This is one of the traditional tours around Cusco, usually done the day after arrival. Despite being extremely touristed, its still an excellent tour that gets you out of Cusco city and beginning to understand about the awesome construction abilities of the Incas. Be overawed by the enormous, towering rocks at Sacsayhuaman and the views of Cusco. A great day’s outing that can be done on horseback, on foot, or by car, depending on your fitness.
Itinerary
The city tour involves the visit of the City’s Highlights, located in and around Cusco. We start off by visiting the beautiful “Cathedral” of Cusco. This enormous Cathedral was built in the XVI. It contained nearly 400 colonial paintings, including many from the Cusco School, which was prominent in the 17th century. Among them a painting of the Last Supper by Marcos Zapata, showing Christ and the apostles eating guinea pig (Guinea-pig was the one of the main courses at sacred feasts in Inca times).
Then we will visit one of the most sacred Inca buildings, “The Temple of Koricancha”. Koricancha was the most important temple of the Inca Empire. According to archaeologists it housed over 1000 priests and attendants. Within its walls religious ceremonies were constant and offerings to the Gods and the Inca’s mummies were made each day.
Later on, we will drive towards the huge “Inca Ceremonial Center of Sacsayhuaman”. This enormous structure overlooks the city of Cusco. Its constructions are amazing, with huge rocks perfectly fitted. It is said that it took over 10,000 workers and 50 years to build it. The origin of the temple of Sacsayhuaman is still today unknown. The archaeologist attributed its construction to the Period of the Inca Pachacutec (in the Inca language Pachacutec means either Cataclysm or He who transforms the world), the man essentially credited with founding the Inca Empire. Later on we will visit another important Inca site known as “Qenqo”. This is a place with subterranean passages and carved stone channels in a zigzag pattern. In its inner part there is a carved stone table where it is said the Incas mummified their dead. Afterwards a panoramic view to the archaeological Inca site of Puka Pukara —its name means “red fort”— it served as a hunting lodge and storage place used by the Inca nobility. Whatever it was, it was put in the right place. Finally “Tambomachay” a temple dedicated to the God of Water.
After our city tour our local guide will drop you off near to the main square.
End of service.
Included
What is included:
- Tourist transportation.
- Guide
What is not included:
- Cusco Tourist Ticket 130 soles, it can be used for Sacred Valley Tour (70 soles for students with ISIC card).
- Qoricancha or temple of the Sun 10 soles.
- Cathedral 25 soles
- NOTE: Alternatively you can purchase a partial tourist ticket which allows a one day visit of just the 4 Archeological sites if you are not planning to visit any of the Sacred Valley sites such as Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chincheros.
You need to bring:
- On this tour you must bring a jacket or fleece, as the weather in Cusco used to a bit cold during the afternoons, especially during winter time (June to August).
- Bring also a rain poncho in case it rains (Nov to March).
Price
The price will be based on final travel dates and other custom preferences. Feel free to reach us via email at info@localhost or by calling us directly at +51 984411618.
Tour, accommodation, Train and Flight options
Creating unique, creative and personalized programs based on your goals, budget, expectations and schedule is our specialty. Discover the Peruvian wonders with us!
Type of Tours
All of our tours are offered in both Group and Private services; however, as we like to maintain control of the quality of our tours, even our group tours include PRIVATE transfers. This is important, as when you get picked up; you will go directly to your hotel without having to drive around the city to drop off other people in their hotels. Transportation is just for you.
Accommodations
We offer all level of accommodations. When creating an itinerary it would be important to know which your preferred level of accommodation is. Please be sure that at all levels our recommended hotels offer great service and nice comfortable rooms. Our team has personally tried all our recommended hotels.
We mostly work with accommodations that have availability for taking reservations in advance which include communities with home stays, B&B, guest houses, apartments to two and three star hotels as well as luxury all-inclusive facilities. We periodically inspect hotels we use for cleanliness, hygiene and safety to make sure that services are in line with pricing to guarantee customer satisfaction
STANDARD
A standard room is the cheapest in the hotel. The standard room has the basic amenities, usually a television, telephone, closet and private bathroom. Other offerings in the standard room depend on the hotel. For example, two-star hotels may offer little more than the basics. A five-star hotel’s standard room may have a Jacuzzi tub, flat-screen television, honor bar and designer interior decorating.
MODERATE
3-star Superior: These are 3-star that should really be considered has 4-star Hotels. Nice location, great rooms and charming decoration. Excellent service, with restaurant, room service, business centre, laundry, etc. Buffet breakfast. Best value. Perfect for someone looking for an inexpensive option and still have some superior services.
4-star Hotels: Good location, very nice rooms, great decoration and excellent service. This hotel includes more services such as room service, business center, laundry, spas, more room features, etc. Some have gourmet restaurants. Buffet breakfast. Perfect for someone looking for some luxury and special services and do not need a 5-star option.
LUXURY
4-star Suites: Some 4-star hotels have suites that offer the same room features of a 5-star option. Perfect for someone looking to upgrade from a 4-star standard room and get more space and features.
5-star Hotel: What you usually imagine a 5-star hotel is. Great location, luxury accommodations and excellent service. Gourmet restaurants, spas, room service, business center, etc. Perfect for someone looking for a 5-star service but do not need the 5-star Deluxe option.
5-star Deluxe: These 5-star deluxe hotels offer ultimate luxury with outstanding service, luxurious rooms with deluxe room features and “you ask-you will get” concierge service. Properties have privileged locations or particular history behind it. Gourmet restaurants and spas. Ideal for the luxurious traveler.
Trains
Expedition: The least expensive tourist train, recently renovated offers nice seats and good train service.
Vistadome: A higher category of train service, with panoramic roof windows. It offers a snack and fashion show.
Hiram Bingham: Luxury train which offers lunch, tea-time and dinner service.
Andean Explorer: Train service from Cusco to Puno or Puno to Cusco. Departs only on certain days of the week, depending on the season.
Flights
LOCAL AIRLINES
Peruvian Airlines: Peruvian owned airline that offer the least expensive prices but has few frequencies. Both Peruvian and Foreigners pay the same.
Star Peru: Peruvian owned airline. It flyes to many destinations and offers good value prices, but has few frequencies. Both Peruvian and Foreigners pay the same.
INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
Avianca Airlines: Central American owned airline that offers great service but few frequencies to Cusco. It is moderately expensive. It offers sale prices for Peruvian Residents ONLY that cannot be purchased by tourists.
Latam Peru: Chilean owned airline. It offers great service and many frequencies to Cusco (almost 13 flights per day). Prices are the highest on the market. It offers sale prices for Peruvian Residents ONLY that cannot be purchased by tourists.
DOMESTIC TICKETS
Lima/Cusco/Lima: From US$350.00 per person. This is an example price, since prices depends on the airline, date and time of booking.