Itinerary
The city tour starts with hotel pick-up at approximately 1:00 pm (variable time) to head to the first tourist attraction, Qoricancha or Temple of the Sun, which was the religious center of Cusco during the Inca era. We will see original vestiges that have survived despite being integrated with colonial architecture. During our tour, we will visit different archaeological complexes:
Sacsayhuamán, which is built on the high part of Cusco and offers a view of the city. It is famous for its enormous carved stones, some of which measure 9 meters and weigh approximately 350 tons.
Q’enqo, located about 10 minutes from Sacsayhuamán, etymologically means labyrinth or zigzag. It served a purely religious function and features a semicircular amphitheater with trapezoidal niches and a monolith that resembles a puma, measuring approximately six meters.
Puka Pukara means “red fortress” because the limestone with which it is built has acquired a reddish color from the iron-rich terrain. It is believed to have had the function of protecting Tambomachay, an important palace.
Tambomachay is located about 8 km north of Cusco and close to the ruins of Puka Pukara. It is an archaeological site that was dedicated to the worship of water and served as a resting place for the Inca emperor. This place is also known as the Baths of the Inca. It consists of a series of aqueducts, canals, and several cascades of water flowing over the rocks. What is surprising is that from a main waterfall, the Incas created 2 identical secondary waterfalls. At the end of the tour, we will leave you one block away from the Plaza de Armas at approximately 6:30 pm.
Includes/Does Not Include
Includes:
- Pick-up from your hotel or hostel and drop-off near the Plaza de Armas of Cusco at the end of the tour
- Professional guides
- Tourist transportation
- 750 ml bottle of water
Does Not Include:
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Foreign Tourist Ticket (cost varies from 130 soles for 10 days or 70 soles for the partial ticket valid for only 2 days)
- National Tourist Ticket (cost varies from 70 soles for 10 days or 40 soles for the partial ticket valid for only 2 days)
- Entrance ticket to Andahuaylillas Temple (15 soles)
Price
$15 per person
What to Bring
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Warm clothing
- Identification documents or passport
- Rain poncho according to the season
- Snacks
- Extra cash in soles
- Good mood