Chinchaysuyu was the Inca suyu northwest of Cusco, extending across much of coastal Peru and Ecuador.
The Inca Empire was organized into four great regions called suyus, together known as Tawantinsuyu, meaning the realm of four parts. Chinchaysuyu occupied the northwestern quarter and was generally the most populous of the four. Its territory included the former lands of the Chimú Empire, northern coastal Peru, and large areas of the northern Andes.
At its greatest extent, Chinchaysuyu reached through much of modern Ecuador and into parts of modern Colombia. Its position made it strategically and economically important: the region connected the imperial center at Cusco with productive coastal societies, major valleys, and northern highland routes.
The name is linked to the Chincha culture of what is now Peru’s Ica Region. Chinchaysuyu is sometimes written Chinchasuyu or Chinchay Suyu, so spelling can vary. The other three suyus were Antisuyu to the east, Qullasuyu to the southeast, and Kuntisuyu to the southwest.