In the beautiful city of Cusco in Peru, once the heart of the Inca Empire, there is a fascinating legend about the mysterious Sacsayhuamán “chincanas”, or underground caves. This ceremonial and political fortress was made approximately in the 15th century by the Inca Pachacutec. The architecture of Sacsayhuaman is fascinating, with stones over 2.5 meters, 90 and 125 tons stones fit perfectly to each other, it’s one of the most visited archaeological sites you can find in a Cusco city tour.
When you get there, you’ll see the view of Cusco, which is amazing. During your time to visit Sacsayhuaman, try to identify the puma shape that our city has, which is more visible in the dry season. It’s intriguing that the term “chincana” comes from the Quechua word meaning “hide.”
This name fits these tunnels perfectly, don’t you think? These passages have captivated many, they are popular with tourists and researchers. Their mystery invites all to explore and learn more about this site Both historical and modern stories tell us that these tunnels are a network of passageways.
They likely connect to major Inca ceremonial centers and temples, as well as other important pre-Columbian sites. Adventurers, treasure hunters, and historians have all been fascinated with these chincanas and their stories circulate about massive buried treasures and undiscovered paths through the Andes. Stay with us to learn more about this fascinating Peruvian legend.
Types of Chincana
In Sacasayhuaman you’ll find two kinds of Chincanas, first, we have “La Chincana chica” 150 meters from the Saqsayhuaman slyppery, as its name implies, is the smallest chincana, it’s easy to access by everyone and its road is short.
“La Chincana Grande” is also called “piedra cansada” or tired stone in English, it’s located 200 meters from the small one, and it’s strictly prohibited to enter into this cave due to the legends we’ll tell you later.
The origin of these mysterious caves is still unknown, these mysterious caves, carved into limestone rock, it is also unclear whether they were created by the Incas or a civilization preceding them like the pre-Inca cultures. The purpose of why they were constructed is also unknown, which adds more mystery and secrecy to these caves.
Chincanas in Inca Culture
The Inca empire was the largest in all of Latin America at its highest point of power. The Incas controlled territories that are today part of Chile and Argentina. Cusco City was their capital, an administrative, and political point of view. The legend has it that the chincanas served as strategic routes or treasure hideouts. Some say these tunnels allowed Incas contact with the “apus”, or mountain spirits.
However, the real purpose of why these tunnels have been made is a mystery. It is said that people who entered this chincana without prior knowledge of its complexity often got lost, hence the name “place where one gets lost.” The chincanas are a dangerous, fascinating part of the fortress, they are also vast, so you could get lost inside.
The Legends
One popular legend is about a group of students in the early 20th century. The story varies as many say that they were adventurers, Peruvian University San Marcos students, or foreign backpackers. They embarked on the mission to solve the chincana mystery, so they entered into the caverns of “Chincana Grande.”
Equipped with ropes, hooks, and candles, they prepared for the possibility of encountering natural traps that some stories say are camouflaged in the darkness or set by the Incas to protect their secrets—traps like falls of more than 200 meters. Many months passed without any news of the adventurers, and it was assumed that they died inside the caves.
During a mass at the Church of Santo Domingo, a solid object struck the church walls, interrupting the celebration. The mass was interrupted, and the attendees identified the source of the sound, which seemed to come from behind a recently erected wall. When they managed to break down the wall, they saw a cavern that disappeared into the darkness and an old man with a disheveled beard. He died shortly after being found.
The surprise came when they identified him as one of the young adventurers who had dared to explore the underground world months earlier. The amazement grew when they saw that he was firmly clutching a solid gold corn cob in one hand. Since that time, the entrances to the great chincana are now sealed, and the mystery of the church that seemingly holds the initial entrance to this underworld remains. It is said that the tunnels contain endless paths, much like the stories of people lost within them.
It is known that many foreigners who attempted to enter the passages and caves in the area never returned to daylight. The indigenous people say that anyone who desecrates the secret underground world will never return alive or sane. There are also rumors that during the festivals of priests and shamans chosen by Pachamama, they are seen in these caves with the descendants of the Incas who still inhabit the underworld.
In 1923, an archaeological expedition to the tunnels was organized in Lima, entering through Cusco. The expedition headed toward the Pacific coast, and after several days, contact was lost with several members. After 12 days, only one of the three returned, the survivor spoke of strange turns, obstacles, and traps in the style of Indiana Jones. The most surprising part of his story was that his colleagues claimed the events had driven him mad. To prevent future loss of life in the tunnels, the police blew up the entrance.
A network of man-made tunnels beneath the city was found by rescue squad members during the 1972 Lima earthquake. Archaeological teams were shocked to find an underground network during later examinations that has some routes that go far into the Andes and connect the city below. Harold Wilkins mentioned a strange network in his 1940 book Mysteries of Ancient South America and the Secret Ancient Cities in South America. It seems to link all of the continent’s archeological sites together.
Theories and Researches
Several chroniclers have published narratives of the Inca Chinkanas, and there is an idea that one of them may be related to the “Coricancha” or temple of the sun. The most important theory comes thanks to Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, a “mestizo” Peruvian writer, and his most important work “Comentarios Reales de los Incas”. About the chincanas, he said the following:
“A network of underground hallways as long as the towers themselves were all linked. The system was made up of streets and avenues that branch out in all directions, each with the same door. Some of the tunnels reached Cusco, three kilometers away, connecting Saqsaywamán to the Qoricancha and other structures.” Other tunnels reached deep into the Andes, but no one knew where they led.”
Similarly, The Jesuit priest Agnelio Oliva wrote that Huayna Cápac was credited with building an underground labyrinth, Chincana. It had exits to frontier roads, bridges, fortresses, and other buildings. In 2003, international media highlighted a large, two-kilometer-long tunnel beneath Cusco. This renewed interest in research on the area’s labyrinths.
According to these researchers, the chincanas might be just the beginning of an underground network that would connect the most important points of the Tahuantinsuyo. One of these passages is said to run from Sacsayhuamán to the Qorikancha. The purpose of this network might have been to protect their deities and possibly to hide riches, it seemed also a secret communication system for the entire Empire. The tunnels would extend to the jungle and Quito in the north. To the south, they would pass through Bolivia and the Atacama Desert in Chile.
We hope you can learn more about Chincanas, Sacsayhuaman, and Cusco when you visit Peru! Remember that Viagens Machu Picchu can help you set up your dream travel to our country. Contact our consultants and start living your Peruvian dream!
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