Tour to the South Valley of Cusco half day
FromUSD 45Peruvian price USD 35
About this tour
- Start: At 8 in the morning at the door of your hotel.
- Duration: 5 hours.
- Tickets included (no queues): Entrance ticket to all sites.
- Type of transport: Large full equipment minivan.
- Tour guide: In English and Spanish (shared service).
- Payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, PayPal.
- Immediate confirmation.
Description
- Take a trip through the history of the Incas in one of the places least explored by tourists but that offers buildings as incredible as the Sacred Valley. The tour to the South Valley of Cusco offers a visit to the archaeological site of Tipón, the best hydraulic work of the Incas. Likewise, tourists will visit the city of Piquillacta, one of the best architectural works prior to the Incas. Finally, they will visit the famous chapel of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’ due to its beautiful interior decoration.
So is the experience
- The tour begins in the city of Cusco where you will start the journey of almost 1 hour to the archaeological site of Tipón, where you will visit one of the best preserved Inca sites whose water aqueducts were the best in the entire empire. Then they will continue south to visit the famous pre-Inca city of Piquillacta, which was of great importance before the Incas arrived. Finally, you will visit the famous church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’, for its decoration in gold leaf, its paintings from the ‘Cusco school’ and other treasures worked there. The return to the city of Cusco will be between 1 and 2 in the afternoon.
Route map
Itinerary
- Start the tour with the pick up of the tourist at the same door of your hotel. Transportation by minivan will pick you up at approximately 8 a.m. to head south to the Tipon archaeological site, famous for its masterpieces in hydraulic engineering. In the company of a professional tour guide, the visitor will get to know some of the Inca constructions that exist in this place.
- Then, the transport will take you to the archaeological site of Piquillacta, a place of great importance since there were about 10,000 people from the Wari culture, the most important in the Peruvian Andes after the Incas, settled there. Together with a tour guide you will get to know its walls, tambos and paths.
- Finally, the transport will take you to the traditional town of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas where you will visit its famous church, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’ for its treasures in gold leaf, its paintings made many centuries ago by the so-called ‘Cusco School ‘and its impressive decoration. The tour guide will explain every detail of this famous place.
- Finally, the minivan will return you to the city of Cusco at around 2 in the afternoon. The final whereabouts will be in a central point of the city, close to most tourist hotels and restaurants.
It includes
- Pick up from the hotel.
- Transport in a full minivan (round trip).
- Entrance tickets to all sites.
- Tourist guide service in English and Spanish (shared service).
- Tour cancellation option.
- Breakfast and lunch.
- Snacks and drinks.
- Tips.
What to bring
- Passport (or identity document).
- Hat or cap.
- Comfortable clothes for walks.
- A jacket.
- Poncho for rain.
- Snacks and drinks.
- Comfortable trekking shoes.
- Sunscreen.
Where does the tour start and end?
- The tour begins with the pick up of the tourist at the door of their hotel -valid only for hotels in the historic center of the city- (most tourist hotels are there). If your hotel is not there, the transport will pick you up at a central location in the city, such as a square.
- The tour ends at Square Regocijo in the city center (a few steps from most hotels and tourist restaurants).
How to prevent altitude sickness?
- 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. Drinking infusions of coca leaf (natural plant used by the Incas) is an excellent option.
Group or private services
- The information described applies to shared services (for a varied group of tourists). If you want a private service (for your own group of family or friends) contact us at info@machupicchuterra.
Frequent questions
How long does the trip from Cusco to the South Valley of Cusco take?
The South Valley of Cusco is a geographical area of several very important but little visited tourist attractions. The trip from the city of Cusco to Tipón (the first tourist attraction in the South Valley) takes approximately 40 minutes (25 kilometers away).
What is Tipón and why visit it?
Tipón is an Inca archaeological site of great size and importance. It has terraces, enclosures, platforms, temples, viewpoints and, above all, channels and aqueducts. It is recognized as a masterpiece of Inca hydraulic engineering.
Does the tour include lunch?
No. The tour to the South Valley of Cusco lasts only half a day. It starts early in the city of Cusco (I pick up each tourist from their hotel) and ends in the same place, close to most restaurants in the city.
Does the tour include tickets to all tourist attractions?
Yes. The tour includes the entrance ticket to all the tourist attractions: Tipón, Piquillacta and the church of Andahuaylillas. Thus, the visitor will not have to queue to get the entrance ticket for each place.
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