Patallaqta

Patallaqta (Quechua pata = elevated place / above, llaqta = place (village, town, city, country, nation), hispanicized spelling Patallacta), Llaqtapata (Llactapata) or Q'inti Marka; is an archaeological site in Machupicchu District. It is situated southeast of the site Machu Picchu, at the confluence of the rivers Kusichaka and Willkanuta on a mountain named Patallaqta.

On his way to discover Machu Picchu (at: 13°13′57″S 72°25′30″W) Hiram Bingham, discoverer of Machu Picchu and many other Incan sites, passed Patallaqta, sometimes given the name of Llaqtapata as evidenced by the photograph of a sign from a check-point along the Inca trail. His associate Mr. Herman Tucker reported that the name of the town was Patallacta containing about one hundred houses. Above it were several important sites including Wayllapampa. This site is located 1.5 km (1 mi) from the start of the "Classic Inca Trail" which begins at Km 88.

This site housed a large number of occupants, including travellers and soldiers who manned the nearby "hill fort" of Willkaraqay, and a shrine with rounded walls known as Pulpituyuq that had religious and ceremonial functions.

Patallaqta was burned by Manco Inca Yupanqui, who destroyed a number of settlements along the Inca road system during his retreat from Cusco in 1536 to discourage Spanish pursuit. In part due to these efforts, the Spanish never discovered the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or any of its settlements.