Half Day Tour Exploring the Cusco City

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. After the pick up at the meeting point at the Main Square. The group will go through the colonial street until Qoricancha. Our tour will begin there. Qoricancha, the most sacred Inca temple, once covered in gold to honor the Sun God, Inti. Spanish conquerors later built the Santo Domingo Convent on its foundations, creating a striking contrast between Inca engineering and colonial architecture. Here, you will learn about the temple’s astronomical significance and its role in Inca religious ceremonies.

   40 min

2. The next stop is Sacsayhuamán, the Inca fortress above Cusco. One of the most impressive Inca constructions. This massive fortress, built with enormous stones that fit together perfectly without mortar, offers a panoramic view of Cusco. The site was not only a military stronghold, but also a place of major ceremonies, including the famous Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) celebrated every June in Cusco.

   40 min

3. We'll continue exploring Q'enqo:The Sacred Labyrinth, a mystical place with rock carvings, underground tunnels, and a ceremonial altar. It's thought that this place was used for religious and astronomical purposes, and it might have been a part of important Inca rituals, like offerings to the Pachamama (Mother Earth).

   40 min

4. Next, we'll see Puka Pukara, an old military and administrative site that controlled access to Cusco. This fortress was a place where travelers could rest and find shelter. It's also thought that the Inca nobility might have stayed here on their way to the empire's sacred sites.

   40 min

5. Our last stop is at Tambomachay, a beautifully designed ceremonial center dedicated to water worship. The site features aqueducts, canals, and waterfalls that have been flowing for centuries, demonstrating the Inca's advanced hydraulic engineering. After exploring these incredible sites, we return to Cusco, ending the tour near the Plaza de Armas. This is a perfect location to continue discovering the city on your own!

   40 min

Cancellation

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

Reviews

Ratings come from 3 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 85% below the median of the 4460 experiences we list in Cusco.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 2103 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.

See all 4460 experiences in Cusco