The Tambomachay 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 23, 2021 by James Bustamante

The Tambomachay ruins are another great place to visit while you are in the Peruvian highlands. This Inca construction is located near the city of Cusco and is the perfect destination for anyone spending a few days in the Inca city who is looking to do a little exploring.

The Tambomachay ruins added to the Machu Picchu hike and other ruins like Sacsayhuaman are the perfect combination of Andean travel.

Where is Tambomachay Located?

If we travel 6.4 km (4 miles) to the north of the city of Cusco, we will find the Tambomachay ruins. It is a high-altitude excursion into the highlands at an elevation of 3,750 meters (12,150 feet) above sea level.

The drive to the Tambomachay ruins is quick so no need to worry about spending too much time in a vehicle. This is a welcome change since several of the ruins surrounding this area can sometimes take several hours to reach.

You can find Tambomachay just off the “Carretera 28G” which takes you just outside the city of Cusco. This road leads to several Inca ruins that can be visited such as Sacsayhuaman, Puka Pukara, Q’enqo, and Tambomachay. 

Travelers notes: Make sure to properly acclimate before heading out to Tambomachay or any other Inca ruins like Sacsayhuaman or Intihuatana. Take at least the first 24 hours to rest and go through the high elevation protocol.

What is Tambomachay?

Tambomachay is a set of Inca ruins that seemed to have served a ceremonial purpose. The ceremonies appear to have been centered around the use of water.

To some, Tambomachay is known as the “Banos del Inca”, which translates to “ the Inca’s bathhouse” or “ The Inca spa.”

Researchers have not been able to fully decipher the function of this Inca structure since the Inca did not leave written records behind. Some archaeologists speculate that Tambomachay was an Inca military post or perhaps it served multiple purposes.

The entire Inca structure is separated into three different levels of terraces and has some amazing stonework. Considering that the Inca only had a few tools, the details and precision in Tambomachay as well as other Inca ruins is very advanced.

The three-part structure has trapezoidal spaces directly built into the weight supporting walls. What is more amazing is that the entire structure of the Tambomachay ruins is built directly over a natural spring.

This waterway feeds the canals, aqueducts, and even a small waterfall within the structure.

The Inca Baths

One of the theories in regards to Tambomachay is that it was in fact an Inca bathhouse. Many researchers have evidence suggesting that this stone structure was actually a type of sacred spa for Inca nobility or even the Inca ruler.

Tambomachay is located in a rather calming spot in the highlands and the surrounding landscapes are also quite tranquil, this adds to the theory that it was in fact a place for relaxation.

Water Ceremonies of The Inca

When you travel around the Sacred Valley you get to see various sites like Tambomachay that seem to revere the element of water.

This element was crucial for the Inca to have a healthy harvest so they could feed their increasingly large empire. The temples that worshipped water and the control of water had a deep ceremonial function to this ancient culture. 

Thanks to their engineering the Inca were able to gain control over water with aqueducts that would move this precious element.

The Inca would move water from springs located in the mountains down to irrigate their vast crops as well as to religious sites, similar to Tambomachay.

If we go ahead and check the Tambomachay ruins in detail, we notice certain features that give the impression that these ruins were in fact used for ceremonial purposes related to water.  

The trapezoidal sections of Tambomachay also seem to have a purpose, such as holding offerings. The Inca ruler was a very important person, so just the fact that he would use Tambomachay as a spa, to bathe himself, would count as a ceremony. 

Was Tambomachay a Military Post?

There are several groups of researchers that suggest the Tambomachay ruins were more likely used as a military post or at least “also” used for these purposes.

Federico Kauffman Doin indicates that the three-level terraces in the ruins are similar to other military bases found throughout the Inca empire and were used as a defensive structure. 

There is another Inca structure very nearby called Puka Pukara which has all but been confirmed to be a military base. The theory is that due to the proximity of the two they worked as a military lookout post.

How To get To Tambomachay?

You can take a private transport with one of our drivers along with a guide which will take only a few minutes or if you prefer you can walk to tambomachay and make it a light day hike. Below are the average times and method of traveling to the Tambomachay Ruins:

In Conclusion

The Tambomachay ruins are probably very similar to several other structures built by the Inca. The most likely scenario is that as the other, Tambomachay had multiple purposes instead of just one.

This stone structure could very well have been used as a military post, a spa for Inca nobility, and a location for water ceremonies. 

If you want to Include Tambomachay in your Machu Picchu travel package contact our travel advisers today for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tambomachay