Cusco city tour, half day:
Inca stone wall and colonial mudbrick wall on, Cusco.
Price: US$10 - group service as of 30 people.
Cusco city is located at 3350 m - 10983 ft of altitude, which can be difficult for those not acclimated to such heights. This gentle tour, which consists of mainly walking and driving, is perfect for your first day in Cusco as you get accustomed to the high altitude.
The tour starts with a visit to the Cathedral of Cusco, where one can explore the colonial architecture, wood-carvings, and beautiful paintings from the Cusquenian school of painters, which fused European Catholic styles with the Incan cosmology.
Next, we head to the Church of Santo Domingo, which was once the Incas’ most important temple, called "Qoricancha" (Golden Temple). The church was built directly on top of the Incan foundations and the Temple of the Sun.
The next places to see include Incan sites like Sacsayhuaman, a religious site comprising lightning-shaped walls which house the biggest Incan stones, reaching weights of almost 120 tons. The stones are perfectly fitted together, though one will notice that only the foundations and largest stones are still visible. This is because most of the smaller stones were removed from Cusco city to build the Catholic churches and the colonial houses after the fall of the Incan Empire.
Puca Pucara (Inca fortress), a religious site built near Tambomachay.
Tambomachay (water fountains of the Inca), the temple of water and the holy baths of the Inca (Inca means the only leader or emperor).
Qenqo an important religious site which is actually a stone outcrop surrounded by an Incan wall, has niches related to the months of the year. The big stone located in the middle is in the shape of a puma, an an animal venerated by the Incas.
This tour starts at 1:30 pm and ends at 6:30 pm. Before going back to Cusco, you can purchase souvenirs at the Sacsayhuaman handcraft market. The market features a variety of traditional artesanry, including fine garments made of baby alpaca and vicuña wool.
What is included?
-Pick-up from your hotel at 1:00 pm.
-Tourist transport to every tourist site.
-Professional bilingual tour guide (English and Spanish).
-The tour ends nearby Cusco’s Plaza de Armas.
What's not included?
-Tourist ticket, 70 soles or US$22, allowing you to visit Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay and Qenqo.
-Entrance fee for the Cathedral, 30 soles or US$9.
-Entrance fee for Santo Domingo church or Qoricancha, 15 soles or US$5.
You should bring:
-Waterproof jacket and warm fleece (temperature varies from 10 to 24 C or 50 to 75 F)
-Camera with fully-charged battery.
-Daypack.
-Drinks and snacks.
-Extra money for purchase of souvenirs.
-Hat, beanie, sunscreen, sunglasses.
-Rain poncho (October through April).
-University student card, valid until 25 years old.
Cusco city is located at 3350 m - 10983 ft of altitude, which can be difficult for those not acclimated to such heights. This gentle tour, which consists of mainly walking and driving, is perfect for your first day in Cusco as you get accustomed to the high altitude.
The tour starts with a visit to the Cathedral of Cusco, where one can explore the colonial architecture, wood-carvings, and beautiful paintings from the Cusquenian school of painters, which fused European Catholic styles with the Incan cosmology.
Next, we head to the Church of Santo Domingo, which was once the Incas’ most important temple, called "Qoricancha" (Golden Temple). The church was built directly on top of the Incan foundations and the Temple of the Sun.
The next places to see include Incan sites like Sacsayhuaman, a religious site comprising lightning-shaped walls which house the biggest Incan stones, reaching weights of almost 120 tons. The stones are perfectly fitted together, though one will notice that only the foundations and largest stones are still visible. This is because most of the smaller stones were removed from Cusco city to build the Catholic churches and the colonial houses after the fall of the Incan Empire.
Puca Pucara (Inca fortress), a religious site built near Tambomachay.
Tambomachay (water fountains of the Inca), the temple of water and the holy baths of the Inca (Inca means the only leader or emperor).
Qenqo an important religious site which is actually a stone outcrop surrounded by an Incan wall, has niches related to the months of the year. The big stone located in the middle is in the shape of a puma, an an animal venerated by the Incas.
This tour starts at 1:30 pm and ends at 6:30 pm. Before going back to Cusco, you can purchase souvenirs at the Sacsayhuaman handcraft market. The market features a variety of traditional artesanry, including fine garments made of baby alpaca and vicuña wool.
What is included?
-Pick-up from your hotel at 1:00 pm.
-Tourist transport to every tourist site.
-Professional bilingual tour guide (English and Spanish).
-The tour ends nearby Cusco’s Plaza de Armas.
What's not included?
-Tourist ticket, 70 soles or US$22, allowing you to visit Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay and Qenqo.
-Entrance fee for the Cathedral, 30 soles or US$9.
-Entrance fee for Santo Domingo church or Qoricancha, 15 soles or US$5.
You should bring:
-Waterproof jacket and warm fleece (temperature varies from 10 to 24 C or 50 to 75 F)
-Camera with fully-charged battery.
-Daypack.
-Drinks and snacks.
-Extra money for purchase of souvenirs.
-Hat, beanie, sunscreen, sunglasses.
-Rain poncho (October through April).
-University student card, valid until 25 years old.