During this city tour of Cusco and its archaeological sites, you will discover the hidden wonders of the capital of the Inca Empire. Cusco was founded around 1200 AD. This ancient Inca city became an important administrative center during the reign of Inca Pachacutec, in the XV century. Cusco has numerous ruins of Inca temples, both inside and surrounding the city.
The most famous Inca ruin of Cusco is Sacsayhuaman. This archeological site is located north of the city of Cusco. It overlooks the Cusco valley and it is easily recognizable by its giant stone walls. The archeological complex is often known as a fortress. However, according to some recent studies, Sacsayhuaman was actually a temple of the sun god.
Another site that is located near Cusco is Qenqo. Qenqo is a Quechua word that means “labyrinth”. This mysterious archeological complex comprises some underground galleries, a stone amphitheater, and strange stone carvings. Nowadays, the real purpose of Qenqo is still unknown.
Tambomachay is another Inca ruin located on the outskirts of Cusco. It has some water fountains that still work to this day. According to the artifacts found in the site, Tambomachay was a temple dedicated to the water. It also served as a relaxing place for the Inca nobility.
The last relevant Inca site nearby Cusco is Puca Pucara. This place served as a military outpost during the Inca Empire. Puca Pucara is built with reddish stones whose color stands out during the afternoon. This color phenomenon has given this place its name of Puca Pucara, which is a Quechua expression that means “red fortress”.
At Sanvil Turismo we offer the best travel packages in the region of Cusco. Our tour guides are professionals authorized by the local government to guide treks and tours in the region. They are experts in the history and traditions of each destination you will be visiting.
We also offer guided tours to the Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail, and Choquequirao. Explore the marvels of Peru with us.
Your hotel in Cusco city
1:00 pm
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 1:00 pm. Then, we will walk to the Cusco Cathedral, located in the main square (plaza de armas) of the city. This old colonial temple features numerous religious paintings and sculptures. Most of them were created by artists of the Cusco Art School. This art school is characterized by the mixture of Spanish and Inca traditions.
Then, we will visit the Convent of Santo Domingo, where the ruins of the Qorikancha Temple are located. The Qorikancha was the main temple of the Inca Empire. It used to house hundreds of gods of the peoples conquered by the Incas. After the Spanish conquest, the Qorikancha was partially destroyed to build a catholic temple.
Afterwards, we will board our private vehicle to Sacsayhuaman. Once there, you will have a guide tour of the archaeological site. You will visit the giant stone terraces, the Inca warehouses, among other monuments. The Inti Raymi, or “Festival of the Sun”, takes place every June on Sacsayhuaman.
Our next stop will be the mysterious Inca site of Qenqo. You will explore the amphitheater, the underground passages, and the main rock covered in carvings.
After visiting Qenqo, we will go to Tambomachay. You will visit the Inca water fountains, which still work after centuries. We will have a short guided tour of this incredible Inca archeological site.
Afterwards, we will explore the red fortress of Puca Pucara. From Puca Pucara is possible to get incredible views of Cusco’s surroundings. After having a short guided tour of Puca Pucara, we will return to Cusco city. Once there, we will transfer you back to your hotel.
