Cusco City Coricancha & Sacsayhuaman Tour – Half Day

According to the Incas, the mountaintop city of Cusco is the belly button of the world. Tumble back into the cosmic realm of ancient Andean culture on this day tour of Cusco City. We’ll cover the must-sees with a local expert who will share the history of this mythical place from ancient civilizations to the Spanish conquest and beyond.

We’ll pick you up from your hotel and take you to our first stop: Plaza de Armas. In Inca times, the plaza was called Huacaypata – heart of the capital. Today it’s the center of modern Cusco, surrounded by colonial arcades and dominated by the imposing cathedral.

La Catedral was built on the site of Viracocha’s Inca palace, using blocks stolen from the nearby Inca site of Sacsaywaman (which we’ll later see!). It is joined by El Triunfo, the city’s oldest church.

Next we head to the ruins of Qorikancha, Quechua for ‘Golden Courtyard’, but also known as “Temple of the Sun”. This was said to be the most important site in the entire empire. It was also the richest temple, literally covered with gold during its heyday. It currently forms the base of the colonial church and convent of Santo Domingo

We’ll also get to Sacsayhuaman, the most impressive Inca ruin in Cusco’s immediate vicinity. Its name translates to ‘Satisfied Falcon’ (although you might remember it by the mnemonic ‘sexy woman’!). The former fort saw one of the most bitter battles of the Spanish conquest; don’t miss the magnificent three-tiered zigzag fortifications. We'll then visit Tambomachay, also know as "Water Temple".

Finally, we’ll hit the two small ruins of Q’enqo and Pukapukara before heading back. The former is a large limestone rock whose flat top was used for ceremonies. It’s also home to a mysterious subterranean cave with rock-hewn altars. The latter, meanwhile, is a commanding structure looking down on Cusco valley.

After a fun day exploring, we’ll leave you at Plaza de Armas to wind down for the evening, perhaps in one of the excellent restaurants around?

“This is a great introduction to Incan culture and to Cusco.” — Kristin, Be My Travel Muse