City Tour Cusco 1/2 Day (ALL INCLUSIVE)
Half day city tour in the enigmatic Inka capital of Cusco
The city of Cusco is full of history and impressive Inca monuments. On the Cusco city tour, your guide will take you on a step by step journey through the finest landmarks the city has to offer.
The tour includes the prominent historical sites of Sacsayhuamán, an astounding Inca fortress whose stonework is so impeccable that is said ‘will endure as long as the world itself’. The religious complex of Q’enqo, a sacred Inca pilgrimage site, that once served as an astronomical observatory and mummification house. And the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, which was the religious, geographical, and political center of Cusco during the period of the Incas.
In addition to the majestic archaeological sites, the tour will culminate at the famous San Pedro market & Plaza de Armas.
Places to visit :
- Cusco
- Qoricancha
- Sacsayhuaman
- Q'enqo
- Plaza de Armas
- San Pedro Market
Need Help To Book?
Our dedicated team of travel experts is here to assist you every step of the way, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable journey.
There are 2 schedules to choose from depending on your travel itinerary:
- In the morning : 9:00am to 1:30pm
- In the afternoon : 1:30pm to 6:00pm
The 1/2 day city tour will begin with pick up from your hotel in Cusco 10 minutes before the chosen start time of the tour.
Your private transportation will then drive you and your tour guide to the first landmark of the day, Sacsayhuaman, a Quechua name meaning ‘satisfied hawk’. The archaeological site was built by the Incas in the 15th century with huge blocks of stone precisely cut and fit using techniques that are unmatched in the Americas. In the time of the Incas, Sacsayhuaman was named the “sun house”, and was a religious center of great importance.
Our second Inca site of the day will be the nearby complex of Q’enqo, a Quechua word meaning ‘Labyrinth’. A name coined by the Spaniards for its underground galleries and small canals carved in zigzag formations. Like its neighbour Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo was important religious site of the Inca’s, where ceremonies in honor of their major gods were performed.
After returning to the city center, your guide will accompany you around the famous market of San Pedro. Here you can treat yourself to all the traditional pleasures Cusco has to offer, including local cuisines, souvenirs and artisanal crafts.
Continuing with the tour, you will then visit the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha. This was the religious, geographical, and political center of Cusco during the period of the Incas, as it leads to all four quarters of the Inca Empire. Qoricancha also offers a unique opportunity to compare and contrast the building methods of the Inca culture of old and modern-day Catholicism.
To end your tour in Cusco you will be accompanied to Cusco’s main square, Plaza de Armas, the central core of modern Cusco. These days the square is flanked on all sides by restaurants, gift shops travel agencies, aswell as two Catholic churches built during the colonial period. The cathedral of Cusco and the Church of the Society of Jesus.
Once your 4-hour guided tour of the city is complete, you will be accompanied back to your chosen hotel.
CUSCO CITY TOUR – THE MOST IMPORTANT PLACES TO VISIT IN THE CITY:
QORIKANCHA
The convent was built on the spectacular Qorikancha place of gold, a site dedicated to the worship of the sun, whose walls were covered with sheets of gold. The convent stands on a foundation of polished stone structures, the most finely crafted in the Inca Empire. Its gate is an excellent example of Renaissance and its unique tower, baroque, is prominent on the tiled roofs of the city. Like all churches, it has an important collection of paintings of the Cusquenian School.
MAIN SQUARE OF CUSCO – PLAZA DE ARMAS
In our visit to the main square, we can see the cathedral of Cusco and the Church of the Society of Jesus, that during Inca times were palaces of the Inca rulers. Throughout the main streets can be found relics such as the stone of the 12 angles, impressive stone walls, palaces, and well-preserved buildings from the Inka period. Each providing an opportunity for some magnificent souvenir photos to take home.
SACSAYHUAMAN
A stunning example of Inca military architecture, this fortress was built using giant slabs of granite and dry-stone walls. The complex was originally dedicated to safeguarding the city of Cusco from attacks by invaders from the east. Sacsayhuaman is made up of three large terraces which overlap in a ‘zigzag’ and are flanked by enormous stone ramparts up to 300 meters in length. Due to its proximity and elevation to Cusco city, and its 5 meter high stones (weighing up to 350 tonnes), the site served as a quarry for certain structures inside the city of Cusco.
Q`ENQO
Located 4 kilometres northeast of the city of Cusco, Q’enqo was a spiritual center of the Inca’s built on a singular outcrop of limestone. Its underground galleys and semicircular amphitheatre fulfilled a purely religious function, hosting ceremonies in honor of their major gods such as the sun, the moon, the mountains and the earth. Q’enqo is also home to the Intihuatana, an astronomical observatory used to calculate the position of the sun and to predict changes in the seasons.
SAN PEDRO MARKET
San Pedro market is the oldest, most central and most famous market in Cusco. Founded in 1925, it is the commercial core of the city and still remains the largest concentration point for the supply of essential materials for Cusco and its visitors. Without a doubt, San Pedro market offers a cultural experience like no other, as it is bursting with Andean traditions including sounds, smells, local gestures and of course the native Quechua language. Vendors inside the market are selling everything from fresh produce to meats, to handmade garments and crafts and even precious delicacies of the Andean people.
Included
- Pick-up and drop off at your hotel in Cusco
- Private transport around Cusco city
- Professional English/Spanish speaking tour guide
- Entrance to Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán & Q’enqo
Not Included
- Food, drinks and snacks
Recommendations to bring
- Original passport – expiration date no less than 7 months
- Walking shoes or light shoes or tennis shoes
- Canteen water bottle as you should drink plenty of fluid on the tour
- Raincoat or long poncho during the rainy season
- Long sleeve shirts
- Long pants
- Sunscreen
- Wide-brimmed hat – UPV is strong at altitude
- Sunglasses
- Medicines and / or personal effects
- A light backpack
- Camera or phone camera
- Cash/coins – small denominations – soles & dollars
- Face mask and face shield (if preferred)
Additional Information
- The hotel reservation is subject to space availability.
- The cost of the tour packages is based on a double or matrimonial room. For an individual room, an additional payment must be made.
- We can also organize a travel itinerary according to your requirements and the places you want to visit. These can be with category 3, * 4 *, and 5 * hotels.
- For more queries and information write to us by email:​machupicchuviajesperu@gmail.com
WHY CHOOSE MACHU PICCHU VIAJES PERU?
- We are a local tour operator based in Cusco with 15 years of experience as a Tour operator 100% Cusquenian Company.
- We have all the Authorizations and licensed by the Peruvian government as proof that we are an official tour operator.
- We have the Best Tour guides (Fluent in English and Spanish): We are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional, licensed and degrees by the Peruvian government and speak fluent English and Spanish. They are very knowledgeable and passionate about Incan heritage and history. Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurately and recognized theories in Incan and Andean cultures.
- Small groups & Personalized and High-quality service (Customized Private Tour), This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.
- No hidden prices or Surprises/ We Never Pass you onto another operator as most travel agencies do here. We will depart even if you are a group of 02 persons (Departure of tours is 100% guaranteed).
- We never share services with other companies as most travel agencies do here to Minimize cost
- We are a Sustainable and eco-friendly tour company, Machu Picchu Viajes Peru has always believed that we should “give back” to the communities we pass through on our treks. Therefore, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we socially support and employ these communities.
- We are committed to social projects and improving living conditions for the children of Peru.
- Our dream as a locally based company is to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering to Personalized and High-quality service.
- We treat our team of porters the best with a HOUSE for them to sleep in and proper equipment, wages, and health insurance for everyone
- Master Chefs The best in the Cusco region
- The food provided on our treks is the best( buffet Style and plenty of food)
- The best Camping Equipment for the Inca Trail and alternative treks (spacious tents 4 season aluminum poles tents, Eating & Cooking tents, Portable table & chairs, comfortable mattresses, and more…)
- Our tourist transports are exclusively for our services, which are completely reliable, comfortable, safe and with all the necessary authorizations.
“Machu Picchu Viajes Perú” We know how important it is to trust a trustworthy honest operator to create the adventure of a lifetime while in Peru. Take a look at our reviews and certificates of excellence in Tripadvisor
Where does the tour start and end?
- All ours tours begins with the pick up to the tourists at the door of their hotels “We pick up to our clients from any hotel located in the city of Cusco”, We recommend to stay close to the historical center of the city of Cusco, it will make it easier to find your hotel.
- All our tours ends at the door of the hotels, it means the tours will finish with transfer to your respective hotel located in Cusco.
How to prevent altitude sickness?
- The altitude sickness or soroche can cause you some discomfort during your visit such as dizziness, fatigue or nausea. Try to avoid alcoholic beverages and fatty foods before the visit.
- To reduce symptoms, try to acclimatize yourself one day before to the altitude of the city of Cusco. We recommend to drink infusions of coca leaf (natural plant used by the Incas) is an excellent option to avoid the actitude sickness.
How is the accommodation?
- For all the tours which include hotels. We offer hotels of 3* and 4* category, it has spacious and comfortable rooms, bathrooms, hot showers and bueffet breakfast. If the tourist like, you can change the accommodation to a better service. You just have to request it via email for an additional cost.
Which season is the best time to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu?
- The dry season months between April to December are the best time to come and visit Cusco. During those days the possibility of rain is very little, so the roads are not swampy and the landscapes can be better to enjoy and takes the best pictures. On the other hand, the months with the most rain are January, February and March.
What are the coldest months in Cusco Peru?
- The coldest season in Cusco are in the months from May to July. During this time the sun is strong in the day, but once it goes down or you spend much time in the shade, it can get very cold. It can go below zero at night, so warm clothes and Jackets are necessary to bring during these months.
How long in advance can I request the tour?
- We recommend to purchase the tours weeks or months in advance, this because the train and Machu Picchu tickets has a limit of spaces, dont wait until the lust minute to book your tour, other ways you will not be able to find spaces.
During the trip to Machu Picchu, where the big luggages will stay?
The train company that operates to Machu Picchu does not allow the traveler to carry a suitcase that weighs more than 7 kilograms. To go up and visit the city of Machu Picchu, it is recommended to carry a light and small backpack for your convenience; the rest of the luggages you can leave them without any problem at the storage of your hotel in Cusco, or you can also leave at our office in Cusco city, we have an storage too.
Very Important in case you want to book the Inca trail to Machu Picchu:
- CLASSIC INCA TRAIL 4 DAYS: If you want to book the Classic Inca Trail 4 days, you must to book early to get your desired date. Depending on the month you prefer to do the hike, you may need to book 6 months or more in advance, the limit of spaces for the inca trail 4 days is 400 people per each day.
- SHORT INCA TRAIL: If you are booking the 1 or 2 day Inca Trail, it is preferred that you also book in advance, however 2 to 4 month in advance would be good, the limit of spaces for the short inca trail is 200 people per each day.
When is the best season to hike the Inca Trail?
- The best time of year to do the inca trail is between May to October, with August and September being the best months of all. The trail is dry and the weather is lovely. During the rainy season between November to April the trail will be wet and can make it more difficult.
What will you live with the City Tour Cusco Half Day
- You will have a spectacular tour of the city and its surroundings where you will be able to feel the magic of the Andean culture visiting the most important archaeological sites.
- It is an excellent alternative to get to know the city before visiting Machu Picchu or other places.
- You will live an experience in Cusco in the company of our guide who will tell you the secrets of the imperial city.
- You will visit the extensive esplanade of Saqsayhuaman and the mysteries of Qenqo.
- This is an experience designed for people of all ages.
Why choose "Machu Picchu Viajes Peru"?
Sustainable and Responsible
We have the highest social and environmental standards in the market of tour operators, which means that we practice a sustainable and responsible tourism with the environment.
Certificates and Authorizations
We are a tour operator company, which has all the authorizations from the Peruvian government, authorizations that certify us as a legally constituted company .
Certificate in TourCert
We are one of the few companies in Peru certified by TourCert, European certifier with a management system oriented to work on aspects of Business Social Responsibility (BSR).
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