El Fuerte de Samaipata
On top of a mountain ten kilometres from the town of Samaipata is a national part and UNESCO site called El Fuerte de Samaipata. "El Fuerte" is the name given it by the Spanish, who thought the site must have been a fuerte, or fortress. It wasn't. Originally it was settled by the Chané, followed by the Inca and Spanish. The picture above is a Spanish construction.
I followed Lynda's directions to a taxi stand in Samaipata and had just enough Spanish to negotiate a trip to El Fuerte. A white knuckle drive.
Like many parks in South America, the entrance fee depends on whether you´re a native, from a MERCOSUR country, or a foreigner.
Like many parks in South America, the entrance fee depends on whether you´re a native, from a MERCOSUR country, or a foreigner.
You'd figure a fortress up here would be easy to defend.
The ruins aren't all together. They are spread out over the mountain.
"Carved rock: From this point we can see the carvings of two cats each in a circular lifting. A third cat is almost in front of the Inca wall superimposed on the rock.
"The Inca wall is buit of well-cut stones. On the west side has three double jamb niches and back three simple niches. Based on these details we can say that this is a typical Inca walls. This wall in its southern part cuts or is superimoised over an older carving, this means that these prints were not made by the Incas, but by other groups or older cultures.
"Behind the wall are well marked two parallel channel. On its sides are accompanied by fine incisions in a double zigzag, forming contiuous diamond. The original function of these carvings was aparently ritual, as they hae the appearance of a live snake while the water flows through them. For this reason the se is named "The Snake Rock."
"The Inca wall is buit of well-cut stones. On the west side has three double jamb niches and back three simple niches. Based on these details we can say that this is a typical Inca walls. This wall in its southern part cuts or is superimoised over an older carving, this means that these prints were not made by the Incas, but by other groups or older cultures.
"Behind the wall are well marked two parallel channel. On its sides are accompanied by fine incisions in a double zigzag, forming contiuous diamond. The original function of these carvings was aparently ritual, as they hae the appearance of a live snake while the water flows through them. For this reason the se is named "The Snake Rock."
"Chorus of Priests:
"At the highest point of the hill there is a circle carved deep into the rock, which outer diameter is about 7 meters, called 'Chorus of Priests.' In the outer wall have been carved nine rectangular niches or chairs and the same number or triangular niches, interspersed with each other. In the inner cone there are nine rectangular niches and in the vertical wallthere are nine rectangular niches with double jambs."
"At the highest point of the hill there is a circle carved deep into the rock, which outer diameter is about 7 meters, called 'Chorus of Priests.' In the outer wall have been carved nine rectangular niches or chairs and the same number or triangular niches, interspersed with each other. In the inner cone there are nine rectangular niches and in the vertical wallthere are nine rectangular niches with double jambs."
A pre-Spanish construction, and next to it (below) remains from the Spanish settlement.
Looking downhill from the ruins shown above. People were napping under the trees.
A quiet--and flat!--Bolivian nature trail on the mountain.
After two hours I was back at the park entrance. There's my driver's jeep waiting for me!