The Wiñay Wayna Ruins

James Bustamante( Travel Writer )

James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.

www.journeymachupicchu.com

Last Updated on February 18, 2021 by James Bustamante

The Wiñay Wayna ruins are a set of stone buildings put together during the reign of the Inca empire. This construction is one of many that were built and have been hidden under the deep lush rainforest for many years. It can now be visited while you are on your way to the Machu Picchu hike.

What Does Wiñay Wayna Mean?

The hike to Wiñay Wayna is something special out of all the adjacent hikes to Machu Picchu. The ruins are named after a species of orchid that grows in this cloud forest region of Peru. The name Wiñay Wayna is ”Quechua”, the language of the Inca, and it translates to “forever young.”

Where is Wiñay Wayna?

Wiñay Wayna is an Inca archeological site whose name means “forever young”. This Inca construction can be found at an elevation of 2,700 meters (9,000 feet) above sea level to the Southwest of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.

Winay Wayna can be seen between the landmarks of  Pututamarca and Intipunku (The Sun Gate to Machu Picchu).

What Was Winay Wayna Used for?

These ruins were created by the Inca empire and date back to the 1st century. The exact purpose of the ruins along with the terraces is a difficult thing to pinpoint.

The Inca did write down their history or accomplishments because Quechua at the time was not a written language. As with many other Inca constructions and temples, Wiñay Wayna may have been multi-faceted and used as a fortress, a look-out point, an agricultural site as well as a religious temple.

It is also speculated that it was created as a type of rest stop for the Inca royalty making their way to the stone city of Machu Picchu which was still some distance away. Around 26 miles (41 km). 

The ruins can be described as having multiple levels. This Incan architecture has an interesting layout with a stone staircase and curvatures around the stones. The upper portion has a particular circular building.

The lower portion of Wiñay Wayna has small peaks and jagged walls. The actual stairs, which seem rather steep, that connect the two levels connect to the water fountains which were also laid out here.

Who Built Wiñay Wayna?

The ruins were built by the Inca empire of course. If you stop to think about it, the Inca built all this with a limited assortment of tools.

Wiñay Wayna as well as many other Incan constructions were built in this high elevation area with nothing more than the same instruments used during the bronze age.

The Inca made up for the lack of tools with a larger quota of workers of course. The many tribes that were conquered by the Inca most likely assisted in the construction of this structure as well as many more.

Description of The Ruins

Wiñay Wayna is a two-part structure with separate constructions placed on different levels. One is set over the other similar to a staircase.

The levels of the Wiñay Wayna ruins are connected through a staircase. After climbing up to Winay Wayna you can look down and see the terraces that the Inca used for agriculture

Wiñay Wayna can be recognized by the trapezoidal forms found on the construction, similarly to the trapezoidal windows found in the Machu Picchu sanctuary.

Upon closer inspections, researchers also found around 10 water fountains scattered throughout the ruins. These were used for water rituals, bathhouses and even had the purpose of irrigation.

The Inca had a strong understanding of agriculture and the importance it had in maintaining such a large empire.

How to Get to Wiñay Wayna Ruins

If you want to get to the Wiñay Wayna ruins then the best way is by taking the classic 4 day Inca trail. If we leave from Piscacucho, we should be getting to the ruins on exactly day 3 of the hike to Machu Picchu.

During the route to the ruins you will have the opportunity to visit local Andean communities like Huayllabamba, Chachabamba, and Cusichaca. 

The surrounding landscapes are nothing to scoff at either, just like the rest of the hike, the ruins are set in the middle of a picturesque setting. 

 Wiñay Wayna is located in the cloud forest, a section of land that is a mix of Andean elevation but with lush green rainforest features. It is a midway point between the Andes mountains and the Amazon rainforest so it provides a unique microclimate.

This area is definitely off the beaten path with only a few tourists visiting each day and only those coming through via the Inca trail on their way to Machu Picchu.

Wiñay Wayna Weather

Wiñay Wayna is located in the highlands in Peru, which means that it has the same climate as you would get in Machu Picchu or even Cusco.

From the months of December to early March you can expect the rainy season. From late March to August you will have the dry season in the Peruvian highlands.

September, October, and November will have showers but nothing too heavy, except early morning showers and windy afternoons. May – July are the best months to visit Winay Wayna as with any hike that leads to a Machu Picchu tour.

Conclusion

The Wiñay Wayna ruins are a great place to visit during the course of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, it is about as far off from civilization as you can imagine so don’t look for a lot of foot traffic here.

You can visit this Inca structure as well as several other ruins during your Machu Picchu travel package that includes the Inca trail. If you are interested in booking contact our travel advisers today.

Frequently Asked Questions about Wiñay Wayna?