City Tours of Cusco serves as the best introduction to the history and culture of the Inca empire. The former capital of Inca is home to some of the iconic archaeological sites like Sacsayhuaman and Qorikancha or the temple of the sun.
This half day City tour of Cusco with a local is the best thing to do while acclimating to the altitude before your trip to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain.
Cusco City saw a rapid development under the leadership of Incan emperor Pachacutec. The leader who built Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. You will be able to see his statue on top of a fountain at the Plaza de Armas (Main square of Cusco).
On this half day tour, you will be visiting the notable Inca sites like the cathedral of Cusco, Qorikancha, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara.
We have designed the tour in a way that you will understand that Cusco’s reputation as a gateway to Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu simply underscores its enduring popularity.
The half day City Tours Cusco begins with a visit to the Cathedral of Cusco. This was once a royal palace of Incas. On conquering Cusco, the Spanish rulers demolished the palace and modified it into a cathedral. The artwork inside the cathedral is a perfect blend to Inca and Spanish culture.
We will then visit Qorikancha or the Sun Temple. This was an emblematic building which was the supreme religious site to Incas. It was from here they worshipped Inti (Sun). Legends believe the courtyard of the temple was once filled with gold statues.
When the Spanish demolished this sacred site to build the Santo Domingo church, they maintained the basement of the building which can be seen today.
We will then drive you to the outskirts of Cusco City. Here we will be visiting Sacsayhuaman. It is a fortress built using massive stone blocks each weighing over 100 tons. It is still a mystery how the Incas transported such massive stone blocks to the site.
Our next stop will be at Q’enqo. Incas used this site for sacrifices and to mummify corpses.
Driving further, we will be stopping at Tambomachay. It served as a spa to the political elite of Incas. The narrow water channels are linked to the nearby Timpuc river. Even today it works just as it used to during the time of Incas.
We will be culminating the trip by visiting Puca Pucara. It is a massive rock. The Incan militants used this as a watch tower to keep away intruders from entering their capital city.
After the half day City Tours Cusco, we will be driving you back to Cusco city and will be dropping you off at Plaza Regocijo, a block away from Plaza de Armas.
If you are coming from a high altitude region a couple of days would be enough to explore the ruins in and on the outskirts of the city.
However it is recommended to spend atleast a week in Cusco city.
May is the best time to visit Cusco. As Cusco is the part of the Andes it is subject to two season wet season and dry season.
Wet season lasts from November to April. And in Cusco it is dry season from May to October.
Qorikancha the Sun temple as built during the mid 15th century during the reign of the 10th Inca sapa Pachacutec.
Sacsayhuaman is an impressive Inca fortress perched on a hilltop overlooking the city of Cusco.
The fortress is built entirely of massive rocks each weighing over 100 tons.
The Cusco Tours (Half Day) – City Tours Cusco provided a captivating journey through the heart of the ancient capital, offering a kaleidoscope of historical wonders and cultural treasures. Our adventure commenced with a visit to the majestic Cusco Cathedral, a testament to the rich tapestry of Inca and Spanish influences that define the city.
Next, we ventured to Qorikancha, the revered Sun Temple of the Incas. Standing amidst the ruins of this once-sacred site, I couldn’t help but marvel at the architectural prowess of its creators and the spiritual significance it held for ancient Andean civilizations.
