About this tour
- Start: 9 am (Main Square of Cusco)
- Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Type of transport: Walking tour.
- Tour guide: Professional guide in Spanish or English.
- Payment methods: Free tour based on tips at the end of the tour.
- Tourist attractions to visit: Main Square of the Cusco, San Pedro Market, Cathedral (exterior visit), 12 Angle Stone, Cusicancha and Coricancha (exterior visit).
This is the experience
The Free Walking Tour Cusco is one of the best options for the first or second day of your visit to Cusco. It is a walking tour of the main monuments, streets and squares of the city. The service is carried out in the company of a professional tour guide, who will offer a better understanding of Cusco, the capital of the Inca empire and called a museum city, for its incredible monuments with a lot of history. The tour also allows you to get beautiful photographs and learn more about the culture of Cusco, its traditions, customs and even its most famous products. The tourist sites to visit are: the Plaza de Armas, the San Pedro Market, the Cathedral (outside visit), the 12 Angle Stone, the Cusicancha and the Coricancha (outside visit).
Free Walking Tour map
Places to visit
Main Square of Cusco
Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, the historic heart of the imperial city of the Incas, dazzles with its colonial architecture, surrounded by majestic buildings, cathedrals and stone balconies, steeped in Andean culture and splendor.
Regocijo Square
A hidden gem in the heart of Cusco, Plazoleta Regocijo captivates with its quiet charm and picturesque atmosphere. Surrounded by colonial houses and cobblestone streets, it is a haven of serenity in the bustling city.
Arch of Santa Clara
The Santa Clara Arch in Cusco, witness to centuries of history, stands majestically with its colonial architecture. This iconic monument, with its details carved in stone, evokes the grandeur and cultural legacy of the city.
San Pedro Market
The San Pedro Market in Cusco is a feast for the senses. Its labyrinthine corridors are filled with the colors, aromas and flavors of Andean cuisine. A vibrant enclave where culture and tradition merge.
Cusco Cathedral
The majestic Cusco Cathedral, an imposing masterpiece of colonial baroque, dominates the Plaza de Armas. Its imposing towers and Renaissance facades house artistic treasures and historical relics, witnesses to the city’s past splendor.
Stone of the 12 angles
The enigmatic Twelve Angled Stone in Cusco, a symbol of Inca construction skills, impresses with its perfect stone assembly. A lasting testimony to ancestral engineering and craftsmanship.
Cusicancha Palace
The Cusicancha Palace in Cusco is an epitome of Incan architecture. Its imposing stone walls showcase the technical skill and deep astronomical knowledge of its builders, evoking a sacred connection with the cosmos.
Temple of Coricancha
The Coricancha Temple in Cusco, dedicated to the Inca solar cult, fuses architectural majesty with ancestral spirituality. Its carved stone walls and design reflect the wisdom and power of an enduring civilization.
Differences and similarities between the Free Walking Tour and the Cusco City Tour
Machu Picchu is a tourist destination that can be visited on an all-inclusive tour of one, two, three, four days or more. All services offer a safe and well-organized experience. It offers: pick-up, entrance fees, full transportation, professional guide and more. Find out all the prices for the most popular tours in the Inca citadel!
Free Walking Tour Cusco | City Tour Cusco | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes | 4 hours |
| Tourist attractions | Plaza de Armas, San Pedro Market, Cathedral (exterior visit), 12 Angle Stone, Cusicancha and Coricancha (exterior visit). | Cusco Cathedral (indoor tour), Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, Pucapucara, Tambomachay and Coricancha (indoor tour). |
| Transport | Walking tour | Tourist transport in minivan |
| Tour guide | Group service (in Spanish or English) for 2 hours 30 minutes | Group service (in Spanish or English) for 4 hours 30 minutes |
| I pick up | In the Main Square of Cusco | From the door of your hotel in Cusco |
| End | At the Coricancha | At the door of your hotel in Cusco or a central square |
| Availability | Availability limited to 10 visitors per group | Availability of up to 15 tourists per group |
| Advantage | Well organized all inclusive tour | All-inclusive tour with private guide from start to finish |
| Price | Free tour for all visitors | 55 dollars per tourist on average |
Tour Itinerary
- The Free Walking Tour in Cusco starts at the Main Square of the Cusco in the heart of the city at 9 am. The tour guide will greet you with the ‘Machupicchu Terra’ flag at the pool in the center of the Square.
- The group will leave for the Regocijo square where they will visit the municipal palace and the Garcilaso house. Then they will walk to the Plaza San Francisco with its great variety of flowers and trees. There they will also be able to appreciate and take photos with the beautiful colonial church of San Francisco.
- Next, we will walk through more historic streets of the city, including the Santa Clara Arch (in commemoration of the Peru-Bolivia Confederation).
- The next tourist destination to visit will be the San Pedro market, where visitors will get to know Cusco’s popular culture up close. They will also learn about its characteristic products, chuta bread, fruits, typical dishes and popular crafts.
- Then the group continues on to the Cathedral of Cusco where we will learn more about the history of Cusco and its colonial era, which lasted almost 3 centuries.
- Just a few steps away is the famous 12 Angled Stone where visitors can take one of the most popular photos of the city of Cusco. Tourists will learn about Inca architecture and its historical value that endures to this day.
- The next tourist attraction to be visited will be the Cusicancha palace, which was probably the birthplace of Emperor Pachacútec (1,349 AD – 1408 AD).
- Finally, just a few steps away is the Coricancha, the temple of sun worship, the most important in the entire Tahuantinsuyu empire. Visitors will learn about its great history and will be able to take beautiful photos.
- The service ends with a voluntary tip from the tourist to the professional guide. The end is at 11.30 am.
Includes
- Professional tour guide service.
- Didactic maps for each visitor.
- Breakfast and lunch.
- Tickets.
- Tips.
What to bring?
- Hat or cap.
- Comfortable clothing for warm weather.
- A windproof jacket.
- Raincoat.
- Snacks and snacks.
- Comfortable shoes for light walks.
- Sun blocker.
Frequently asked questions about the Free Walking Tour in Cusco
What tourist attractions does the Free Walking Tour in Cusco include?
The Free Walking Tour Cusco includes a visit to: the Plaza de Armas, the San Pedro Market, the Cathedral (exterior visit), the 12 Angles Stone, the Cusicancha and the Coricancha (exterior visit).
Who is the tour guide included in this tour?
The Free Walking Tour Cusco includes the company of a professional tour guide with extensive experience and knowledge. The guide service is provided in two possible languages: Spanish or English.
What time does the Free Walking Tour Cusco start and end?
The Free Walking Tour Cusco begins with the meeting of the group at the pool of the Main Square of Cusco at 9 am. The service concludes at the Coricancha in the historic center of Cusco at 11.30 am.
Can I cancel the tour?
You can cancel the tour by sending an email to info@machupicchuterra.com. You can also coordinate a change of service date or more walking tour options.
How to prevent altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness can cause some inconveniences during your visit to Cusco. The main symptoms are: dizziness, fatigue or nausea. Also, to reduce the symptoms, try to avoid alcoholic beverages and fatty foods before the visit. To reduce the symptoms, try to acclimatize one day before to the altitude of the city of Cusco, which is 3,399 meters above sea level. Another option is to drink hot infusions such as coca leaf (a natural plant used by the Incas).
Group or private services
The Free Walking Tour Cusco is a free group service based on tips. Would you like to do a private service? You can contact info@machupicchuterra.com.