6-Hour Cusco City Tour with Qoricancha and Sacsayhuamán
About This Tour
This half-day City Tour in Cusco is ideal for acclimatizing while gaining an introduction to the history and legacy of the Inca culture. Visit the most importan...
Duration: 6 Hours · Tour type: Shared · Activity level: Easy · Accommodation: Not included · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: No · City: Cusco · Languages: English, Spanish
Know before you go: Please note that food is not included.; This experience is suitable for all ages.
About Cusco
Cusco
Incan treasures burst from the streets of Cusco, while local local guides launch expeditions to the iconic trails of Machu Picchu and Peruvian Andes. Put simply: this one’s not to be missed!
What's Included
- Pick up from the hotel.
- Tourist transport.
- Professional English and Spanish guide.
Not Included
- Tips, snacks, food, and services not mentioned in the inclusions.
- Entrance fees to all tourist attractions (Partial Tourist Ticket: S/70.00 foreign adult, S/40.00 Peruvian adult. Entrance fee to Qoricancha: S/20.00. It is important to bring cash in soles to purchase entrance tickets. Children under 10 years old do not pay entrance fees).
Itinerary
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1Day 01
Cusco City Tour Through Inca History and Archaeological Sites
In the morning or afternoon, according to your chosen schedule, we will pick you up from your hotel and/or accommodation 15 minutes before the tour starts. We will begin the tour at the imposing Plaza de Armas of Cusco, starting at the emblematic fountain, where the guide will give a brief introduction to the most important points of the square, highlighting the majestic Cathedral. Later, we will walk along one of Cusco's narrow streets to the Inca Palace of Qoricancha, where the Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán is also located. In Inca times, this was considered the most important palace built for the Sun God. At the end of the visit, we will board our tourist bus, which will take us to the four archaeological sites located around the city of Cusco. We will first arrive at the archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán, strategically built on a nearby mountain from where you can see the entire city of Cusco. It is famous for its megalithic limestone stones, some of which are 9 metres high and weigh approximately 100 tonnes. The Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun, is held here every year. Next, we will visit the archaeological site of Qenqo, whose name means labyrinth or zigzag. It served a purely religious function, and it is believed that the Incas mummified their dead here. On the outside, it has a semicircular enclosure with trapezoidal niches and a monolith shaped like a puma, measuring approximately six metres. Afterwards, we will continue to the archaeological site of Puka Pukara, which means "red fortress," since the limestone stones with which this site was built have acquired the reddish colour of the terrain. This place served as a strategic control point for people entering the city of Cusco in Inca times. Finally, we will visit the archaeological site of Tambomachay, or "tambo," meaning a place of supply and rest. These were strategically located along the network of Inca roads. Here, we can also see water fountains used for religious or supply purposes, as well as niches that housed mummies and offerings - a truly magical place. At the end of our tour, we will return to our transport, which will take us back to the city of Cusco and leave us at a point near Plaza de Armas, thus ending the tour. For morning departures, arrival in Cusco is scheduled around 2:30 p.m. For afternoon departures, the return will be at approximately 6:30 p.m. End of services.
Meeting Point
Meeting point: Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Perú · Tour start: Cusco, Perú — Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
