Explore the captivating history of Cusco on a guided city tour! Visit ancient Inca royal baths, the impressive Sacsayhuaman fortress, and the sacred Qoricancha temple. Discover the unique blend of Inca heritage and colonial architecture that makes Cusco one of South America’s top destinations.
Season: All year.
Marvel at the colossal stone walls of this ancient fortress, showcasing incredible Inca engineering, with breathtaking views over Cusco and a vibrant history of grand ceremonies and battles.
Explore the Temple of the Sun, once the richest in the Inca Empire, adorned with gold, now a fusion of Inca and Spanish colonial architecture, steeped in historical significance.
Discover the mysterious labyrinthine paths and ceremonial chambers of this intriguing archaeological site, where ancient rituals honoring Pachamama were performed, carved directly into natural rock formations.
Visit the “Red Fortress,” a military ruin with multiple terraces and walls, offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding Andean landscape, illustrating the strategic prowess of the Incas.
Experience the tranquil “Bath of the Inca,” featuring sophisticated aqueducts, canals, and waterfalls, believed to be a royal spa or a site dedicated to water worship and fertility rites.
Where Inca and Colonial Structures Merge to Form a Unique City
We pick you up at your hotel with your guide and private transportation. Our first stop will be Cusco’s main square
Immerse yourself in the vibrant heart of Cusco with River Explorers, surrounded by colonial arcades, stunning cathedrals, and lively markets. This historic plaza pulses with energy, blending rich Incan heritage with Spanish colonial charm, a perfect cultural crossroads.
Once we leave the Main Square, we head towards Koricancha and Santo Domingo Monastery while your guide gives a wide explanation about the different hitoric buildings along the way. including the Loreto Street. The fascinating walls of Loreto street was once Amarukancha, an Inca palace, built for one of the Inca kings. This palace was probably restricted to admitting only the royals.
Moving on, you will soon see the back of our next site, The Koricancha, including a nice view over the city. Heading to the doorway of the complex, you will have a full explanation about this Inca marvel.
Koricancha was intended to house the temples of the sun, Venus, lightning, the moon and the rainbow. The stone walls were covered with gold plates of 3 feet, the interior of the principal chamber, the room for the sun, was covered with gold and had a massive plate image of the Sun. The soldier Pedro Cieza de León mentioned Koricancha as “The Golden Garden” and he described it having “… a garden where the earth was swelling of fine gold, and it was carefully planted with golden stalks and leaves of corn. There were statues of golden llamas with their lamps plus a metal guardian shepherds”
Next we jump into our bus taking us on a 20 minutes drive with great vistas of Cusco to one of the most iconic sites in all Cusco city – Sacsayhuaman. Your guide will walk you through the fortress and will answer questions and describe the history behind this astonishing fortress. Sacsayhuaman is an impressive construction built with giant carved rocks attached to each other with perfect accuracy. The primary walls are made with stones, of which some weighing more than 200 tons and measuring 2.5 meters – 8.2 feet width and 5 meters – 16.4 feet height.This monumental Incan fortress is without doubt one of the greatest construction works of the whole Inca Empire.
After having fully enjoyed Sacsayhuaman, we will drive for 4 minutes to the enigmatic temple of Qenqo. This place is a unique site composed of tunnels, platforms, stairs, a semicircular amphitheater and one peculiar zigzagged canal carved out in the rock that possibly served to carry water, chicha (Incan beer) or blood used for rituals. The main piece of Qenqo is an elevated sculpted rock with the shape of a puma and measuring more than 5.5 meters – 18 feet. Because of its form, Qenqo is named as the amphitheater.
Ten minutes from Qenqo is Puca Pucara, a quechua word that means Red Fortress. Some archaeologists believe that this place was a hunting shelter or storage-house used by the Inca king while others understand the complex was a fortress. However, this place has the characteristic of a fort because of its location overlooking the valley below, also having defensive walls shaped using the natural characteristics of the place.
Walking a few minutes further from Puca Pucara, your guide will take you to Tambomachay, better known as the Inca’s Bath. It is composed of two fountains with constant running water, building walls connected by a stone stairway, and 4 compartments of 2 meters – 6.6 feet. Some archaeologists believe that this complex was a special bath for the Inca and the Ñusta (the queen).
On the way back to Cusco, we will stop at the Cristo Blanco (White Jesus) that offers panoramic views of Cusco including the Plaza de Armas (Cusco main square), the Cathedral and the districts that surround the historic center of Cusco.
The 3 hour tour of Cusco’s fascinating history and culture ends. Drop-off at your hotel.
You can also learn about our Cusco Day Tours!
Private Transportation: Enjoy the comfort and convenience of private transportation, ensuring a personalized experience as you travel seamlessly between Cusco’s iconic sites in a secure and luxurious vehicle.
English Speaking Guide: Benefit from the expertise of an English-speaking guide, who brings Cusco’s rich history to life with fascinating stories and insights, making each site visit more meaningful and engaging.
Entrance Fees to All Sites: Skip the hassle of ticket lines with included entrance fees, granting you easy access to Cusco’s top attractions, from majestic Sacsayhuaman to the serene Tambomachay.
Meals: Meals are not provided as part of the package deal
Gratuities: To show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of your guides, it is customary to leave a gratuity of 10% of the total package price per person.
Accomodation: Accommodation is not included in the package price, so participants will need to make their own hotel reservations.
