Photo gallery
Cusco City Tour photos
Tour overview
Cusco City Tour at a glance
The ideal first afternoon in Cusco. An easy half-day that helps you adjust to the altitude while you discover the Inca capital, from the Temple of the Sun to the giant walls of Sacsayhuamán.
Our Cusco team checks the services, timings and availability for your dates and sends the options in a written quote.
Journey highlights
Highlights of the Cusco City Tour
- Qoricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun
- Cusco Cathedral and the Plaza de Armas
- Sacsayhuamán's giant stone walls
- Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay
Detailed itinerary
Cusco City Tour itinerary
Times and services are indicative. Your final schedule is confirmed in your written quote.
1:30 pm — Pickup and Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun
Your guide meets you in the historic center and walks you to the Qoricancha, the most important temple of the Inca Empire, once covered in sheets of gold. The Spanish built the Convent of Santo Domingo on top of it, and today you can see both side by side: the finest Inca stonework in Cusco, with perfectly fitted walls and trapezoidal niches, inside a colonial cloister. Your guide explains how the temple was dedicated to the Sun, the Moon, the stars and the rainbow, and how its walls survived the earthquakes that brought down the church.
2:30 pm — Cusco Cathedral and the Plaza de Armas
A short walk takes you to the Plaza de Armas, the heart of the Inca capital, and the Cathedral, built over the palace of the Inca Viracocha. Inside you see works of the Cusco School of painting, including the famous Last Supper with a roasted guinea pig, the silver altar and the carved choir stalls, and your guide shows how Andean symbols were woven into Christian art.
3:30 pm — Sacsayhuamán
The bus climbs above the city to Sacsayhuamán, the great Inca ceremonial complex with zigzag walls of giant stones, some weighing more than 100 tons. You walk along the terraces while your guide explains how they were cut, moved and fitted without mortar, and the view over the red roofs of Cusco is one of the best in the city. Every June 24 the site hosts the Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun.
4:30 pm — Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay
The road continues to Q'enqo, a huge limestone outcrop carved with channels, steps and an underground altar used for rituals and offerings. Next is Puka Pukara, a small red-stone post that guarded the road and controlled travelers, and then Tambomachay, the "bath of the Inca", where water still flows through stone fountains built more than 500 years ago.
6:30 pm — Back in Cusco
The bus drives back down to the historic center as the sun sets, and drops you near the Plaza de Armas, close to most hotels and restaurants.
What's included
What's included in the Cusco City Tour
Included
- transport
- guide
- Cusco Tourist Ticket (partial)
- Qoricancha ticket
- Cathedral ticket
Not included
- meals
- tips
Plan with confidence
Duration, difficulty and price
Good to know
Good to know before you go
Planning guides
Planning guides
What to bring
What to pack
- Original passport
- Light jacket (afternoons turn cold quickly), sun hat and sunscreen
- Comfortable shoes and a refillable water bottle
- Cash in soles for tips and small purchases
Carry the original passport used to book. Check your confirmed ticket and operator instructions for current baggage and site rules.
Frequently asked questions
Cusco City Tour FAQs
Morning or afternoon?
We run the shared tour in the afternoon; a private tour can start in the morning.
Is the Cusco Tourist Ticket valid for other tours?
Yes. The partial ticket for the city ruins is separate from the valley ticket, and both are included in our Sacred Valley and package prices.
Is it suitable for children and older travelers?
Yes. It is our easiest tour.
What do you visit on the Cusco City Tour?
The Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, Sacsayhuamán, and the smaller sites of Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay above the city.
Is there a dress code?
Inside the Cathedral, shoulders and knees should be covered and hats come off.
Is it a good tour for my first day in Cusco?
Yes. It is gentle and runs in the afternoon, so it suits your arrival day or the day after. Walk slowly and drink water: Cusco sits at 3,400 m and Tambomachay at about 3,700 m.
Which entrance tickets are included?
The partial Cusco Tourist Ticket for the city ruins, plus the Qoricancha and Cathedral tickets. Bring your original passport; copies are not accepted.
Tripadvisor reviews
What travelers say about the Cusco City Tour
Reviews of Traveleez Peru SAC, the operator of Machu-Picchu.tours, on our Tripadvisor profile Machu Picchu by Traveleez.
★★★★★
Incredible experience
“An unforgettable experience. Super punctual, good transportation, and very good treatment.”
Translated from Spanish
