This is a perfect half-day tour that will take exploring the best of Cusco city, visiting the most beautiful and important neighborhoods, streets, plazas, temples, and archeological sites: Amaze yourself with the magnificent architecture of the Colonial buildings lying over the Inca foundations, visit the temples and palaces of the city center. To later finish visit Saqsayhuaman, Quenqo, PukaPukara, Tambomachay.
Plaza de Armas.- Which was the center of Cusco even before the Spanish invasion in 1533, Also known as Hucaypata, is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and most of them are built over the Inca foundations. This place is full of history as this was the place where the most important events that change the course of our history took place.
Cathedral.- Located in the heart of Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, built over an Inca Palace, and designed in the Gothic-Renaissance and Baroque styles (1559 – 1654). The Cathedral of Cusco is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Took to built over 100 years, with rocks mainly carried from Sacsayhuaman. Today is a great repository of Colonial art like the famous paintings is the Last Supper by Quechua artist Marcos Zapata.
12 Angles Stone Street.- Also known Hatunrumiyoc street where we can find the twelve-angled stone, a diorite twelve-angled rock part of a wall of the palace of the Archbishop of Cuzco. The best example of Inca architecture and advanced stonework techniques.
Loreto Street.- Also called Intikijllu (the street of the Sun), a small narrow street leaving the Plaza de Armas where we can see a true masterpiece of Inca masonry.
Koricancha (The Golden Temple).- Was the most important religious site of the whole Inca Empire, the center of the world, Its original name was Intikancha but upon the Spaniard’s arrival was named Koricancha (golden temple) due to the amount of gold found inside. The Santo Domingo Church was built over this magnificent place but today is still possible to see the majestic walls of the temples inside.
Sacsayhuaman.- Located just 15 minutes drive from the city of Cusco, you’ll visit the enormous zigzagging walls of limestone, towers, shrines, warehouses, and the esplanade where the “Inti Raymi” festival takes place. You’ll get the best views of Cusco city from above. Qenqo, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara are other Archeological sites that we visit as well on this tour.
Departure every day at 1:30 pm (Can be scheduled in the morning at 9:am)
Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel at 13.30 pm and take you to discover the main attractions and learn about the history of the city of Cusco.
The first part is a walking tour stopping at the most important sites in the city, The Plaza de Armas of Cusco, The Cathedral, The 12 angled Stone street, Loreto Street, and Koricancha.
The second part starts with a short drive to the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, one of the most spectacular buildings of teh Inca Empire. This site is located right in the upper part of Cusco city, contains one of the biggest monolithic transported from almost 18 km away. Each year on June 24th, The Inti Raymi is celebrated here to worship the sun.
Continue driving to Quenqo, Tambomachay, and Puca Pucara, located just outside of Cusco city. After finishing the visit you’ll drive back to Cusco city and dropped off at your hotel.