Southern Valley Cusco – Half Day Tour
OVERVIEW
Step off the beaten path and into the heart of the Inca civilization with our Southern Valley Cusco Half Day Tour. This enriching journey invites you to explore the less-traveled roads of Cusco’s Southern Valley, an area brimming with ancient ruins, fascinating culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Ideal for those who wish to delve deeper into the historical intricacies of the Inca Empire while enjoying the scenic tranquility away from the more frequented tourist paths.
The Southern Valley Cusco
Our tour begins with a visit to Tipón, an engineering marvel that showcases the advanced hydraulic engineering of the Inca. This archaeological site features expansive terraces and a complex irrigation system that is still in use today. The flowing water channels amidst lush greenery make Tipón a serene spot to appreciate the ingenuity of ancient practices that have stood the test of time.
Next, we head to Pikillacta, the only pre-Inca site in the vicinity of Cusco. This large Wari complex comprises hundreds of adobe structures and offers a unique glimpse into a civilization that thrived in the Andean highlands before the rise of the Inca Empire. As you wander through this ancient urban center, you’ll gain insights into the Wari people’s lives and their architectural styles, which laid some of the foundations for subsequent Inca development.
The final stop on our tour is the beautiful church of Andahuaylillas, often referred to as the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’ due to its richly decorated interior. This 17th-century church is adorned with stunning murals, gold leaf altars, and intricate wood carvings, reflecting the fusion of indigenous and Spanish artistic styles. It provides a visually striking conclusion to our exploration of the Southern Valley’s cultural and historical wealth.
Throughout the tour, you’ll enjoy stories and insights from our knowledgeable guides, who bring the history of these sites to life. The Southern Valley Cusco Half Day Tour is perfect for those looking to explore the quieter, but equally fascinating parts of the Cusco region.
DURATION:
1 Day
Itinerary
DAY 1: Southern Valley Cusco – Half Day Tour
This tour begins at approximately 8:30 a.m. or 8:50 a.m., when we will pick you up from your hotel. We will head south out of the city of Cusco to visit archaeological sites, rock art and other attractions. The tour begins with a visit to Tipón, one of the finest archaeological complexes in the Cusco region, with its series of water channels. The tour will continue at Pikillaqta, a place of considerable historical importance. Finally, we will drive to the village of Andahuaylillas, with its church that has been described as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas”. Here we will learn more about the history of Catholicism in this part of Peru. Throughout the excursion, our guide will explain the history of each place we visit.
We will return to Cusco at around 2:00 p.m.
Posted on Lieset WVerified Our best guide in Peru Guido was an excellent guide. Friendly, knows a lot about the inka culture and funny. It was very nice to meet him and spent time with himPosted on Sammy KVerified Excellent tour of Machu Pichu, Aguascalientes and logistics from Cusco Majestic tour of Machu Pichu, Edwin is very responsive, friendly and helpful. Alfred has a passion for history, culture and food and is an excellent guide. 10/10 would recommendPosted on NadinelaVerified Incroyable ! Superbe experience, passionnés de randonnée nous nous sommes régalés ! Physique et intense mais ça en vaut la peine! Organisation et équipe au top du top! Des paysages à couper le souffle! Merci beaucoup à nos guides Nidia et Olger exceptionnels qui nous ont partagé leurs savoir et leur amour de la nature et de leurs origines. Et merci aux cuisiniers qui nous accompagnent et nous préparent des repas excellents tout au long du trek! Je le referai avec grand plaisir et vous le conseille fortement.Posted on Fearless07724790585Verified Amazing views and great guide! This was an excellent tour. Whether you are short on time or just prefer to do a shorter part of the Inca trail this tour does not disappoint. Our guide Jhimmy was amazing. I have some knee issues and he was very patient and made several stops. He also was very knowlegeable. We passed several ruin sites along the way to Machu Picchu. Highly recommend!Posted on Aaron HVerified Short Inka Trail an einem Tag Die kurzfristige Organisation von Edwin war sehr gut. Wir konnten ihn immer erreichen und auch bei Fragen anrufen. Auch konnten wir Sonderwünsche mit anfragen. Der Tour Guide jhimy war sehr nett hatte immer die passenden Infos auf Lager. Auch die Geschwindigkeit war gut gewählt. Das vorbereitete Essen. (Wir wählten die vegetarische Option) war sehr lecker und auch eine große Portion. Der hin Transport war hervorragend organisiert und die Zugfahrt pünktlich. Leider gab es beim Rücktransport ein paar Unstimmigkeiten die jedoch nach einem Gespräch mit Edwin schnell und für alle zufriedenstellend geklärt wurden.Posted on LexDVerified AMAZING, thanks Andy Andy was a super guide, really funny and patient, it was an amazing experience, i 100% recommanded ! The trek was hard but worth it, beautiful views and culture.Posted on Eleanor GVerified Great Adventure An awesome experience. Our guide Andy really made the trip. The rafting was a lot of fun. The jungle trek is a great way to experience different activities on the way to Machu Picchu.Posted on chebg yun cVerified excelente viaje por camino inca llegue a esta agencia por una recomendación de un amigo, para realizar el camino inca hacia machupicchu de 4 dias donde tuvimos una buena atención por parte de la companía ,buena organización y excelente trato tanto como nuestro pablo conPosted on SidVerified Machu picchu - Wayannapichu Trek - Highly recommend this with a Track 2 tour. Amazing experience and you should do the 7 Jhimmy was really nice and guided about the place really well. The tour was amazing as he made sure to take places where I wanted to go. Highly recommend doing wayanapichu trek. Other treks are good but don't miss this.Posted on Parnian AVerified Amazing experience Edy and Rosmel were our tour guides, and they were absolutely wonderful—knowledgeable, helpful, and genuinely kind. We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the tour, from the well-organized schedule to the delicious food and scenic trails. The hotel was comfortable as well. Thank you both for making this journey so memorable for us. We will never forget your warm hospitality!
Included
- Briefing at your hotel, the night prior to the start of the tour.
- All hotel transfers (pick up and drop out).
- Private transport from Cusco to the Malaga Pass/Santa Maria.
- Bike in rental and protective gear ( helmets, knee pads, etc).
- 3 nights accommodation in hostels.
- 3 breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
- Bilingual professional tour guide (English and Spanish).
- Machu Picchu entrance fees.
- Return to Cusco (by car or train, optional).
- River rafting.
- Zip line.
Not Include
- Hot springs entrance fee in Cocalmayo (3 USD).
- Bus to Machu Picchu (12 USD, double if you want to return by bus).
- Breakfast on the first day and lunch at Machu Picchu (you will have options to choose a restaurant and explore).
- Snacks.
Price
If you are a university student you can get a 20 USD discount on your entrance to Machu Picchu. To apply for this benefit you have to send a digital copy of both sides of your current student card.
Make sure all data (name, university’s name, visible student photo) is visible. You can only apply to this benefit if you are 25 years old or younger. After getting the discount, you have to present your student card at the control point before entering Machu Picchu.
The regular pricing for the Inca Jungle Trek depends on your return option. However, we have available many services that can enhance your Inca Jungle Trek.
The return by car can cost you 185 USD per person. The return by train can cost you 285 USD per person. For the Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu we recommend adding the 50 USD. For the complete adventure sport experience.
Additionals
- Machu Picchu Mountain climbing: 20 USD
- Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: 20 USD
- Vistadome Train Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo (luxury upgrade): 30 USD
- And all extras mentioned in the Not-Included section above.
What Do You Need To Bring/Carry
- Original Passport, ID and other important documents.
- Hiking footwear (waterproof if possible).
- Backpack with rain cover.
- Insect repellent and sunscreen with high SPF.
- Light clothing with a warm layer.
- Hat for sun protection.
- Swimsuit, towel and sandals.
- Rain poncho or waterproof light jacket.
- Personal medication and basic first aid personal kit.
- Caloric portable snacks for the route.
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