Cusichaca River[1][2] (possibly from Quechua kusi delight, joy, happiness / merry, joyful, content, happy, chaka bridge,[3] "joy bridge",[4] or k'usi a cucurbit species, a small zucchini or Cucurbita pepo, "zucchini (or Cucurbita pepo) bridge"),[4] is a river in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, on the border of the districts Machupicchu and Ollantaytambo.

Its direction is mainly to the northeast along the villages Pampacahuana, Churo, Paucarcancha, Ranrapata and Incachimpa.

The Cusichaca valley is an archaeologically important region in Peru, significant for the evidence that it has provided of Inca civilization.

[6] The valley has been the subject of intensive archaeological study over many years under the direction of Dr. Ann Kendall O.B.E., of the Cusichaca Trust.

[7][8] Since its inception the trust has evolved and now also works with highland farming communities in the rehabilitation of abandoned systems of irrigation canals and agricultural terraces, along with the revitalization of other traditional technologies.