Cusco City Tour
HALF DAY TOUR | Starting from US$65 per person
Up to 10 People
GROUP SIZE
3,800m / 12,467ft
MAX. ALTITUDE
Easy
DIFFICULTY
CUSCO CATHEDRAL - QORICANCHA - SACSAYHUAMAN - TAMBOMACHAY - QENQO
Cusco City Tour
This half-day tour of Cusco city let you visit the Incan and colonial attractions in about five hours. Also, this guided sightseeing tour is a perfect introduction to the Inca culture, hence an obligatory tour before you go to Machu Pichu. Visit magnificent historical sites at your own pace as you learn all the history of the Incas from our expert. For instance, Cusco Cathedral, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo and Tambomachay.
The City of Cusco was once the ancient capital city of the Incan Empire and home to other important ethnic groups. Today, the city boast multiple archaelogical vestiges from diffrent times, including the colonial era. Most attractions of the city are located out of the ancient metropolis, therefore, our half-day City Tour focuses on the Cusco’s countrysides. Additionally, includes picturesque country villages and impressive andean landscapes.
- OVERVIEW
- ITINERARY
- INCLUSIONS
- BEFORE YOU GO
- PRICING
- ENQUIRE NOW
This half-day tour in Cusco is suitable for all fitness levels and it is a wonderful way to begin acclimatizing to the high altitude of Cusco City and get ready for a trek if you have booked one.
This tour is very popular and though quite touristy, there is plenty of open space in which to explore the large ruin sites. It is one of our most favorite tours offered and we personally rate it as a must not miss experience. It is also an excellent introduction to the city of Cusco and great spot to soak up the colorful atmosphere and enjoy its surrounding landscape, and the panoramic views of Cusco will take your breath away.
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR CUSCO CITY TOUR
- Visit the city’s highlights so that you get to know Cusco from its foundations in a half-day tour.
- Discover the history of the Incas with a local private guide
Visit the Plaza de Armas where the Cathedral of Cusco is located. - Guided tour Coricancha or Temple of the Sun.
- Guided tour of the Sacsayhuaman, Quenqo, Pukapukara, Tambomachay ruins.
Day 1: Cusco | Qoricancha - Sacsayhuaman - Tambomachay - Qenqo.
Half Day City Tour Cusco: The half day city tour Cusco runs every day either in the morning or afternoon. The tour in the morning starts at 8:00 AM until 13:00 PM / and in the afternoon starts at 13:00 PM until 6:00 PM
- Location: Cusco city, Perú.
- Tour Type: Cusco half-day tour – upgraded/ private personalized tour.
- Considered: easy, gentle walk, stone steps, cobblestone streets, small elevation changes along the way, and some walks on uneven trails. Designed for everyone (kids, teens, adults).
- Duration: 5 Hours.
To start this half-day tour in the morning or afternoon, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and pick you up in our private transport. Then, we’ll head to the most important temple of the Inca Empire, the Temple of the Sun, known as the Q’oricancha (“golden enclosure” in Quechua). At the Q’oricancha, we’ll be able to observe detailed and intact architecture, and within the temple, we will see smaller temples dedicated to the moon, rainbow, stars, lightning, and thunder, among others, as well, we’ll be able to compare and contrast the building methods of the Incan culture and Catholicism – Q’oricancha was also the key spiritual center of the Incas, which leads to all four quarters of the Inca Empire. Today, the Santo Domingo church stands on top of the temple.
From Q’oricancha, we’ll walk down Avenida El Sol, where we will take our private transport and drive for 25 minutes to the outskirts of the city to visit the spectacular archeological site of Sacsayhuaman which features with its enigmatic stones, 200-ton monoliths. Although the site was religious, the Spanish considered it a military fortress because of its location and the way it was built. Here is made the famous Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun on June 24 of each year. After an explanation of your guide, you will have some time to explore this site on your own.
At the appointed time, we’ll regroup with our tour guide to continue onto other archeological sites in the area. Next, we’ll visit the fascinating Inca site of Q’enqo (Labyrinth or Zigzag). A side built in a natural rock formation to show the complex patterns of steps, seats, geometric reliefs and a puma design. It was also created to represent the Andean constellations and the concept of the three worlds, each one representing sacred animals: the condor, puma, and snake; according to some theories, funerary rituals.
After that, we’ll take another five-minute drive to Puca Pucara, a small, circular Inca site, which was a shelter for travelers coming to Cusco from the Amazon. It was also a military center and used to protect the nearby temple located at Tambomachay. The final stop on our tour is Tambomachay, known as the Temple of Water, with impressive water fountains, thought to be used by the Inca for bathing. Besides, the Incas practiced religious traditions tied to water in order to rejuvenate the land. This tradition is known as the fountain of eternal youth. From there, we’ll drive back down to Cusco city and drop you off at your hotel.
Important Note: While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, e.g, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.
At Pacha Peru Explorers, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
- Briefing in our office a day before (optional).
- Pick up at your hotel.
- Private Tourist Transportation.
- Professional Tourist Guide Service.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
- Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turistico): 70 soles per person (or 130 soles if you are also doing the Sacred Valley).
- Entrance to Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun): 15 soles per person.
- Meals: There are no meals served during this tour. You should be back in Cusco in time to enjoy lunch on your own.
- Travel interruption & travel medical/evacuation insurance (required).
- Tip for your guide is optional but highly encouraged if you enjoy your tour.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Pacha Peru Explorers in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Briefing or Informative Meeting: All information meetings and briefings are held in our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Pacha Peru Explorers office.
Trek Balance Payment (in Cusco): The trek has to be paid for in full at most 7.30 pm one day before your departure (generally after the briefing).
It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 6% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.
Can I store my luggage at your office?: During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pick up of guests: Pacha Peru Explorers can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historical Center of Cusco. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time in the briefing session, but please keep in mind that the time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic.
Cusco is an old city, meaning it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Group Tours: Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations: Strikes and demonstrations are usually common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost Objects: Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurants. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.
"Cusco City Tour" can leave any day of the week, from January through December.
2022 Land Cost:
Group Price: US$ 65.00 per person
Required Pre-payment: US$ 35.00 per person.
Balance (Cusco): US$ 30.00 (Commonly paid in Cusco after the briefing).
This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 6%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits so that you will pay the remaining in cash (the briefing day in Cusco) without charges.
Please, after your deposit, send us the transfer number to contact@pachaperu.tours; only after that, we'll be able to confirm your deposit and reservation.
Extensions & Offers: There are several extensions you can include to your Peru Adventure.
- Rainbow Mountain: US$ 120.00
- Sacred Valley: US$ 90.00
- Humantay Lake: US$ 120.00
Price Guarantee: Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.
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