TourismCusco

Tours & experiences

Half-day Cusco City Tour + 4 Ruins

About this experience

If you are in the city of Cusco, take a half-day Cusco City tour and its surroundings.
The Traditional city tour Cusco will allow you to explore the archaeological capital of America and the four nearby archaeological sites.
Admire the ornamental religious beauty of the Cathedral. Walk down the impressive Loreto Street towards the Coricancha temple (gold enclosure) and also visit Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay.
The classic Cusco city tour begins and ends in the city of Cusco, lasts 6 hours, and we offer two types of tours: group and private.

At a glance

  • Duration: 6 hr

Choose your tour option

Select a date and travellers to compare current prices and departure times.

Half-day Cusco Private Tour
Private family tour: Explore Cusco on a private tour.
Pickup included
Half-day Cusco Shared Tour
Group Tour: Join our shared tour.
Pickup included

Plan your experience

Time on the tour6 hr
Getting therePickup offeredSee pickup details
Guide languagesEnglish (live guide), Spanish (live guide)

Set aside 6 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.

Compare the available options before choosing: their itinerary, inclusions and pickup arrangements can differ. Check the price for your date and whole group.

Before you go

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What is included

  • Top-level local guide in English or Spanish.
  • Group or Private Tour
  • Tourist mobility and a driver

Not included

  • Entrance to the Cathedral. You can buy it at the same place.
  • Entrance to the Qorikancha. You can buy it at the same place.
  • Entrance to Sacsayhuaman. It can be purchased at the same place.

Itinerary and highlights

Half-day Cusco city tour + 4 ruins.

Your professional guide and a tourist minivan will pick you up at your hotel or meet you at the cathedral main entrance at the agreed time. Then start your Cusco city tour and its surroundings.
Start at the main square and first Visit to the Cusco Cathedral.
The cathedral, or Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, is one of the masterpieces of the colonial era, built between 1560 and 1664 on the foundations of one of the Inca Empire palaces, Quishuarqancha, located in the main square. It represents a fusion of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles and is one of the most important monuments in the Americas; its interior houses an incalculable wealth of gold, silver, paintings, and other treasures.

After that, visit the Qorikancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun.

Qoricancha Tour.

From the cathedral to the Coricancha, stroll through the beautiful original streets of the Inca Empire.

The Coricancha (from the Quechua “Qori Kancha,” meaning “golden enclosure”) was the holiest temple of the Inca Empire, dedicated to the Sun God (Inti) in Cuzco. Built or remodeled primarily by Pachacútec in the 15th century, its walls were covered in gold, and it served as a religious and political center, as well as an astronomical observatory. After the conquest, it was looted, and the Convent of Santo Domingo was built on its foundations.

Then continue your tour to Sacsayhuaman.

Sacsayhuaman Tour.

From Qoricancha to Sacsayhuaman, take a 10-minute ride on a tour bus.
The Sacsayhuaman archaeological site, located 3,700 meters above sea level near Cusco, is a colossal Inca structure that Pachacútec began building in the 15th century and Huayna Cápac continued. Famous for its enormous, precisely fitted limestone blocks, it served as a ceremonial and religious center as well as a military fortress, and today it is the site of Inti Raymi (the largest festival dedicated to the Sun God). From here, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of the Cusco modern city.

Then continue your tour to Qenqo.

Qenqo Tour.
Qenqo is an important Inca archaeological site located near the Cusco city and a 5-minute drive from Sacsayhuaman.
Qenqo (also spelled Kenko or Q'enqo) means “labyrinth” in Quechua. It is a ceremonial complex that was used primarily for religious and ritual purposes during the Inca Empire. It is renowned for its extraordinary on-site work carved into a massive limestone rock.

Pucapucara tour.

Pucapucara, known as the “Red Fortress,” is an Inca archaeological site near Cusco, just a 10-minute drive from Qenqo. Puca Pucara served primarily as a rest stop (tambo or tampu) and a military control center along the Qhapaq Ñan, guarding the route from the Sacred Valley to the imperial capital.

Tambomachay tour.

Tambomachay, located 8 km from Cusco, is a 15th-century Inca archaeological site known as the “Bath of the Inca” or “Tambo de la Caverna” (from the Quechua words tampu and machay). It was a very important ceremonial center dedicated to the worship of water, the source of life, notable for its impressive hydraulic engineering, capable of maintaining a continuous flow of water.

Inca textiles tour / llama, alpaca tours.

A Visit to “Manos de la Comunidad” is a project and a “living museum” that preserves and promotes ancient pre-Inca and Inca textile techniques. Located in the Huayllarqocha community, near Pucapucara and Tambomachay, it is a 20-minute drive from Cusco city center. It offers ancestral cultural experiences, showcases the raising of camelids (llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and huanacos), and allows visitors to interact with the animals and purchase handmade textiles made from camelid wool that reflect Andean identity and tradition.
Finally, after the tour, we will drop you off at your hotel or Plaza Regocijo (one block from the main square).

Meeting and pickup information

  • Go to the Cathedral main entrance.
  • Pickup included at all hotels located near the city center. If your hotel is far from the center, the meeting point will be the main entrance of Cusco Cathedral.

Languages and tickets

  • English — Guide
  • Spanish — Guide
  • Mobile Only

Tour operator

  • Exclusive Peru Tours

Accessibility and practical details

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Questions about this experience

How long is this experience?
The supplier lists a duration of 6 hr. Check your chosen tour option for its specific itinerary.
What are the pickup arrangements?
Pickup included at all hotels located near the city center. If your hotel is far from the center, the meeting point will be the main entrance of Cusco Cathedral.
Which guide languages are listed?
English (live guide), Spanish (live guide).
What ticket format is listed?
Mobile ticket.
What ticket age bands are listed?
Adult tickets: age 4+. Check the practical details for participation requirements.
What is the cancellation policy?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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