Cusco City Tour half day

This tour is highly recommended to start discovering the Cusco city. The visit begins at the Qoricancha Temple, this is a perfectly preserved building that combines masterfully  Inca and colonial architecture, as well as 4 archaeological centers that are located on the outskirts of the city. You can choose to do this tour in the morning or in the afternoon. Therefore, we recommend that you enjoy this adventure without worries and leave everything in our hands!

• • Departures: every day
  • Duration: Half day (Morning: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.)
  • Maximum height: Archaeological Center of Tambomachay (3,700 msnm / 12,139 ft).
  • type of tour: Short walks and transfer in tourist transport.
  • level of difficulty; Easy.
  • Type: Cultural/Histórical.
  • Service: 

• Group
• Private.

SHORT ITINERARY

• Cusco – Qoricancha – Sacsayhuaman – Qenqo – Pukapukara - Tambomachay - Cusco
• Pick up from the hotel or at a central point (location) in the city.
• Visit to the Qoricancha Temple or Temple of the Sun.
• Transfer in our tourist transport to the main archaeological centers.
• Guided tour inside the archaeological centers of: Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pukapukara and Tambomachay.
• Return to the city of Cusco.

Note: this time indicated are for refrence

We will start this tour, at the agreed time, from the meeting point. You must bear in mind that we will make a guided tour at each of the points of this trip. First we will go to the Qoricancha or Temple of the Sun (3,390 masl/ 12,139 ft), located very close to the main square of Cusco, there you will be able to have the first impressions of the fine Inca architecture. The place has enclosures of solid stone walls, perfectly united. Inside you can also appreciate the collection of canvases from the Cusqueña School belongs to XVIII century.

We will continue the visit in our tourist transport to the outskirts of the city. On the way we will be able to observe the panoramic views of Cusco and the surrounding nature, until we reach our destination, the Sacsayhuaman Fortress (3,700 masl), which is one of the largest archaeological sites of our visit. This place was built with perfectly assembled gigantic limestone blocks.

We will continue with to the Archaeological Site of Qenqo (3,580 masl), another ancient Inca Religious Center, which has underground tunnels and several zigzag buildings. Then we will continue our trip in our transport until we reach the Archaeological Complex of Pukapukara (3,680 masl), also known as the "Red Fortress". At sunset you can see how this construction takes on this reddish color, in it you can find passages, enclosures and terraces. It is a point that functions as a viewpoint to appreciate the surrounding natural areas from above.

A few minutes from this site, we will find the Archaeological Center of Tambomachay (3,700 masl/), a place dedicated to the worship of water. It is said that this complex served as a resting place for the Inca king. Composed of a set of aqueducts, fountains and waterfalls, perfectly built in stone, which to this day can be seen how the water flows through these channels. Finally we will return to the city of Cusco.

To learn more about the places we Will visit, we leave you this information:

Qoricancha

Also known as the Temple of the Sun, in Inca time it was considered the most important sacred shrine that worshiped the God Inti or Sun God. Built with carved stone walls, perfectly united. We can find inside small enclosures where other deities such as the moon, stars, lightning and others were worshipped.

You can also see an important collection of canvases from the Cusquenian school and an immense garden outside, as well as small water sources. This temple is located inside the colonial convent of Santo Domingo, located 2 blocks from the Plaza de Armas or the main square of the city.

 Location: It is located in the downtown area of Cusco.

Altitude: 3,390 meters above sea level.

The fortress of Sacsayhuaman

It is a colossal archaeological complex of more than 3 thousand hectares. In its construction, immense stone blocks of more than 7 meters high stand out, perfectly assembled, forming three superimposed terraces in a zigzagging way. You can also see gigantic plains where llamas and alpacas live. Built in the Inca era, it is presumed that it was a place of worship to the sun or a fortress for military purposes, where the Inca warriors were trained.

   This complex is also the scene of two traditional activities, the first one is the Inti Raymi or Fiesta del Sol, which is celebrated on June 24 and the second one is the staging of Warachicuy, a ceremony in which young people went through a series of physical tests, to pass into adulthood. It is celebrated on the third Sunday of September.

Location: It is located 2 km from the city of Cusco.

Altitude: 3,700 m / 12,139 ft above sea level.

Qenqo

Considered as a sacred shrine in Inca time . The Quechua word Qenqo means labyrinth. The reason for this name is possibly because the underground tunnels and canals found in this area are in zigzag  shape. Inside there is an altar carved in stone, which was intended for the magical religious ceremonies of the Incas.

This entire complex is surrounded by dense vegetation of eucalyptus trees, where you can see the remains of this Inca archaeological site that despite the years, still are standing.

Location: It is located 3 km from the city of Cusco.

Altitude: 3,580 meters/11,745 ft above sea level.

puka pukara

 Called the "Red Fortress",  this name is due to its red apareance,  it could serve as a checkpoint, a resting place for military groups, travelers or the Inca nobility. Today you can see the remains of terraces, canals, squares and others.

It is located in an elevated area, from where you can see the mountains and natural landscapes of Cusco.

Location: It is located 7 km from the city of Cusco.

Altitude: 3,680 meters above sea level.

Tambomachay

Also known as the "Water Temple". Its hilghliths of this place is an incredible hydraulic system, which shows the important concepts that the Incas had in architecture and engineering. It its preesumed that one of the most important functions was the worship of water,   but also to be a resting place for the Inca nobility. It has underground channels that carry a constant flow of water and is surrounded by extensive walls, terraces, and temples.

to this day we can appreciate the harmony of this construction with nature. Since you enter you can hear the flow of water and the presence of abundant vegetation in the surroundings. There are slightly elevated areas that you can climb to enjoy the landscapes and if you want also to take panoramic pictures.

Location: It is located 8 km from the city of Cusco.

Altitude: 3,700 meters above sea level.

OPTIONAL-CUSCO CATHEDRAL

 you can add this option  to the Cusco City Tour - Half day.

  CUSCO CATHEDRAL

It is the main temple of Cusco and the most imposing and striking construction of the Plaza de Armas or main square of the city. The whole construction has a Gothic-Renaissance style, with Baroque influence. Lefting see in its construction the mixture of the Inca culture with the Spanish. It is connected to two smaller churches that are located one on each side: the Triunfo and the Sagrada Familia.

Its facade is the most outstanding with two towers on top, in one of them is one of the largest bells in South America, called "María Angola". This temple houses ostentatious altars, historical relics, statues and hundreds of paintings from the Cusco school, visiting this places you Will discover the jewels of ancient Cusco.

 For more information about this option, contact us. We will be happy to customize your trip:

Note: to enter this attraction, you must pay the entrance ticket.

INCLUDED:

• Tourist transport.
• Bilingual professional guide. (Spanish and English).

NOT INCLUDED:

• General or Partial Tourist Ticket. It allows you to enter most attractions. Keep in mind that prices may vary depending on your nationality or other conditions.
• Entrance to the Temple of Qoriqancha.
• Meals.
• Tips.
• Travel insurance.

Additional Information

During Cusco City Tour, we can find varied climates for that reason we recommend you to bring:

General:

• Passport .
• Comfortable walking shoes.
• Light backpack to carry personal belongings.
• Cell phone / Camera.
• Personal snacks.
• Personal medications.

 For cold or rain:

• Warm clothes.
• Rainwear/Rain poncho.

For the Sun:

• Sunscreen
• Sun protection lenses.
• Sun Hat.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Here are some recommendations for you to consider before the Cusco City Tour:

• Before your trip to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, or the Humantay Lagoon. This is the perfect tour for you to acclimatize to Cusco city, it can be done the same day you arrive your arrival in the Cusco City or on the first days.
• To enter the archaeological centers it is mandatory to have your General or Partial Tourist Ticket, since at each of these points you will be asked for this pass.
• We will do most of the tour in our tourist transport. Therefore, the walks will be short and you will not need to have previous physical preparation.
• It is a tour that is recommended for children and adults. Because the degree of difficulty is minimal

Group service: 15 usd per person,  you wil join a group tour, it could be bilingual languaje

Private service: the price depend of the number of people