Short Itinerary
Pick-up at your hotel and walk from the Plaza de Armas along Loreto Street to Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), where you can admire the colonial Santo Domingo Convent built upon the imposing Inca foundations.
Next, visit the four archaeological sites in the highlands of Cusco:
• Sacsayhuamán: a fortress with walls of giant stones and panoramic views.
• Q’enqo: a ceremonial center with carved rocks and ritual channels.
• Puka Pukara: an ancient military outpost on the road to the Sacred Valley.
• Tambomachay: an aquatic sanctuary with stone fountains and channels.
Itinerary
Day 1: Plaza of Armas – Qoricancha – Saqsayhuaman Archaeological Park
Hotel Pickup
- Morning pickup from your hotel to begin the city tour.
Historic Center
- Walk through the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), the heart of colonial Cusco.
- Stroll along Loreto Street to Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), an Inca temple whose foundations support a colonial-era church—showcasing the fusion of Inca and Spanish architecture.
Archaeological Sites (Saqsa Waman Archaeological Park)
Continue to the upper part of the city to visit four key Inca sites:
- Sacsayhuamán: Massive fortress with impressive zigzagging stone walls and panoramic views of Cusco.
- Qenqo: Ceremonial site featuring underground chambers and carved rock altars.
- Pucapucara: Small military outpost with terraces and structures believed to have served as a tambo (rest stop).
- Tambomachay: Sacred water shrine with finely crafted aqueducts and fountains, thought to be a place of worship for water deities.
Return
- Conclude the tour with transportation back to your hotel in Cusco.
