Your Cusco City Tour 1/2 Day begins with a meeting at the Plaza de Armas of Cusco. This central square, once the heart of the Inca capital, is today surrounded by colonial buildings, shops, and restaurants, making it the perfect starting point to explore the city’s fascinating mix of history and culture.

From here, you will walk a short distance to the Temple of the Sun – Qorikancha, one of the most sacred and impressive places of the Inca Empire. Once covered in sheets of gold and filled with life-size golden statues, Qorikancha was later transformed into the Convent of Santo Domingo by the Spanish. Today, you can still admire the extraordinary Inca stonework that coexists with colonial architecture.

After visiting Qorikancha, your journey continues outside the historic center to the remarkable Inca site of Sacsayhuamán. Known for its massive stone walls that fit together perfectly without mortar, this fortress demonstrates the genius of Inca engineering and offers stunning panoramic views of the city of Cusco.

The tour then takes you to three additional archaeological sites: Q’enqo, a ceremonial center carved into rock with mysterious altars and passageways; Puca Pucara, a military complex believed to have served as a checkpoint and resting place for travelers; and Tambomachay, also known as the “Inca Baths,” a water shrine associated with fertility, purification, and worship of water. After exploring these sacred places, you will return to Cusco around 6:30 pm, with a deeper understanding of the city’s unique heritage.