Cusco City Tour (Half A Day)

Did you just land in Cusco? Our City Tour Cusco with an experienced local guide will give you the best introduction to the city, its culture and history.

Cusco, the captivating ancient capital of the Inca empire is the gateway to the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu. It is the best place to experience the mix of two cultures and architecture (Inca and Spanish). This tour is a must when visiting Cusco and is usually one of the first ports of call for all visiting tourists. From the bustling Mercado de San Pedro to the historical sites, Cusco has a completely different look and feel than the rest of Peru.

We have dedicated English-speaking local guides who were born and raised in Cusco. Cusco City Tour takes you through the most important sites. Start at the Cathedral of Cusco, then to the Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha). Cusco City Tour also takes you to the four sites on the outskirts of Cusco. You will be able to see an incredible mix of Inca and Spanish-style architecture.

CUSCO CATHEDRAL

The Cathedral of Cusco or Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption is one of the most popular architectural monuments in the city. It is also the first site you will visit. It is located in front of the Plaza de Armas. Its construction took almost 100 years until its completion in 1654. It was originally an Inca temple dedicated to the god Wiracocha. During the Spanish conquest the temple was looted and demolished for the construction of this historic Catholic monument. In 1983 it was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

QORIKANCHA AND CONVENT OF SANTO DOMINGO

The Coricancha is one of the most important religious centers of the Inca empire. Its stone constructions have an even greater perfection than Machu Picchu. It was covered in gold and plants until before the Spanish conquest who built the Convent of Santo Domingo there. It is located two blocks from the Plaza de Armas. It houses paintings made by the artists of the so-called ‘Cusco School’. Both the Coricancha and the Santo Domingo Convent coexist harmoniously as a symbol of cultural syncretism.

SACSAYHUAMAN FORTRESS

Sacsayhuaman is one of the most enigmatic places of the Incas. There the tourist will be able to appreciate stones of up to nine meters of height and more than 120 tons. They all fit together with incredible precision. The Spanish believed that the enclosure was the work of the devil. There were fierce battles between Incas and Europeans. Today it is one of the most symbolic attractions of Cusco and Peru. There, every June 24, the famous ‘Fiesta del Sol’ is celebrated, also known as the Inti Raymi.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF QENQO

Qenqo is approximately 1 kilometer from Sacsayhuaman. It was an Inca ceremonial center whose buildings were dedicated to Mother Earth. There stands out a space called an amphitheater where the Incas had to place their dead in trapezoidal niches. Its biggest attraction is its underground labyrinths. Moreover, the word ‘Qenqo’ in the Quechua language (the language of the Incas) means ‘Labyrinth’.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF PUCA PUCARA

Puca Pucara is known as the ‘Red Fortress’ due to the pigmentation of this color in some of its stones as well as the reddish hue that the place acquires at sunset. It is believed that this enclosure served as a military post and resting place for the Inca’s troops. Its main function was to take care of Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman. There you can also see other structures such as fountains, aqueducts and other Inca constructions.

TAMBOMACHAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

Tambomachay is one of the most beautiful archaeological sites. It is located approximately 400 meters from Puca Pucara. Its Inca constructions worship water with such perfection that even today, after several centuries, its canals continue to flow water. The enclosure is also formed by a set of finely carved rocks as well as waterfalls, canals and aqueducts fed by springs. The scenic beauty of the enclosure harmonizes with the buildings and the murmur of the water.