Hello bloggers! Today we’re going to talk about 3 hidden gems from the Inca, Colonial, and Republican periods. Learn more about these 3 hidden treasures of Cusco that every traveler should visit. Read more on our blog in Portuguese.
Checacupe Colonial Bridge:
Built in the 17th century in Cusco, this bridge is made of stone and mortar, forming a semicircular arch supported by solid natural rock walls. The bridge crosses the Pitumarca River, and adjacent to it, you can see the foundations of an Inca bridge and a railway bridge from the Republican era.
The colonial bridge is located over the Ausangate or Pitumayu River, along the Royal Road from Cusco to Collao. It was very useful after the collapse of the Inca bridge and before the construction of the iron bridge. Its construction is based on stonework, carved and joined with lime and stone, and cobbled paving, with perfect cohesion in the style of a Roman arch.
It is a remarkable and ingenious roadwork built on a schist rock formation. This bridge was once the only connection between the ayllus (Indigenous communities) of Checacupe and Cangalli.
The platform is also decorated with a layer of colorful pebbles artistically paved into geometric patterns, giving it an extraordinary appearance. As for the exact time of its construction, it is still debated, but it may have been built between the 12th and 18th centuries, shortly before the bridges of Combapata, Langui, Quillabamba, Quiquijana, and Saqra Chaka de Tinta.
The Checacupe Colonial Bridge, one of the first built by Spanish authorities, is located in a strategic spot, as adjacent to it are the remains of an Inca bridge and a railway bridge from the Republican era (1895).
Inca Bridge:
You won’t need to walk far to reach the first stop, but you will need to walk carefully. For now, that’s how it is — right near the entrance to Checacupe, there is an Inca base rising over the fast-flowing Pitumarca River. Although it may not seem safe, crossing it is always an adventure, letting you relive the years when the children of the Sun traveled miles to carry messages or trade goods.
This monument, often overlooked, was built between 1400 and 1448 by order of Inca Wiracocha as part of the Qhapaq Ñan road network — a royal road that connected the Qollasuyo region. The Inca foundation is original, but the rope bridge itself is periodically replaced.
Colonial Bridge:
The second stop is just next to the Inca bridge. There, in the calm and Andean atmosphere, rises a sturdy colonial bridge. Some say it was built by order of the King of Spain, Charles III, between 1759 and 1788. Others claim that anyone who wanted to use the platform for barbecues had to pay taxes imposed by the Spanish Crown and the Checacupe Council.
If you walk across its structure, you’ll notice that its stone base was carved and joined with lime, showing perfect cohesion in the style of a Roman arch — a wonderful and ingenious engineering feat for its time. Additionally, the platform is decorated with a layer of carefully placed pebbles embedded into the walls.
Republican Bridge:
Your final stop will take you to a cast-iron bridge that still serves today as the main entrance for travelers arriving by vehicle to this part of Cusco.
This is a Republican-era bridge built during the 19th century. It was across its strange surface that old coal-powered trains used to run.
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