Cusco City Tours

Among the best things to do in Cuzco are its excursions and tours. Discover the Abode of the Gods, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the impressive Rainbow Mountain, the Temple of the Moon...

Immerse yourself in the Inca culture and learn about its fascinating history while enjoying the beautiful views of the Andes. Get to know the prices, advantages, disadvantages and details to get to know Cuzco with guided tours adapted to your preferences.

I recommend you to book the Cuzco tourist bus during your first day in Cuzco. It allows you to tour the main landmarks of the ancient capital of the Inca Empire through 13 stops and avoid altitude sickness or "soroche", as it is known in Peru.

From the historic city centre to the most important archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Quenqo and Puca Pucara, to participating in a ceremony to honour the Pachamama and other claims of the city, with the Hop on Hop off Bus in Cuzco you walk and know the essence of the Inca culture.

Interesting details

• Price: from 14 € per person.
• Duration: one day.
• What you need to know: you are accompanied by a professional guide who is an expert in history.
• What the tour includes: transport for 13 stops at the most important sites of Cuzco, including the White Christ and demonstration of Andean ritual.
• Pros: visits to the archaeological sites are included.
• Cons: Groups can be large.

The Hop on Hop off Bus in Cuzco gives you a first glimpse of the city, but by booking a guided tour of Cuzco you will already know in depth the most important monuments of this ancient city.

From the majestic Cathedral of Cuzco to the enigmatic Temple of the Qoricancha, you can experience the rich cultural fusion that characterizes this city.

It is the perfect opportunity to get the most out of your visit to this ancient capital, especially if you want to see Cuzco in 3 days.

Details of interest

• Price: from 14 € per person.
• Duration: 4-5 hours.
• What you should know: groups usually have a maximum of 15 people.
• What the tour includes: professional guide service.
• Pros: an ideal tour to learn the secrets and history of this fascinating city.
• Cons: Does not include entrance fees to any of the sites visited or lunch.

Starting early in the morning, your guide will take you on a 3 hour drive to the south of Cuzco through small villages where you will enjoy a succulent breakfast accompanied by the locals before starting the hike.

After recharging your energy and stretching your legs, a 60-minute drive separates you from Llaqto, the mountain checkpoint to start your trekking route. You'll then make the 3km trek to the summit, where you'll encounter wild llamas, alpacas and vicuñas.

You'll also see impressive glaciers and crystal-clear gorges. But the real jewel in the crown will be the summit of the Seven Coloured Mountain, at an altitude of over 5000 metres.

Interesting details

• Price: from 72 € per person.
• Duration: 12 - 14 hours.
• What you need to know: take it easy, at 5000 metres it's super important to control your breathing...
• What the tour includes: transport service to and from Cuzco, breakfast, lunch and expert guide service.
• Pros: you are accompanied by a first aid team.
• Cons: It does not include the entrance fee to the Rainbow Mountain, but it is only 10 soles.

Just 13 kilometres from the centre of Cuzco, in the Huaynaccorco sector, stands the majestic Apukunaq Tianan, an impressive set of stone carvings by the Cusquenian master Michael de Titan Monteagudo.

The enormous sculptures carved into the limestone rock, some more than 10 metres high, will take your breath away. The guide will take you on an exciting walk through the Abode of the Gods, explaining the meaning behind each sculpture.

From the lookout point, you can enjoy amazing panoramic views of the city while you let yourself be carried away by this virgin land, its secrets, legends and sounds.

Details of interest

• Price: from 25 € per person.
• Duration: 3 - 4 hours.
• What you should know: this type of tour is offered with minibus transport.
• What's included in the tour: shuttle service to and from your hotel and professional guide service.
• Pros: One of the cheapest and most beautiful tours.
• Cons: Food is not included.

After being picked up from your hotel, you are taken to a horse ranch and once saddled and mounted, you begin the tour. The first stop is the Temple of the Moon, a sacred place used for ceremonies and offerings during full moon nights.

Then, the route continues through "Cara del Inca" and the Devil's Balcony, better known as the Chacan Mountain, which is located behind the Sacsayhuaman sites, where you visit a sacred millenary cave with the fields and Andean communities in the background.

Interesting details

• Price: from 52 € per person.
• Duration: 3 - 4 hours.
• What you need to know: if you are looking for a family tour, this is the one.
• What's included: transport service to and from your hotel, professional guide service and everything related to the horses.
• Pros: The tour is suitable for almost everyone and the prices are reasonable.
• Cons: Food is not included.

Delve into the impressive Inca architecture at the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, at an altitude of 3700 metres, located just 2 kilometres north of the Plaza de Armas in Cuzco.

During your visit you walk around the main points of the park, which covers an area of more than 3000 hectares. There is much to explore, so much so that archaeologists are still trying to reach a consensus about what the park was used for.

On the one hand, it is believed to be a monumental fortress surrounded by mountains at a strategic point in the area. Others point to a ceremonial site where to this day every June 24th the Inti Raymi Festival, the ritual worship of Inti, the Sun God, is celebrated.

Interesting details

• Price: from 62 € per person.
• Duration: 3 - 4 hours.
• What you should know: this place can be reached by tourist bus.
• What's included in the tour: shuttle service to and from your hotel, professional guide service and entrance to the park.
• Pros: The presence of a guide, which is key to making your way through this park.
• Cons: Food is not included.

If you are passionate about history and culture, you can't miss the excursion to Tipon, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas. It is a tour full of breathtaking landscapes.

The first stop is Tipon, an archaeological complex of water worship. There, you explore the complex that served as a source of life for the Tahuantinsuyo Empire.

The next stop is Pikillacta, another important archaeological site dating back to the pre-Columbian Wari Culture. Finally, the group moves on to Andahuaylillas, a peaceful traditional village.

Details of interest

• Price: from 15 € per person.
• Duration: 5- 6 hours.
• What you should know: this is a popular route through the south of Cuzco that visits several of the enclaves of the Sacred Valley.
• What the tour includes: transport service from a central point in Cuzco and professional guide.
• Pros: The price is cheap and in half a day you get around the south of Cuzco with an expert on the local culture.
• Cons: Groups can be large and entrance fees to Pikillacta, Andahuaylillas and Tipon are not included.

Peru is the world's leading culinary destination. During this kind of tours they take you to explore the authentic flavours of Peruvian cuisine through its markets.

One of the typical stops is the famous San Blas market, where escabeche de gallina, "choclito con queso fresco" and soups generally taste great. And the prices are cheap.

The other stop is the San Pedro market. At this market, the guide completes the purchase of all the ingredients needed for your menu, usually 4-5 courses. Then, a professional chef gives one of the best cooking classes in Cuzco which ends with the tasting of this menu.

Interesting details

• Price: from 14 € per person.
• Duration: 3- 6 hours.
• What you should know: the experience is offered in the morning and in the evening, in both cases the pisco sour workshop is usually included.
• What's included in the tour: transport service to your hotel.
• Pros: the groups are usually small so the experience is quite personalised.
• Cons: Tapas and snacks are not included.

• More safety: pedestrian crossings are conspicuous by their absence and signposts are not very regular. In addition, GPS does not always work.
• Avoid scams: fares in Peru are not standardised and variations can be wild if you buy on the spot.
• Public transport is irregular: except for the tourist bus and trains, there are no fixed timetables for buses.
• You get the most out of your trip: the list of activities in and around Cuzco is almost endless and this is not the kind of province to get lost in its streets but to get to know them consciously.