Enjoy a Cusco City Tour with our TripAdvisor award-winning guides.
Cusco City Tour with Sacsayhuaman Fortress
Cusco City Tour and Sacsayhuaman
Cusco al atardecer
A Cusco city tour is the perfect way to explore this world-famous historical capital of Peru.
Wandering the streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a beautiful way to acclimatize to high altitude while taking in Cusco’s many charms.
We are the agency that runs TripAdvisor’s award-winning full-day and half-day Cusco city tours.
Our full-day Cusco city tour highlights include:
Cusco Cathedral
Qoricancha Temple
Sacsayhuaman fortress ruins
Cusco’s Plaza de Armas
San Pedro market
Local Cusco restaurants
Cusco City and Sacsayhuaman Tour Itinerary
An Introduction to Our Cusco City Tour
Who better to host you on your Cusco city tour than our team, voted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice for travel the last four years running?
Cusco is the Archaeological capital of America, the city where colonial houses, churches, and convents were built on top of Inca foundations and walls. Small wonder it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our English-speaking guides will show you the rich culture and traditions of historic Cusco, one of South America’s oldest cities. They’ll show you where to get the best photographs and avoid the crowds so you see Cusco in comfort, help with restaurant recommendations and buying entrance tickets, and ensure your acclimatization goes smoothly.
This Cusco city tour includes the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, featuring incredible stonework and magnificent mountain views. Moreover, our walking tours of Cusco include hidden parts of Cusco, so you can see how locals proudly live in traditional and time-honored fashion.
Book with confidence through our Cusco-based bilingual team, which accepts PayPal and Visa, offering both group and private options.
“We were very well taken care of. We took the tour to the most popular and interesting places around Cusco and also to the city’s tourist attractions. Our guide, Hernesto, was very knowledgeable about the city’s history and also about ancient civilisations. If you’re looking for an exclusive experience, it’s definitely worth it.”
Our Cusco City Tour Itinerary
Our Cusco City full-day tour lasts around eight hours and includes a coffee and lunch stop. All our Cusco tours are private and can be adapted to suit your interests. It suits people who like exploring cities on foot.
Pick-up from hotel → Walk to San Pedro Market to haggle for local products and try local juices → Walk to Plaza de Armas.
Coffee break.
Visit Cusco Cathedral → Tour Qoricancha Sun Temple → Enjoy a traditional Cusco lunch in a hand-picked local restaurant.
Drive 15 minutes to Sacsayhuaman → Explore Sacsayhuaman fortress → Drive back to your Cusco hotel, ends.
Exploring Sacsayhuaman ruins as part of our Cusco city tour
Cusco City Tour Timings
08.30 am Pick up from your Cusco hotel
09.00 am San Pedro Market
10.00 am Plaza de Armas and a coffee stop
11.00 am Cusco Cathedral
Noon Qoricancha Temple
1 pm Lunch in a typical Cusco restaurant
2 pm Drive to Sacsayhuaman (15 mins) and tour the fortress
4.30 pm Drop off at your Cusco hotel. The tour ends
Cusco sits at around 3,400m/11,155 feet, and our highest point is at 3,800m/12,467 feet. Therefore, our Cusco city tour is ideal for acclimatization preparation for visiting the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
Top acclimatization tips: Walk slowly, avoid quick movements, drink coca tea, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, caffeine, and heavy meals.
What are Cusco’s Most Famous Attractions?
We can tailor your Cusco city tour to your interests. Here are some of our favourites. We’ll plan your Cusco city and Sacsayhuaman tour so we make the most of our time at each site.
Plaza de Armas: Cusco’s vibrant heart, surrounded by colonial architecture and lively culture, with lovely restaurants and cafés from which to people-watch. The Spanish built the Plaza in the 16th century atop Inca buildings in an area once called Huacaypata.
Cusco Cathedral: A stunning 16th-century cathedral filled with art blending Inca and Spanish traditions, mixing Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles. Look for the Last Supper painting featuring a guinea pig.
Twelve-Angled Stone: World-famous example of precise Inca stone masonry embedded in a stunning colonial wall. There are twelve cuts to make this national heritage stone fit into its home wall.
Twelve-angled stone, Cusco
Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun): This was once the most important Inca temple, later converted into a Spanish convent. Qorikancha is renowned for its Inca stonework, intricate gold and silver decorations, and its significant religious and astronomical importance. Precision-cut stones and trapezoidal doorways show its architectural worth.
San Pedro Market: A bustling local market offering everything from souvenirs to traditional Peruvian food. Tourists and locals rub shoulders and enjoy haggling over everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to dairy, meat, and drinks.
Sacsayhuamán: A massive Inca fortress perched above the city with impressive stonework and panoramic views. Some stones weigh more than 100 tons, and the tallest is over nine meters high, yet they fit together seamlessly.
San Blas Neighborhood: A charming, artsy district with narrow streets, galleries, and great local shops. It’s a little hilly, so take it easy as you acclimatize and stroll along cobblestoned streets. Photographers, shoppers, and foodies will love exploring this beautiful area.
Museo Inka: Showcases Inca artefacts, history, and pre-Columbian culture, exploring Andean geography. The museum houses a collection of keros, textiles, mummies, tools, weapons, and goldsmithing.
Q'enqo: Mysterious Inca ceremonial site on the outskirts of Cusco with carved rock altars and underground passages. One of its most famous buildings is a 'sacrificial room' where rituals with animal blood may have been performed.
Cristo Blanco: A large white statue of Christ overlooking Cusco, offering a great viewpoint of the city
Cusco City Tour: Full Itinerary in Detail
Your English-speaking guide will pick you up from your Cusco hotel to kickstart your Cusco city tour. The first stop on our walking tour of Cusco is the bustling San Pedro market.
Explore Cusco’s San Pedro Market
San Pedro market is where many Cusqueños start their day. Today, on your Cusco city tour, you do, too.
Cusco is a central trading point for produce from the Amazon, the Andes, and the sea. Your guide will explain the incredible variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, and medicinal plants on display.
San Pedro Market is a whole sensory experience. There are street vendors in traditional dress at the entrance, hawking snacks, herbs, and other dry foods.
There are many stalls inside, selling everything from local food to souvenirs to freshly squeezed juices from a dizzying array of fruits (make sure yours is made with bottled water to avoid an upset stomach). Colors and smells will flood your senses.
There are many exotic fruits, juices, and hot drinks to try, including coca, whose tea will help you acclimatize to the high altitude. Ask your guide for tips, and if you want to try anything, the San Pedro market is a taste bud sensation!
Your guide will also help you with any purchases you wish to make; haggling can be great fun. Please ask vendors if they are happy to have their photographs taken before doing so.
Cusco’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin
Cusco’s Cathedral Basilica; why is it famous?
Cusco’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin was built with stone blocks from Sacsayhuaman to form one of the Americas’ most beautiful monuments. The cathedral combines Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic styles and is part of Peru’s cultural heritage.
The cathedral's interior showcases some of South America's best colonial goldsmith examples. There are 15 pillars supporting the cathedral and three entrances to this impressive building. The high altar is made entirely of silver, a fantastic sight. Ask your guide about the forty paintings of Cusco's archbishops and bishops.
Qoricancha, Cusco’s Sun Temple
City tours of Cusco are incomplete without a visit to Qoricancha (kor-ee-can-cha) Sun Temple, sometimes written as Coricancha Temple, which was crucial to Inca culture. The Qoricancha temple was the most revered in its time, dedicated as it was to Inti, the Inca Sun God, the most important Inca god.
The temple houses smaller dedications to the stars, moon, and sun and has beautiful floral gardens. On arrival, the Spanish conquistadores leveled Qoricancha and built Santo Domingo Convent up the Inca foundations. Qoricancha forms a crucial part of Cusco's Inca, colonial, and present mythology, which your guide will readily explain.
A weaver in Cusco, some of the highlights to see on our Cusco city tour
Was Qoricancha a More Important Inca Site Than Machu Picchu?
Yes, Qoricancha was a more important religious site to the Incas than Machu Picchu. Qoricancha was dedicated to the most important Inca sun god, Inti, hence its name, the Sun Temple. It was built before Machu Picchu.
Cusco City Tour Lunch Stop
We usually take lunch between noon and 1 pm. This is your Cusco city tour, so we follow your rhythm and adapt to what you feel like doing.
The idea is to visit a local restaurant to get a feel for the rich Cusqueñan cuisine. That could be chicken and chips to cuy (guinea pig) or anything in between. There are vegetarian and vegan options, too.
We usually get back on the road in the early afternoon, giving us time to explore the magnificent Sacsayhuaman fortress.
Sacsayhuaman Ruins, Cusco
Sacsayhuaman Fortress Tour
Hop into your private vehicle and relax during the 15-minute drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site Sacsayhuaman Fortress.
Sacsayhuaman perches on a steep outcrop some two kilometers outside Cusco, with lovely views. This Inca site boggles the mind; massive carved boulders sit together to form earthquake-proof military and ceremonial sites. There is no mortar on site, and some stones are nine meters (30 ft) tall and weigh 120 tonnes. The annual Inti Raymi festival culminates at Sacsayhuaman on June 24 every year.
There are some of South America's tallest terraces, plus plazas and platforms. Sacsayhuaman stretches over a wide area, so be ready to explore. Once we've taken in the landscape, we'll drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
Our Cusco city tour shows you the very best highlights of this incredible Inca citadel. Remember to add on a trip to Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain, or any of our fantastic treks.
Read our FAQs, covering altitude, money, and more.
How Much Does A Cusco City Tour Cost?
Minimum two people
Cusco City Tour Full day
Groups of 2: $120 per person
Groups of 3 or more: $90 per person
What does the Cusco City tour include?
Private transportation to Sacsayhuaman and an English-speaking private tour guide
What does the Cusco City tour not include?
Tourist ticket: 130 soles: $40 covers the entrance to Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray, several museums in Cusco and Sacsayhuaman or 70 soles: $23 covering only some of these sites, lunch, entrance to the cathedral ($12) and Coricancha ($5)
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You can book your Cusco city tour via our website. We offer daily departures and have a secure, online payment system.
Please contact us for more details
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Our Cusco city full-day tour takes around eight hours, starting around 8.30 am and ending around 4.30 pm.
We also offer half-day Cusco city tours. Our half-day Cusco tour lasts around four hours, either in the morning or the afternoon.
We can adapt all cour Cusco City Tours to make it shorter or longer to suit your needs.
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Plaza de Armas: Cusco’s vibrant heart, surrounded by colonial architecture and lively culture.
Cusco Cathedral: A stunning 16th-century cathedral filled with art blending Inca and Spanish traditions.
Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun): The once most important Inca temple that later became a Spanish convent.
San Pedro Market: A bustling local market offering everything from souvenirs to traditional Peruvian food.
Sacsayhuamán: A massive Inca fortress perched above the city with impressive stonework and panoramic views.
San Blas Neighborhood: A charming, artsy district with narrow streets, galleries, and great local shops.
Twelve-Angled Stone: World-famous famous example of precise Inca stone masonry embedded in a stunning colonial wall.
Museo Inka: Showcases Inca artifacts, history, and pre-Columbian culture.
Q'enqo: Mysterious Inca ceremonial site with carved rock altars and underground passages.
Cristo Blanco: A large white statue of Christ overlooking Cusco, offering a great viewpoint of the city.
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Cusco is at high altitude, around 11,000ft, or 3,350m. The Cusco city tour includes walking, which requires people to be in reasonable physical shape.
Contact us with any concerns because we can adjust our tours to suit your requirements; more or less activity, as you wish.
Also, let us know about any pre-existing medical conditions and we can offer advice on the best route for you.
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Our pickup time for the Cusco city tour is around 0830. We can start at alternative times to suit your itinerary.
Please allow 30 minutes or so in case of bad traffic. Cusco is an old and historic city with many steep, narrow, cobbled lanes that can add to journey times. -
All our Cusco city tours are private. That means we can take things at your pace, be it a half-day or full-day tour.
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We offer all our Cusco city tours in English and Spanish. This is the same for all our Peru trips.
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A full-day Cusco walking tour gives you a chance to visit several sites and spend time exploring them. These include San Pedro Market, Plaza de Armas, Cusco Cathedral, Qoricancha Temple, and Sacsayhuaman.
We can also set up half-day tours for people short on time or passing through the city quickly. Half-day trips are perfect for people with a free morning before an afternoon flight or those arriving early morning who want to enjoy a fun-packed afternoon.
Half-day tours will be quicker and require an alternative itinerary.Contact us to discuss what you'd love to see, and we'll work out how to include it all.
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We recommend bringing the following on your Cusco walking tour:
• Phone/camera and charger
• Small rucksack (15-25 liters)
• Sunhat to protect the head and face
• Light footwear
• Warm hat
• UV protection sunglasses
• Sunscreen (factor 50+)
• Warm jacket
• Raincoat
• Poncho
• Water bottle (1-2 liters)
• Passport
• Any medications you may need
• Cash for souvenirs, drinks, meals, etc.
• Optional walking poles -
Many people enjoy a Cusco tour soon after arriving in the city. Anyone not acclimatized to the high altitude should walk slowly, drink lots of water, avoid caffeine and alcohol, and not eat large meals. Sips of coca tea can also help with acclimatization.
We recommend you bring lots of water and sunscreen. Remember to ask before taking someone’s picture, and don’t be surprised if some people ask for a tip — many people make a living posing for photographs.
Be prepared to try new things in markets, but wash fruit with bottled water and only buy drinks made with bottled water. Your guide can help.
Have a poncho at hand because it can rain anytime in Cusco! -
Yes, you can participate in our Cusco city tours on the first day of arrival into this ancient Inca city.
Walking at a gentle pace at various altitudes (between 3,400m/11,155 feet and 3,800m/12,467 feet) can help your acclimatization process significantly.
Your guide will be able to help you with tips on how to cope with the change in altitude during your Cusco city tour. -
We include the following sites on our Cusco day trip:
• San Pedro Market
• Plaza de Armas and a coffee stop
• Cusco Cathedral
• Qoricancha Temple
• Lunch in a typical Cusco restaurant
• Sacsayhuaman fortress
We can also include Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and other attractions on request. -
We don’t include the Cusco tourist ticket in the price of our tours. Known locally as the Boleto Turistico, buying a ticket during your tour is easy. Our guide will help. You need to pay in Peruvian Solees cash (cards not accepted).
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You can buy the Boleto Turistico at any of the attractions to which it grants access in Peruvian Sales (cash) only. Card payments are not accepted.
You can also buy it at these tourist offices:
• Avenida del Sol 103
• Mantas 109, close to the main square, Plazas de Armas
There are four types of Cusco tourist tickets. The best for you depends on how many Inca sites in the region you wish to see and how long you will be in the area. Again, our guides and support team will advise you on which is the appropriate ticket to buy.Note: The Cusco tourist ticket does not grant entry to Machu Picchu.
Full tourist ticket: Costs around 130 soles ($40), is valid for ten days, and gives access to 16 Inca sites, ruins, and museums in and around Cusco.
Partial Cusco Tourist Ticket 1: Costs around 70 soles ($20), is valid for one day, and gives access to Qenqo, Sacsayhuaman, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.
Partial Cusco Tourist Ticket 2: Costs around 70 soles ($20), valid for two days, and gives access to:
• Qoricancha museum (not the temple), the Museo de Sitio de Qoricancha.
• Regional History Museum, Museo Historico Regional.
• Pachacuteq Monument, Monumento a Pachacuteq.
• Popular Art Museum, Museo de Arte Popular.
• Pikillacta, Parque Archaeológico de Pikillacta.
• Qosqo Centre for Native Art, Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo.
• Tipon, Parque Archaeológico de Tipon.
• Contemporary Art Museum, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo.
Partial Cusco Tourist Ticket 3: Costs around 70 soles ($20), is valid for two days, and gives access to Ollantaytambo, Moray, Chinchero, and Pisac.
Notes and Discounts:
• You need at least six months validity on your passport to enter Peru and buy Cusco tourist tickets.
• There are discounts for students (aged 18-25) holding valid student IDs or ISIC cards.
• Children under ten years old get free entry.
• Children aged 10-18 with valid ID get the student discount price.
• Peru residents and nationals receive discounted rates.
Information correct July 2023. Read more here. -
Cusco has two marked seasons: the rainy summer (Dec-Mar) and the dry winter (May-Sept). The shoulder seasons are fall (April) and spring (November).
The dry season (May-Sept) usually means dry, sunny days with clear or partially cloudy skies. Nights are cold, with temperatures dropping close to freezing. Days can be warm, especially in the powerful Andean sun, and chilly in the shade. That's why you'll need both sunscreen and warm clothing.
The wet season typically sees bright mornings followed by afternoon rains, although it doesn't rain daily. We try to complete our tours before the showers arrive for your comfort.
Check Cusco’s weather here and Peru’s here. -
Our private city tour lasts eight hours, including the San Pedro market, Cusco's main square (Plaza de Armas), Cusco Cathedral, Qoricancha temple, and the Sacsayhuaman fortress.
Please ask if you wish to include any other places of interest. -
Most travelers fly into Cusco and arrive at the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, located about a 10 minute drive from the city center. Flights land from Lima, Arequipa, La Paz, and Juliaca (Lake Titicaca).
Buses: These arrive from Lima (21 hours), Arequipa (10-11 hours), Lake Titicaca (Puno, 6-8 hours), and Puerto Maldonaldo (11 hours).
Trains: There are luxury trains linking Cusco with Puno for Lake Titicaca and Arequipa. Contact us for more.
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Our Cusco city tour is for people who want a walking tour of Cusco's historical and cultural highlights. We offer a fully tailored service for many interests.
Other trips we can organize include:
• A day tour by train to Machu Picchu ruins
• A chocolate-making tour in Cusco, great for families
• Cusco night tours to a planetarium to see stars through Inca eyes
• A cultural trip to see weavers, make chicha beer and see guinea pig farms
• An Inca ruins trip with Puca Pucara fort and Tambomachay aqueducts
• A day trip to the Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Moray and Maras tours
• Visit the famous Rainbow Mountain near Cusco
• A luxury train ride to Lake Titicaca
• Connect with nature at Humantay Lake
• White water rafting down the Urubamba River
These are a selection of what is available. Contact us for more. -
There are a lot of attractions in Cusco, and not just the full-day or half-day city tour.
The city serves as a focal point for a region that includes the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, and Salkantay.
You can shop, raft, hike, bike, make chocolate, and much more. We offer community visits as well as the chance to visit projects we support.
There are a host of top-quality restaurants and shops as well as historical sites to enjoy in Cusco.
Cusco is easily accessible with several daily flights from regional airports and many bus and train options.
Depending on their schedule demands, people usually spend between one and seven days in Cusco city center. It is a strategic point with access to banks, cash machines, clothes, food, and anything else you may need for your travels.
Many people arrive in Cusco and spend the night before starting to explore the area. Cusco is well worth a full or half-day trip before moving on, mainly because it helps with acclimatization.
Many people also spend a night in Cusco at the end of their exploration of the region, perfect for picking up souvenirs. -
Yes! Cusco is a very walkable city. Its narrow, cobbled streets are perfect for ambling, and perusing the various shops, cafés, and restaurants. Turning a corner may bring you to a stunning colonial church or little plaza that deserves time to explore.
Many of Cusco’s attractions are within easy walking distance. That’s why most of our Cusco city tour is a walking tour. We include transport (10 mins) to take you to Sacsayhuaman; these ruins are outside the city. Walking takes about 45 minutes, but we think it’s safer to take a taxi.
The high altitude (3,400m/11,155ft) means anyone not acclimatized to the rarefied air should take it easy and saunter. Central areas are generally safe at night if people avoid displays of wealth. We recommend taking taxis at night, especially if you are unsure where you are heading.Anyone arriving to Cusco’s high altitudes from sea level will need to walk slowly at first and take things easy to get used to the high air.
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Cusco has a wide range of hostels and hotels to suit every budget. Choose a 2* hotel up to 5* luxury, and everything in between. Ask us for suggestions.
We know many of the city’s best-kept secrets when it comes to accommodation. Some hotels have great spas, others lovely gardens, while many have colonial or Inca stonework that gives a superb ambience.
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Our Cusco city tour is the perfect way to spend a day in Cusco. Other options include the following—ask us for more details:
Chocolate making
Cusco night tour with Planetarium visit
Learn how to make Peruvian corn beer, chicha.
Take a cooking class and cook like the Incas.
Visit Sacsayhuaman.
Head to the Sacred Valley.
People watch in plazas, of which there are many.
Try street food in the local markets.
Spend some time at a local spa.
Go horseback riding.
Try the local drink, Pisco sour.
Try your hand at weaving with the experts.
Walk around the beautiful San Blas neighborhood.
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We recommend a total of two-three days in Cusco, to give you time to enjoy its attractions. There is a lot to see and do in Cusco.
However, if you only have one day in Cusco, our Cusco tour brings you the city's highlights, overflowing with culture and historical attractions. While the city has more than enough to entertain people for more than a day, our Cusco city tour means you'll leave with a genuine and heartfelt appreciation of Cusco.
Anyone acclimatizing for the Inca Trail trek (or similar) will need at least two nights in Cusco (or similar altitude) before starting the hike. One day in Cusco is not enough time for unacclimatized hikers. -
Two days in Cusco is perfect for acclimatizing for treks and exploring the region.
There is time to orientate yourself within and enjoy the city, and perhaps add another trip, like rafting or horse riding.We recommened two to three nights in Cusco to really enjoy this ancient Inca capital.
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Yes, you can visit Machu Picchu in a day from Cusco. We offer one-day trips to the Inca citadel from Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Aguas Calientes.
You’ll need an early start to catch a train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of the ruins. From here, it’s a bus to the ruins followed by a walking tour. Return the same route, stopping in Aguas Calientes for something to eat and maybe even a dip in the hot springs! -
Yes, we include a tour of the Sacsayhuamán Inca fortress in our Cusco city tours.
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Most hotels and hostels have a secure storage area for you to leave your luggage while on the Cusco city tour.
If you’ve already checked out, or not yet checked in, our driver can keep your luggage safely in our private vehicle until the tour ends. Alternatively, luggage can be left safely at our Cusco office.
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We don’t include travel insurance with our Cusco city tour. We recommend buying travel insurance before starting your Peru trip. Ensure it covers you for unforeseen circumstances and emergencies like flight cancellations, lost luggage, or medical issues.
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Cusco is generally a safe city for travelers. Like travel anywhere, we recommend taking precautions, which include:
Cash and valuables: Don’t carry cash around in large quantities and avoid shows of wealth like the latest iPhone or expensive camera.
Always take official taxis, especially at night.
Don’t underestimate altitude sickness; take it easy on arrival and drink lots of water.
Take care when changing money, especially in the street, or using ATMs.
Avoid dark streets at night; take an official taxi to your hotel or hostel.
