Short itinerary
Day 1: Cusco
- Visit to Cusco Cathedral: Explore the Cathedral, the Church of the Holy Family, and the Church of Triumph.
- Qoricancha: Visit the Temple of the Sun, the most important Inca site, now the Convent of Santo Domingo.
- Sacsayhuaman: Impressive fortress overlooking Cusco, famous for its massive stones, some 9 meters high and weighing over 350 tons.
- Qenqo: Located 4 km northeast of Cusco, known for its labyrinthine structures, semi-circular amphitheater, and a monolith shaped like a puma.
- Puka Pukara: Meaning «Red Fortress,» likely served to guard Tambomachay, with structures that indicate it was also a lodging and supply post for travelers and the Inca’s entourage.
- Tambomachay: About 8 km north of Cusco, dedicated to the worship of water and as a resting place for the Inca. It features aqueducts and waterfalls, uniquely engineered so two cascades fill bottles equally at the same time.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Cusco
Our tour begins with a visit to the historic center of Cusco. We will explore the majestic Cathedral, home to impressive colonial art, as well as the Church of the Holy Family and the Church of Triumph. Next, we visit Qoricancha, the spectacular Temple of the Sun, which was the most important religious site in the Inca Empire. Today it forms part of the Santo Domingo Convent, a striking example of how Inca and colonial architecture blend together.
We then continue to Sacsayhuaman, a fortress strategically built on a hill overlooking Cusco. Here you’ll marvel at its massive stone walls, some blocks standing 9 meters high and weighing more than 350 tons, assembled with impressive precision.
Afterward, we head to Qenqo, a site whose name means «labyrinth» or «zigzag.» It served mainly religious purposes, with a semicircular amphitheater and a puma-shaped monolith approximately six meters high. Our next stop is Puka Pukara, or «Red Fortress,» named for the reddish hue of its limestone rocks. It likely functioned both as a guard post for Tambomachay and as a collective inn that offered shelter and provisions to travelers and the Inca’s retinue.
Finally, we arrive at Tambomachay, located about 8 km north of Cusco. This archaeological site was dedicated to water worship and served as a retreat for the Inca ruler. Known as the Inca Baths, it features aqueducts and waterfalls cleverly designed so that two separate streams fill containers simultaneously—an extraordinary feat of Inca hydraulic engineering.
Included
- Tourist transport
- Bilingual professional guide (Spanish/English)
Not included
- Lunch
- Entrance tickets to each site visited
- Partial Tourist Ticket (BTP) required for most archaeological sites
Recommendations
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking and light clothing, with a jacket for cooler weather.
- Use sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or cap, and insect repellent.
- Carry your valid passport or ID (required at ticket checks).
- Bring a small backpack with water and personal items.
- Follow your guide’s instructions and respect the heritage sites to help preserve them.
