Puca Pucara (Puka Pukara)

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The "Red Fort"

Puca Pucara, meaning "Red Fortress" is located along the road from Cuzco to Antisuyo, not far from another site, Tambomachay. The fortification is believed to have been some sort of checkpoint of military importance.

The complex comprises of warehouses, contains springs and aqueducts, homes.

It is very close to Tambomachay and it is rarely visited by tourists, not even known to "mainstream tourists", they only "hunt" the major destinations in the area.

Overall it's not impressive to the common tourist, but if you're interested in Inca architecture, then you can get there easily. It's only 9 km northeast from Cuzco, if you'd get a ride with a car, you'll be there in half an hour, on foot about 2 hours.

Puca Pucara has reddish walls, this is why it is called this way.

The fort has remains of what seemed to have been watchtowers, it has interior squares, staircases and aqueducts.

Puca Pucara could have had a military purpose, also due to the fact that it has very high walls. Like the Incas would have built it for defensive purposes.

The proximity to Tambomachay is also important. The Inca ruler is said to have left part of his army, followers at Puca Pucara, whenever he was visiting the Tambomachay baths.

You won't find much writing about Puca Pucara, maps are rare and don't present the site in detail, it would be important though, because its walls are strategically placed, the site seems to have had some special defensive function.