The Cusco City Tour 1d

The Cusco City Tour is the perfect way to get the inside-scoop on the City of Cusco.  By the end of this tour, you will be an expert in Incan and Spanish colonial history as we visit the famous Saqsayhuaman Fortress, the sacred Incan fountain of Tambomachay, the look-out point of Pucapucara, the caves of Q’enko, the 12-angle stone, the Cathedral in the Main Plaza, and the great Inca Temple of Qoricancha – this one-day tour is a must for any first time traveler to Cusco!

Tour Itinerary

The Cusco City Tour

In this fascinating 1 day tour, we will pick you up from your hotel at 9:00 AM and board a tourist van and drive 20 minutes to the entrance of the famous Incan Fortress Saqsayhuaman.  This fortress was built by the Inca ruler Pachacutec in the 1400’s and includes some of the biggest stones used in Incan constructions (Some weighing over 120 tons!).

After exploring these magnificent ruins, we will board the van and proceed to our second stop – Tambomachay (which means “young fountain” in Quechua.  This is the site of the famous “Incan baths” – a sacred fountain which runs all year round. 

Next, we will take a short drive to the Inca lookout point of Pucapucara – used by Incan soldiers to guard the city and store food – here we will enjoy an amazing view of the entire Cusco Valley. 

At this point, we will return to Cusco and get to know some of the most important sights in the city.  First, we will stop at the Main Plaza and visit the great Colonial Cathedral. This structure represents one of the most important Catholic churches in South America – as it was used to evangelize the Incan people after the Spanish Conquista.  This breathtaking colonial structure also houses over 350 original colonial-period paintings.

Our last stop is the Temple of Qoricancha.  This unique monument juxtaposes traditional colonial architecture with that of its traditional Inca predecessor – the Catholic Temple of Saint Dominic is actually built on top of the foundation of the Incan Temple!  After a tour of the temple, we will conclude the City Tour and return you to your hotel.