Traditional Cusco City Tour

Availability: Available now
Group size: 2-10
Tour Type: Historical and informative
Max. Elevation: 3500 meters above sea level

46 USD Per person

The noble and great city of Cusco is considered the Archaeological Capital of America. The ancient capital of the Incas, is a city surrounded by incredible Inca ruins, cathedrals and colonial houses. Cusco is a place that breathes history around every corner. Visitors who arrive every day to this Peruvian city are amazed by the beauty of its streets and by the great legacy of the Incas, which is still alive today. Although you can do the Traditional City Tour Cusco on your own, it is recommended and much better to do it with the expertise of a tour guide.

You will visit the beautiful cathedral basilica of Cusco, a construction that will show you up to three architectural styles from the 16th and 17th centuries. You will explore the largest sanctuary of the Incas, the sacred Coricancha. Then you will go to Sacsayhuaman, an imposing Inca ruin, built with Magalitic limestone. You will visit the Qenco shrine, the Pucapucara checkpoint and finally you will walk to the amazing Tambomachay, where you will be able to observe beautiful water sources and big adoration shelves.

IncaGo Expeditions offers you two types of services to tour this Traditional City Tour in Cusco: group service and private service. See the details at the bottom.

Traditional Cusco City Tour Trip Overview

Tour localization: Cusco city and its outskirts.
Tour type: Half day by bus.
Good for: Everybody, done in groups or privately.
Difficulty: Not hiking, but a lot of walking around the tourist attractions.
Highlights: The cathedral basilica, Temple of the Sun(Coricancha) and the amazing Inca ruins of: Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
Tickets: All entry tickets to the tourist attractions are included, you don’t need to pay anything extra; See the inclusions at the bottom.
Private Service: The tour is done in English; If someone wishes to carry out the private service in Spanish, let us know at the time of your booking. Private service means that only you and your loved ones do the tour.
Group Service: The group city tour, is composed of 10 to 17 people in the van and the guide is bilingual; This means that the excursions are done in English and Spanish.
Season: All year around

This city tour has two departure times:

One in the morning from 9 am. until 13:00 p.m. We will pick you up from your hotel at 8:45 am.
Another in the afternoon from 13:00 p.m. until 18:30. We will pick you up from your hotel at 12:45 pm.

The places that we will visit in this tour full of history and architectural beauty of the city of Cusco, are ordered and described in the order in which we tour it.

1. Cathedral Basilica

The Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption is the main temple of the city of Cusco, together with the temples of Triumph and the Sagrada Familia make up the whole of the Cathedral. It was built between 1560 and 1654 in a Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance style. The curious combination of styles is due to the more than 100 years that the construction lasted and the 6 architects who designed and redesigned it. Once inside the art works in gold leaf and silver leaf will surprise you; as well as the beautiful and curious canvases and paintings. There exists a canvas of the last supper where they are eating guinea pig, an Andean local delicacy.

2. The temple of the Sun or Coricancha

It is probably the most sacred and important building of the Tahuantinsuyo empire, also known as the Temple of the Sun. During the time of the conquest, the temple was destroyed and looted by the conquerors. On its foundations, the church and convent of Santo Domingo were built. This temple was built during the government of the Inca Wiracocha in the 13th century, approximately; however it is the emperor Pachacutec, the builder of Machu Picchu, who embellished it in the 15th century.

3. Sacsayhuaman

Sacsayhuaman is one of the most amazing buildings in the world. It is known that it began to be built during the government of the Inca Pachacutec in the 15th century.

It is known by Spanish chroniclers that around 20 thousand people brought from different parts of the Inca Empire and working daily in 3-month shifts built Sacsayhuaman in approximately 30 years.

Today, it is estimated that Sacsayhuaman retains only 40 percent of its ancient structure. Even so, the Inca site has structures weighing up to 125 tons. The main wall of Sacsayhuaman is built in a zigzag with gigantic limestone stones up to 5 meters high and 2.5 meters wide (weighing between 90 and 125 tons).

The architecture in Sacsayhuaman has sacred constructions such as residential buildings, towers, shrines, warehouses, roads and aqueducts. That is why the shape and harmony of the landscape is similar to other Inca sacred places such as Machu Picchu.

4. Qenco

This place in Inca times was one of the most sacred places of worship, that is why when the Spanish arrived in Cusco, they covered it with mounds of earth for more than 400 years, until the Peruvian archaeologist Luis Varcarcel along with patronage of the archeology of Cusco, they unearthed it in the 1930s.
The Incas carried out human sacrifices called ‘capacocha’. In Qenqo there is a mortuary room called ‘Sacrifice Room’. This platform carved into a large rock resembles a large sacrificial altar and is located in underground galleries.

5. Puca Pucara

It is a hilltop outpost with large walls, terraces, and stairs, just outside of Cusco. Apparently, these ruins were one of the defensive military bases of Cusco.
The views from Puca Pucara are beautiful, looking out over the Cusco valley. Of course, those views were perfect for the Incas protecting Cusco from potential invaders. It is a good place to enjoy the sunset and you can also buy some trinkets from the local vendors.

6. Tambomachay

Many people refer to Tambomachay as the «Baths of the Incas». The enclosure has a series of artificial cascades, aqueducts and channels that cross ornamental terraces. The waters still flow today, making these ruins truly impressive.
Another theory tells us, that Tambomachay was used by the Inca royalty as a spa and others that it was a religious and water cult site. The water sources are a common theme in the main Inca temples; Similar structures are found near Pisac, Ollantaytambo and the citadel of Machu Picchu.

Included on the Traditional Cusco City Tour

Professional local english speaker Guides: All our super leaders grew up in cusco region and studied tourism for five years at cusco’s university; they are friendly, funny charming, knowledgeable, professional and will care your safety into our tour in Cusco.

Permits: As soon as we get your details and deposit; we will purchase your permits for the tourist attractions included into the Cusco City Tour. The entry tickets to the cathedral, the coricancha and the 4 Inca ruins to visit are included.

Briefing: You should come to our office at least one day prior to your tour to pay the balance; and provide exact information about your accommodation and receive some details for the tour.

Transportation: Incas Path will be providing all transportation for this Traditional Cusco City Tour. You have the option of taking the city tour in the morning from 9:00 am. until 13:00 p.m. or from 13:00 p.m. to 18:30 p.m. Let us know at the time of your booking.

First Aid: Every guide has got training in first aid from a clinic and firemen. We elaborate mandatory training sessions every February on our tours; which every Incas Path tour guide must attend. Your tour leader is going to have always a first-aid kit for basic medical problems.

Not Included on the Cusco City Tour

Gratuities for our staff: Incas Path ensures all staff are fairly paid; and therefore gratuities are optional and at your own discretion.
Travel Insurance: Highly recommended for all tourist.
Daypack: We suggest you to use a daypack that not exceed 25L to carry passport, water, sunhat, sunglasses, sun cream, bug spray, rain jacket and a warm jacket.
Water bottle
Flight tickets
Hotel in Cusco

Prices

We would love to tour the Cusco City Tour; with you and your loved ones and take care of immortalizing your visit to the land of the Incas.
We can leave any day of the year; our day tours can leave any day of the week, twelve months a year.

Group Price (2022):

$46 per person

Important Note: The group city tour, is composed of 10 to 17 people in the van and the guide is bilingual; This means that the excursions are done in English and Spanish.

Private Tours are based on Group Size (2022):

Priced per person

Two people: $84 per person
Three people: $69 per person
Four people: $62 per person
Five people: $57 per person
Six people: $54 per person
Seven people: $52 per person
Eight, or more, people: $51 per person

Important Note ll: This private traditional Cusco city tour is only for you and your loved ones and is done only in english. If you want your city tour in Spanish, let us know at the time of your reservation. Our prices are based on a group of two to eight; you will travel in a private van.

Student Discount:

– $ 10 discount per person

Student discounts apply to anyone who has a valid International Student Card (ISIC), at the beginning of the hike; or who is 17 years old or younger. For those who use an international student card or for children under 17; we need to see a copy of their card or passport at the time of booking to receive the discount of Machu Picchu.

Please send everything to info@cuscodigital.com

Packing list

We suggest you to carry lightweight backpack; that the is key to feeling good during this Cusco City Tour.

Essentials:

Original Passport.
STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student).
Good daypack (the smaller, the better).
Comfortable shoes.

Inside Your Daypacks:

Daypacks can be any size for walking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Some items are listed below

Sunhat.
Rain gear.
Fleece.
Rain jacket.
Camera.
Music (IPhone).
Handsanitizer.
Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips.
Personal medication.
Sunscreen.

Journey Info

Arriving to Cusco

The airport in Cusco at the present time is only for domestic flights, so all international travelers by plane must disembark in Lima and go through Customs. Even if your flight to Cusco is the same day by the same airline carrier, you must grab your bags in Lima and then check them back in.

The best way to arrive to Cusco is by air and there are several options in airlines. LATAM tends to be the most expensive, but has the most options and flights.

Expect delays or flight cancellations; due to the high altitude of Cusco, it tends to be difficult to land and any weather inconvenience will stop air traffic.

Bus travel is always available and while the trip can be long, especially from Lima, the buses company such as Oltursa, Cruz del Sur, etc., are very well maintained and comfortable; this option is strongly encouraged if coming from a city closer to Cusco, like Puno or Arequipa.

Altitude

As soon as people book their trip to Peru, specifically Cusco, they start wondering about altitude sickness. The air at high altitudes contains less oxygen than at sea level and forces your body to work harder to get the oxygen it needs. Over several days at high altitude, your body adjusts to the lower amount of oxygen in the air; that is why we advise you to arrive in Cusco three-day prior your trek begin or taking a tour of easy physical demand.

With altitude sickness, you may first feel like you have the flu or a hangover. You may have a headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, trouble breathing during exercise. If any of these effects become severe, please contact our representatives and we will help you get to a physician.

Most of the time, these symptoms will be mild. We always recommend easing into activity slowly, allowing your body to adjust, drink plenty of fluids such as water, electrolites or coca tea: coca tea has been used since ancient times to help prevent altitude sickness, leaves from the coca plant contain alkaloids like the globulin alkaloid which helps creating red cells in your body that captures the oxygen faster, so helping your body avoid the effects of altitude sickness.

Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol it will cause you to urinate more often and become dehydrated, avoid smoking due it will make more difficult for your body to get oxygen and also avoid sleeping pills because it may cause shallow breathing at night, making it more difficult for your body to absorb oxygen while you sleep.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines, such as acetazolamide better know as the brand Diamox and dexamethasone, to help prevent altitude sickness; start medication two days prior you get to a high altitude and continue to take it while you are at high altitude.

Weather

Of course weather is unpredictable. Typically, the dry season in Cusco is from April through October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December, just be prepared; no matter what month you are doing the trek or tour, please make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho and waterproof gloves.

Travel Insurance

To protect your journey investment, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance; acquiring travel insurance before you leave home, is strongly encouraged and very easy.

Vaccinations

The body’s immune system helps protect against pathogens that cause infection; most of the time, it’s an efficient system, it either keeps microorganisms out or tracks them down and gets rid of them.

However, some pathogens can overwhelm the immune system; when this happens, it can cause serious illness.

The pathogens most likely to cause problems are the ones the body doesn’t recognize: vaccination is a way to “teach” the immune system how to recognize and eliminate an organism; that way, your body is prepared if you’re ever exposed.

Vaccinations are an important form of primary prevention; that means they can protect people from getting sick, vaccinations have allowed us to control diseases that once threatened many lives, such as: measles, poliotetanus, and whooping cough.

You may require some additional vaccinations before traveling to Peru; it is adviced you consult to your physician specially if you are taking any trip to the jungle.