City Tour in Cusco

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. It is one of the most beautiful and significant constructions in the city of Cusco, combining unique features such as its Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles.

   1 h

2. It was, during the Inca period, a place of worship to the god Inti (the sun), a site rich in history.

   1 h

3. One of the emblematic buildings of the Inca Empire (just a few minutes from the city center and a UNESCO World Heritage site), it was built by Inca Pachacutec in the 15th century. It is an immense fortress constructed with enormous stones; the way they were transported and worked remains a mystery.

   50 min

4. What remains today of the Q'enqo archaeological complex are carved rocks that could not be destroyed by the Spanish; little remains of the paths and aqueducts, as well as the enclosures, storage areas, or liturgical baths, in addition to the great layer of gold that once illuminated the entire site.

   40 min

5. Puka Pukara had specific military purposes; it was the checkpoint for entering the city of Cusco, "The capital of the Empire." It also served as a "tambo" (resting place) for the chaskis who carried messages or packages from town to town. On the hillside, dehydrated products were stored; thanks to the strong winds, these products could be preserved for longer periods, acting like a kind of refrigerator.

   40 min

6. Tambomachay was a center of worship to water. The Incas would pray to the gods for rain to come to nourish their crops and make them fertile; for this reason, this site is also known by some as "The Temple of Fertility." It is impressive that, despite the passage of time, crystal-clear water still flows through its aqueducts. The Incas used their ingenuity to channel water from a small waterfall and split it into two cascades. Legend says that if women drink from these waters, they can conceive easily; if the water comes from the right side of the fall, they will have a male child, and if it comes from the left side, it will be a female. Tambomachay had restricted access for the local population; only the Inca and his entourage were allowed to use its facilities.

   50 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 11 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Cusco

• Its from-price is 90% below the median of the 4460 experiences we list in Cusco.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 1105 of 4460.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Cusco

Cusco, the old Inca capital high in the Peruvian Andes, blends massive stone walls with colonial churches and is the gateway to Machu Picchu.

The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city, framed by the cathedral and the Jesuit church of La Compañía. Inca stonework survives throughout the centre, most famously at the Qorikancha, the sun temple on which the Spanish built a monastery, and in the twelve-angled stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street. San Blas, the artisans' quarter, climbs steeply with workshops and cafés.

Top-ranked sights in Cusco: Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo Ruins.

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