The seeds of Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) from Colombia were analyzed for their main chemical composition. Sacha inchi seeds (SIS) were rich in oil (41.4%) and protein (24.7%). The main minerals present in SIS were potassium (5563.5 ppm), magnesium (3210 ppm) and calcium (2406 ppm). A fatty acid analysis revealed that alpha-linolenic (50.8%) and linoleic (33.4%) acids were the main fatty acids in Sacha inchi oil (SIO). The lipid fractionation of SIO, obtained by solid phase extraction, yielded mainly neutral lipids (97.2%), and lower amounts of free fatty acids (1.2%) and phospholipids (0.8%). The physicochemical properties of the oil include: saponification number 185.2; iodine value 193.1; density 0.9187 g/cubic cm, refractive index 1.4791 and viscosity of 35.4 mPa.s. The melting profiles of SIO were characterized by the presence of one wide endothermic peak with a melting enthalpy of 23.2 J/g. Our results indicate that Sacha inchi is an important new crop with applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.