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Cusco City Tour Half Day

Duration

1 day

Max. Altitude

3400

Group Size

8

Service

Group

Overview

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire called Tawantinsuyu and is a living museum overflowing with our country’s history and culture. You can see the different stages of history from ancient times to the conquest up to modern days. There are numerous archeological sites, Cathedrals, museums, night clubs in the social scene and many shops to explore. Cusco is the most important tourist destination in Peru as it is the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, not to mention a lot of fun!

Visit the most interesting sites in and around Cusco such as the Cusco Cathedral, the Koricancha, which was once filled with gold until plundered by invaders, Sacsayhuaman fortress and its military Inca architecture, and the archaeological sites of Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay!

  • Itinerary
  • Inclusions
  • Price
  • Important Info
  • Packing list
  • Itinerary

    CUSCO CITY TOUR – PRIVATE GUIDED TOURS EVERY DAY

    In the morning (9 am) or afternoon (1pm)

    In the  morning or afternoon, tour the Imperial City of Cusco, a living museum with a mix of Andean and Spanish cultures. Visit Koricancha, the ancient Inca Palace and the main worship center of the Sun Inti, which was once filled with gold until plundered during the conquest. The tour continues to the unmatched archeological site of Sacsayhuaman fortress and its military Inca architecture, which dominates the city and is constructed with 100 ton boulders, the heaviest being 128 tons. No nearby quarry matches these stones and archeologists do not agree on how they were transported here! Finally, we explore the archeological sites of Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay before heading back to your hotel in Cusco by early evening.

    Koricancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo

    The convent was built on the spectacular Koricancha ‘Field of gold’. This was the most important temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun and the walls of which were lined with solid sheets of gold. All that remains now is the fine stonework because conquistadors took the gold and destroyed most of the temple to build the convent on top. Koricancha was also an observatory, where priests kept track of major celestial events. Today, some of the original architecture has been restored and it also houses an impressive collection of canvas paintings from the Cusco School of Art. 

    Sacsayhuaman

    Sacsayhuaman (which means ‘satisfied falcon’) is one of the most impressive sites built by the Incas. It is generally referred to as a military fortress. The stones in the wall are incredible and the largest one weighs 128 tons, with no clear explanation on how they come to be at the site. The Incas designed Cusco in the shape of a puma, with Sacsayhuaman as the head. Sacsayhuaman is still used today for the Inti Raymi festival held to celebrate the winter solstice on the 24th of June.

    Q’enqo

    The site of Q’enqo (meaning ‘maze’ in Quechua) contains very impressive hand-carved sections of bedrock. There are carvings everywhere, although some are very indistinct, such as a llama, a condor and snakes have been identified. There are many zigzag channels on top of the natural rock, probably used for pouring sacrificial chicha (a local fermented beverage made from corn). Below the rock, there are a number of caves and passageways, and an altar which was used for the sacrifices of llamas. Mummifications of buried people have been discovered by archeologists in these caves!

    Puka Pukara

    Puka Pukara is translated to ‘the red fortress’ in Quechua. This is a small site and although the name suggests that it was a fortress, it does not appear to have had any defensive purpose. Archeologists theorize that it could have been used to protect the water source at Tambomachay.

    Tambomachay

    The name means “place of rest” in Quechua. It was the royal home of the Inca Yupanqui when he went to hunt in the surrounding area. This site was also thought to have been used as a Temple to the Water. There are some interesting aqueducts, canals and cascades sculpted out of stone, designed to channel water flowing from a nearby stream.

    Inclusions

    WHAT IS INCLUDED

    • Pick up from your hotel
    • Professional English-speaking guide
    • Private transportation to visit all Inca sites
    • Taxes

    WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED   

    1. Entrance to Archeological sites: Purchase the Boleto Turistico (tourist ticket) of 70 soles (about $22 USD), at the first site you enter. This can be used for 1 day to visit archeological sites in the Cusco region.  (See important info, for other options)
    2. Entrance ticket for Koricancha ( 10 Soles per person)
    3. Meals

    Prices

    Please Note:  The Cusco City Tour is only offered to our clients doing at least a 2-day tour or trek to Machu Picchu.

    No. OF PEOPLEPRICE
    Group from 1 to 6 people$ 127 USD for the total group (not per person)
    Group from 7 to 12 people$ 157 USD for the total group (not per person)

    WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

    ENTRANCE FEES

    • Entrance to Archeological sites: Purchase the Boleto Turistico (tourist ticket) of 70 soles (about $22 USD), at the first site you enter. This can be used for 1 day to visit archeological sites in the Cusco region.  (See important info, for other options)
    • Entrance ticket for Koricancha ( 10 Soles per person)
    • Meals

    The Boleto Turistico (tourist ticket)

    You have the option to purchase a 1 Day or a 10 Day Boleto Turistico. 

    The partial ticket, or 1-Day ticket costs 70 soles (about  $20 USD) and is valid for 1 day. You can visit as many sites as you like in one day with no further charge. There are no discounts with this ticket.

    Both tourist tickets, 1-day or 10-day, allows the access to different archeological sites in and around Cusco, the Sacred Valley, various museums in Cusco, the Main Cathedral, the Qoricancha and more.  This is the best way to visit all the archeological sites of the region and the Sacred Valley. Most of the main archeological sites are not accessible for free.

    The general ticket, or 10-Day Ticket is 130 soles (about $35 USD) and is valid for 10 days. This is the cheapest and most convenient way to plan to see different sites in a few days.

    Here is a list of sites where you can use your Boleto Touristico:

    • Sacsayhuaman
    • Q’enqo
    • Puca Pucara
    • Tambomachay
    • Pisac
    • Ollantaytambo
    • Chinchero
    • Moray
    • Tipon
    • Piquillaqta
    • Pachacutec Monument
    • Cusco’s Native Art Center
    • Museum of Popular Art
    • Museum of Contemporary Art
    • Museum of Regional History

    Note : The entrance ticket to the main archeological sites such as Sacsaywaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Tipón and Moray cannot be sold individually; you must buy the Boleto turístico to visit them. You can get it in Avenida el Sol near our office or at the time you enter the first site that you are visiting. YOU MUST PAY IN SOLES, NO CREDIT CARDS OR US DOLLARS ARE ACCEPTED. 

    ImportantThese tickets are not included in the Boleto Turistico.  

    • The ticket for the Koricancha or Santo Domingo Convent (15 soles)
    • The ticket for the Cathedral (40 soles)

    WHAT TO BRING FOR CUSCO CITY TOUR?

    • Passport
    • Warm jacket
    • Hat
    • Water
    • Sun protection
    • Some money for souvenirs
    • Money in soles to purchase boleto turistico and ticket for the Koricancha (80 soles)
    • Original passport

    Cusco City Tour Half Day

    From 127 / Price per person
    • Max. Altitude

      3400

    • Duration

      1 day

    • Group Size

      8

    • Transportation

      Hike, Bus, Train

    Book Now
    Contact us

    Do you have any questions? Contact us:

    +51 992 126 224 orangenationperu@gmail.com
    Cusco City Tour Half Day
    From 127 Book Now
    Orange Nation Peru

    Why Choose Us?

    We're a family-owned Travel Company and Tour Operator located in the heart of the Inca Empire, Cusco, Peru. We create individually customized tours and treks to Peru's most iconic attractions, as well as untouched, off the beaten track locations high in the Andes Mountains.

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    • Authentic and personalized experiences We design unique tours through Peru, tailored just for you.
    • Leadership with real-world experience Our team understands service from the ground up to excellence.
    • Small groups, deeper connection Small groups for closer and safer attention.
    • Personalized attention at all times We take care of every detail before, during, and after your trip.
    • Excellent quality at the best price We offer exceptional service and unforgettable experiences without overpaying.
    Orange Nation Peru Excellent quality at the best price
    Orange Nation Peru Quiet Andean night
    Orange Nation Peru Unique and little explored routes
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    Testimonials

    What our travelers say

    Discover why thousands of people around the world trust us to explore the best of Peru.

    Jake Puppo
    Jake Puppo 5 reseñas · 9 fotos

    The Short Inca Trail with José was a once-in-a-lifetime, unforgettable experience. In the days leading up to our trek, he was highly communicative and provided all the details we needed (packing lists, expectations, timing) so everything…

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    Cynthia Sweeney
    Cynthia Sweeney 5 reseñas · 18 fotos

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    John Edwards 6 reseñas · 2 fotos

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    I had extremely high expectations and they were blown away! Our guide Rolando was an absolute legend. You can tell he is looked up to by all the other guides in the industry. He speaks multiple languages, connects deeply with each hiker,…

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    Georgia W 1 reseña · 6 fotos

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    Matt Downes 1 reseña · 14 fotos

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    Sangeet Anshuman
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    heitor g
    heitor g Friends

    We were short on time during our trip to Peru, so we decided to do the 1-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Everything was very well organised. We were collected from our hotel and taken to the train, where our journey to the trail began. The first part of the hike was a bit challenging, but it was absolutely worth it. The views of the mountains and the surrounding nature were breathtaking. Reaching the Sun Gate and seeing Machu Picchu for the first time was incredible. After the tour, we were taken back by train and dropped off at our hotel. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone visiting Peru, especially if you're short on time but still want to experience the Inca Trail. I also highly recommend our guide, Antonio. He was brilliant, incredibly knowledgeable, and shared so much interesting information about Machu Picchu, its history, and the local flora throughout the trek. He also allowed us to take breaks whenever we needed them.

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    Siu-Yun K
    Siu-Yun K Couples

    Had an awesome day out to Rainbow Mountain with our guide Cesar Siccos! He was full of encouragement and positive energy and we made it to the top! Thank you, Cesar!

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    bethejensen
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    Following a great 2-day Inca Trail experience with SAM Travel, I signed up for the one-day Rainbow Mountain + Red Valley trek. Once again our group was small, just 4 people. Junior was our guide - he was friendly and knowledgeable. He seamlessly adjusted to our request for an earlier start time to beat the crowds, and also managed varying group member speeds / fitness levels well. Another positive experience with SAM Travel - highly recommend booking with them, especially if you are a solo traveler.

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    Jean-Charles v
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    Rainbow mountain hike provided for gorgeous views, bunch of alpaca. At up to 5000 meters it provided for a healthy challenge even if the profile does not look that impressive…. Our guide - Cesar Siccos - was with us the whole way and provided the necessary support to get over the challenge. Great day out.

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    Wanderer56297148501
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