City Tour Cusco Half Day

To begin this half-day excursion, either in the morning or in the afternoon, our guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and pick you up in our private transportation. Then, we will head to the Cathedral of Cusco, where we will begin the visit. Then, we will head to the most important temple of the Inca Empire, the Temple of the Sun, known as the Q’oricancha (“golden enclosure” in Quechua). In it we will be able to observe a detailed and intact architecture and, inside the temple, we will see smaller temples dedicated to the moon, the rainbow, the stars, lightning and thunder, among others. In addition, we will be able to compare and contrast the construction methods of the Inca culture and Catholicism: the Q’oricancha was also the key spiritual center of the Incas, leading to the four quarters of the Inca Empire. Today, the church of Santo Domingo stands above the temple.

From Q’oricancha, we will walk along Avenida El Sol, where we will take our private transportation to visit the spectacular archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, which features enigmatic 200-ton stones and monoliths. Although the site was religious, the Spaniards considered it a military fortress because of its location and construction. The famous Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun is celebrated here on June 24 every year. After your guide’s explanation, you will have time to explore this place on your own.

At the appointed time, we will meet again with our guide to continue to other archaeological sites in the area. Next, we will visit the fascinating Inca site of Q’enqo, also known as Labyrinth or Zigzag. It is built on a natural rock formation that displays complex patterns of steps, seats, geometric reliefs and a puma design. It was also created to represent the Andean constellations and the concept of the three worlds, each of which is represented by sacred animals: the condor, the puma and the snake. According to some theories, these funeral rituals.

Afterwards, we will travel by transport for five minutes to Puca Pucara, a small circular Inca site that served as a refuge for travelers arriving in Cuzco from the Amazon. It was also a military center and was used to protect the nearby temple of Tambomachay. The last stop on our tour is Tambomachay, known as the Temple of Water, which has impressive water fountains and is believed to have been used by the Incas for bathing. In addition, the Incas practiced religious traditions linked to water to rejuvenate the earth. This tradition is known as the fountain of eternal youth. We will then return to the city of Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.