Chincana: Cusco's hidden temple passage

After centuries of legend, the stories whispered beneath Cusco’s streets are finally taking shape. Peruvian archaeologists have officially begun the excavation of a vast network of underground tunnels — known as Chincanas — believed to stretch for nearly 8 kilometers beneath the historic city center.

These passages, hidden for centuries beneath colonial buildings and modern homes, are thought to have been sealed during the Spanish conquest, leaving them remarkably preserved.

For generations, Cusqueños have spoken of mysterious openings near Sacsayhuamán and Coricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, where people reportedly entered and never returned. Chronicles from the 16th to 18th centuries also mention secret corridors used by Inca priests and nobles to move between sacred temples, hidden from the public eye.

The Qoricancha, also known as the Sun Temple, is believed to be the location of the other end of the Inca tunnel.

Early studies suggest that these tunnels could have served as ceremonial or royal passages, connecting Cusco’s most important religious sites. According to archaeologist Jorge Calero, the tunnels measure between 1 and 2.6 meters wide, with an average height of 1.6 meters — dimensions that indicate they might have been used for processions or the transport of nobles in litters.

Today, as excavation continues under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, experts believe that this discovery will shed new light on the spiritual and architectural complexity of Inca Cusco — revealing how the city’s visible splendor was once mirrored by a sacred world beneath.

Cusco, it seems, still holds secrets beneath its stones — and with each new discovery, the Inca capital continues to tell us more about its hidden past.

Explore these temples and more Cusco highlights on our Classic Cusco City tour. Contact one of our account executives for more information.