Cusco City Tour Half-Day Trip

Immerse Yourself in the Magic and Beauty of Cusco with Our half-day Tour

Welcome to Cusco, the world’s navel! Join us on this breathtaking half-day journey to all of the most significant historic sites in the city. You’ll feel inspired as you pass through historic streets and the pleasant plazas of Qosqo.

You will return to the era in which you walked through every era in the ancient city’s past, it’s the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas! From the Incas, the Spaniards, and modern-day visitors to Cusco, this has been the order that has been followed.

Along with the historic significance of this large city, Cusco is also remarkable due to its culture of celebration and a cuisine that is highly praised on the international stage! We are confident that this beautiful city will exceed your expectations.

If you prefer a more leisurely pace and a thorough overview of Cusco’s sights, our full-day Cusco City Tour is ideal. It is an excellent starting place for seeing Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, as well as giving significant insights into Andean culture. Make your reservation for a tour of this wonderful city right now.

Short Itinerary.

Cusco cathedral – qoricancha- Sacsayhuaman – quenqo – pucapucara -tambomachay

Arriving at the imperial city of Cusco presents an opportunity for our friendly team to meet you and assist in settling down. We welcome individuals, couples, or even groups any day of the week to embark on a journey through the magical city’s illustrious history— be part of us soon!

The four-hour city tour in the morning is an ideal way to get your first glimpse of Cusco. It’s an easy journey that involves visiting the surrounding archaeological sites and taking in the beauty of the landscape. You’ll only need to walk lightly, and no concerns about organizing it— all has been taken care of. Take your time: half a day in Cusco can be quite unforgettable.

Cusco City Tour half-day

Cusco boasts an incredible depth of cultural wealth. This tour comes with a strong recommendation for those seeking insight into our history and the narrative underpinning the city we see today. You will take pleasure in a visit to the primary Plaza (Plaza de Armas) where you can find the Cusco Cathedral. We make stops at Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun) & Santo Domingo Convent as well. But our journey does not end here: Tracing our way out of the bustling center, we drive towards archaeological enigmas that include Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.

Cusco keeps its customs, traditions, mysteries, and tales of its legendary past as a city. Therefore, ensure that your initial day in the imperial capital of the Inca Empire is unforgettable.

City Tour Half day Details

• Location: Cusco City, Peru
• Type: Cusco half-day tour (or private personalized tour)
• Tour Duration: 5 hours
• Departure Time: For daily departures, we have two schedules: morning and afternoon. You can choose the most convenient time according to your travel itinerary
• In the morning, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• In the afternoons, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
•  Need to book in Advance
• Pick-up location: Customer’s hotel near the main square
• Drop-off Location: San Francisco, near the main square
• Group Size: It depends on you since the tour is in private service. Solo travelers are welcome to our trips as well
• Physical Grading: 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)

CUSCO ECONOMIC CITY TOUR ITINERARY: 5 HOURS

A major point of interest today:

gaining knowledge on the ancient Inca civilization and appreciating their artistry.

Your half-day city tour will begin with a pick-up from your accommodation. Our first destination is the Cusco Cathedral located in the main square, followed by our visit to Qoricancha after. You’ll be amazed by the exquisite artwork displayed at the former and then by the astounding Inca architecture at the latter.

Afterwards, it is time to leave the city center and explore the four historically significant Inca archaeological locations— Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay. Each site will reveal a unique aspect of this amazing ancient culture. You will then be transported back to Cusco and left at Regocijo Plaza for the evening.

Explore the half-day Cusco tour

Adventure starts when we collect you for the City tour between 12.40 and 13.00— first stop, the Cathedral in Plaza de Armas, Cusco’s main square. The paintings showcased here belong to the renowned Cusco School of Art: considered one of the finest in South America. The collection also includes gold leaf and embossed silver works that are sure to leave you in awe with their intricate beauty.

Our next stop will take us to Qoricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun. Here we will admire its architectural marvel and the flawless stone constructions that are only found in Inca Temples of utmost significance.

After our visit to Qoricancha, we will make our way back to the city center and board our transport to four major Inca archaeological sites: Saysayhuaman, Qquenqo, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay. These sites are highly important; each with its own unique history and significance waiting to be explored by us on this journey.

In Sacsayhuaman, one encounters enormous stones that are precisely shaped. Qenqo presents zones of high religious significance. In Puca Pucara, you’ll view an ancient military structure; it formed part of Cusco’s ancient defense system. The last location stop is related to a cult which worshipped water; it has functional fountains with still-flowing water up to date.

When the city tour concludes, we will return you to your lodgings within city limits at approximately 18.30; subsequently, the evening hours will be entirely yours to command as you see fit.

Qoricancha Sun Temple and Santo Domingo Convent

The religious center that is hundreds of years old was constructed as a place of worship for the Sun— the highest deity in the Inca Empire and the core of their culture.

Within the temple complex are smaller temples dedicated to different celestial bodies — sun, moon, stars, etc. The Incas used ashlar masonry to build this site by placing together uniform cuboid stones cut and shaped specifically for this construction task.

The gardens and fountains in the temple compound are breathtaking. A walk along the paths will lead you to numerous lovely flowers. It is the fusion between the exquisite Inca architectural design and Spanish colonial architecture at its best display here that catches the eye most prominently.

Cusco’s Cathedral.

Situated in the heart of Cusco’s Main Square, the cathedral stands as a colonial relic overflowing with exquisite artistry. Erected upon the grounds of Wiracocha Inca Palace and its storied history, once you step through its doors— you are met with pieces such as the choir and pulpit crafted from carved wood, alongside altars. Behold the beauty of paintings hailing from the Cusquenian School of Art that depict a unique portrayal: Christ and his disciples partaking in cuy (guinea pig) during the last supper. Revel at works embellished with silver and gold leaf; a true testament to the wealth of culture housed within these walls.

The Cathedral holds a significant place among the 13 churches in Cusco Historical Center as it symbolizes the fusion of Andean and Colonial civilizations. The majestic cathedral occupies the principal place at the head of Plaza de Armas, which is the epicenter of Cusco’s history and culture.

Sacsayhuaman.

The archeological site is situated 2 km away from the center of Cusco— a place constructed with massive carved rocks fitted together with uncanny accuracy. It’s truly mind-boggling to think about the engineering mastery exhibited in such astounding work all those centuries ago. The vantage point offers not only a stunning view of Cusco City but also the picturesque frame created by mountains that envelop the area, which is breathtaking.

An interesting note about the site is that it comprises three superimposed platforms with an approximate length of 360 meters. Observing the structure, one can spot stones reaching a height of up to 9 meters. However, the most famous section of Sacsayhuaman is not this but its gran Plaza, which is accompanied by three colossal terrace walls. The size of the stones used to create these terraces ranks them among the largest ever used in construction throughout pre-Hispanic America.

Qenqo.

Qenqo is located 1.5km from Sacsayhuman. It was an Inca ceremonial cult center. The name might have been derived from the small but elaborate network of underground passageways that compose the site. It’s intriguing to navigate through all of them: a unique experience for sure.

The main point of interest in this site is the amphitheater, which is now only half its original height but still impressive. In the 19 trapezoidal niches that would have contained Inca mummies hundreds

of years ago, you can feel a sense of history and mystery in this place.

Puca Pucara.

The red fortress— named for the crimson hues that result from iron abundance within its stones— is speculated by many experts to be an ancient tambo. A place where resting met guarding, the fortress stood to protect Tambomachay, and here you can witness fine examples of Inca construction: arches and aqueducts in harmony with fountains and enclosed spaces.

Tambomachay

Your last stop on this tour will be at a site that consists of intricately placed stone structures interwoven with cascading waterfalls and purposeful aqueducts: an engineering marvel designed to transport water from local springs. Tambomachay is linked to the cult of water because of this creation. Standing adjacent to these features is a tower presumed to have dual functions as both a lookout point for surveillance and a communication beacon.

What the Cusco City Tour Includes:

• You may expect to benefit from the knowledge and skills of our professional English-speaking guides on the Cusco City Tour.
• They will provide interesting facts about each location and its historical importance. Furthermore, you will drive in luxury to each place on the trip schedule in our well-maintained cars, assuring a smooth and delightful experience.

What the Cusco City Tour Doesn’t Include:

• Please keep in mind that entry fees to individual locations are not included in the trip price. Koricancha entrance is an extra 15 soles per person.
• The four Inca sites visited on the trip require an additional fee of 70 soles per participant. If you already have a tourist ticket for another site in the area, you may use it for these admissions as well.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE ENTRANCE TICKETS

The archeological and tourism attractions’ admission fees are not included. Please keep in mind that you will need to purchase an admission partial ticket (Boleto Turistico Partial) for PEN 70 Peruvian soles (approximately USD 25 per ticket) to gain access to four historical sites located within the city limits, including Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay (in other words, it is only used on this tour).

The cathedral and Q’oricancha (Temple of the Sun) have separate entry tickets that cost PEN 25 Peruvian soles (about USD 8) and PEN 15 Peruvian soles (approximately USD 5).

If you plan to visit historical sites in both Cusco and the Sacred Valley, we recommend purchasing the general admission ticket (Boleto Turistico General) for PEN 130 Peruvian Soles (approximately USD 45 per ticket). This ticket allows you to visit 14 historical sites in Cusco, the southern part of Cusco, the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Chinchero), and some museums in Cusco city. The ticket is good for ten days.

The Maras salt ponds ticket is not included in the boleto turistico parcial or boleto turistico general (partial or general ticket) and must be bought separately at the same location for PEN 10 Peruvian soles (about USD 4 per ticket). It is not essential to acquire the tourist permit in advance since it may be obtained at the first stop on the trip.

What should I bring?

• Original passport
• Day Pack
• Good Shoes
• Rain Jacket or a Poncho
• Water Bottle
• Hat or Cap to protect you from the sun or the cold
• Sun Block
• Water and Snacks
• Camera
• Boleto Turistico
• ISIC Card, if applicable

The Cusco City Tour costs:

The charge is xx per person and covers transportation to all places visited during the trip as well as a guided tour. Please keep in mind that admission costs for Koricancha and the four Inca sites are not included in the trip price and must be paid individually.