Half Day Cusco City Tour and Archeological Park of Sacsayhuaman
3 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 1 more
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
What you can expect during your visit
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
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(888) 651-9785
Overview
Marvel at the architectural and archeological majesty of Cusco on a half-day tour of the city’s most significant sites. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, visit fascinating ruins of Qenqo; the sacred temples of Puca Pucara, and the ecclesiastical structure of the Cusco Cathedral. Admire exquisite architecture and gain insight into Peru’s alluring history on this enriching excursion.
- Half-day tour of Cusco’s archeological sites
- Visit Sacsayhuaman and be awed by its still-standing ruins and amazing view over Cusco
- See the sites of Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay
- Admire the Temple of the Sun, an important Inca religious site dedicated to their sun god
- Tour the Cathedral of Santo Domingo on Cusco’s Plaza de Armas
- Learn about the history of all the sites from your guide
After hotel pickup, relax on a scenic drive to the ancient site of Sacsayhuaman, an archeological park perched on the top of a hill. Admire spectacular city views before exploring the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site with your guide; see colossal stones crammed together to create a fortress-like structure. Decipher depictions of condors, pumas, and snakes upon the façade of the temple, enriching your knowledge of the Incan empire.
Return to your coach and continue on to Qenqo, home to an enormous sacrificial altar and sacred temple. See, too, Puca Pucara to discover the atmospheric military ruins of the site then set out to explore Tambomachay, where a series of aqueducts, moats and stolid stonewalls provided impenetrable defense from Incan attackers. Gaze upwards at the impressive Temple of the Sun, an ancient pyramid upon which resides the Convent of Santo Domingo.
Head back to the center of the city to continue your cultural exploration; stroll around the ambient and attractive Plaza de Armas before entering the sacred and spectacular Cusco Cathedral. Admire prismatic stained glass windows, classic colonial art and the Gothic grandeur of the architecture; the cathedral is home to Cusco’s oldest surviving painting, Pintura Senor de los Temblores, among other significant works.
Return to your Cusco hotel in the coach when the tour concludes.
Return to your coach and continue on to Qenqo, home to an enormous sacrificial altar and sacred temple. See, too, Puca Pucara to discover the atmospheric military ruins of the site then set out to explore Tambomachay, where a series of aqueducts, moats and stolid stonewalls provided impenetrable defense from Incan attackers. Gaze upwards at the impressive Temple of the Sun, an ancient pyramid upon which resides the Convent of Santo Domingo.
Head back to the center of the city to continue your cultural exploration; stroll around the ambient and attractive Plaza de Armas before entering the sacred and spectacular Cusco Cathedral. Admire prismatic stained glass windows, classic colonial art and the Gothic grandeur of the architecture; the cathedral is home to Cusco’s oldest surviving painting, Pintura Senor de los Temblores, among other significant works.
Return to your Cusco hotel in the coach when the tour concludes.
Itinerary
Your Cusco archeology tour starts with pickup at your hotel in a comfortable coach. With your guide, head to Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hill on the northern outskirts of Cusco.
In addition to a wonderful view over Cusco, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sacsayhuaman boasts massive stones – measuring up to 13 feet (4 meters) tall – placed tightly together, creating a fortress-like structure. As you walk around with your guide, learn about the site's history and defensive purpose. Marvel at the way the Incans built the site so soundly, and admire the different shapes and sizes of the stones, some of which have designs of the condor, puma and snake, symbols of the three Incan worlds.
Hop back on your coach and head to Qenqo (or Kenko), where you’ll see the ancient temple of Puma and its sacrificial altar, and then continue to Puca Pucara, a site of military ruins that was once used for defense of the Inca Empire. Next visit the archaeological site of Tambomachay, where a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls may have been a spa resort of wealthy Incans, followed by a stop at the Temple of the Sun (Korikancha), one of the Inca’s most important temples, on top of which sits the Convent of Santo Domingo.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Not Included
When your tour of Cusco’s surrounding sites is over, head back to the city, where you’ll visit its main square – the beautiful Plaza de Armas. Here you’ll see two striking churches – Cusco Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral of Santo Domingo) and the Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesus (the Church of the Society of Jesus).
Tour Cusco Cathedral with your guide, learning about its rich history and admiring its exquisite late-Gothic and Baroque architecture. See some of its renowned art, including Pintura Senor de los Temblores, the oldest surviving painting in Cusco.
You’ll then be returned to your Cusco hotel.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Traveler Photos
Traveler Tips
- "Work out on the step machine before coming to Peru as it seems everything is up hill, and do not forget a light rain coat as it rains sporadically but not for long at least in spring." See review
- "The rain wasn't much of a help but they try to accommodate you in every way possible." See review
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Product code: 5243CUZCT
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