley and higher Andean zones.
• Terraced Andean landscape: broad views across cultivated slopes and highland terrain around Calca.

A local stream known as Cha’ipa runs beside part of the archaeological area, while traces of older routes remain visible in the surrounding landscape. These features help explain Ankasmarka’s position between lower agricultural zones and higher pastoral areas.

Archaeological remains overlook cultivated slopes and high-Andean terrain near Calca.

The Ankasmarka flood legend

One of the most distinctive traditions connected with Ankasmarka appears in the sixteenth-century writings of Cristóbal de Molina. In the story, llamas become distressed because they know a great flood is approaching. Their behavior alerts a shepherd, who gathers his children, food and livestock and climbs a high hill called Ancasmarca.

As the waters rise, the hill is said to rise with them and remain above the flood. After the water recedes, the hill returns to its place and the surviving family descends to repopulate the region.

Another version of the tradition describes the Creator warning a small number of respected people so they could seek refuge before the flood. These accounts belong to Andean oral tradition as recorded during the colonial period and should be understood as cultural narratives rather than archaeological explanations for the site.

Planning your Ankasmarka visit

Visit time and visitor services

Plan about 1 hour for a straightforward visit or up to 2 hours if you want more time for photography, interpretation and breaks. The archaeological visit itself is relatively short, but transportation from Cusco or Calca makes the overall outing considerably longer.

Visitor infrastructure is limited. Do not rely on finding a full visitor center, shops, dependable restrooms, ATMs or a consistent mobile signal beside the archaeological complex.

Altitude and weather

At more than 12,600 ft (3,840 m), Ankasmarka is significantly higher than much of the Sacred Valley floor. Strong sun, wind and rapid temperature changes can make conditions feel more demanding than they do in Calca below.

Drier conditions are generally more common from approximately May through October, while wetter months can affect road and walking conditions. Seasonal patterns are not guarantees, so check the forecast and local road conditions close to your visit.

Do not depend on mobile data for navigation once you reach the highland access area. Save essential directions before leaving Calca.

Keep this in mind:

Ankasmarka is a fragile archaeological site. Do not climb on walls, move stones, remove ceramics or other archaeological material, or enter unstable structures.

Combining Ankasmarka with the Sacred Valley

Ankasmarka fits most naturally into a day focused on the Calca side of the Sacred Valley. Pisac, Taray and Calca are geographically more logical companions than destinations on the opposite side of Cusco.

The best combination depends on where you are staying, whether you have private transportation and how much time you want at each stop. For broader regional planning, use the Sacred Valley travel guide rather than turning the Ankasmarka visit into a full valley itinerary.

Plan an Ankasmarka visit around the Calca side of the Sacred Valley

Ankasmarka works best when transportation is arranged before you leave Calca because it is not a major tourist hub with frequent return services. A short archaeological visit can therefore require considerably more planning than its 1–2 hours on site might suggest.

Frequently asked questions about Ankasmarka