Cusco City Tour: Sacsayhuaman, Koricancha & Tambomachay

Four and a half hours across six Inca sites, from carved rock temples to fortress walls

A guided tour of Cusco's UNESCO-listed Inca heritage in one afternoon or morning, with hotel pickup and a professional guide in English or Spanish. You visit Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), Cusco Cathedral, Sacsayhuaman with its massive stone blocks, Qenqo's ceremonial rock carvings, Puca Pucara fortress, and Tambomachay's ritual bathing site, learning about Inca culture at each stop.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 19.99 to US$ 29.99 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Afternoon tour 10:00, 13:00 and 13:30 Guide in English or Spanish Group service: a 4-hour Cusco city tour by minivan or minibus, visiting the Major Cathedral of Cusco, Koricancha (Sun Temple), Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay, with pickup included. Enjoy this amazing Cusco city tour, which takes in unique sites such as Sacsayhuaman, the cathedral, Koricancha, Tambomachay and Pucapucara.

Morning tour 09:30 Guide in English or Spanish Cusco city tour lasting 4 hours in a small group, with pickup included

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Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cusco's historical sites

• Visit Qoricancha Temple of the Sun
• Explore Cusco Cathedral
• Tour Sacsayhuaman fortress
• See Qenqo ceremonial center
• Visit Puca Pucara fortress
• Relax at Tambomachay site

Stops and time spent at each 5 stops

1. Qorikancha 30m
2. Cusco Cathedral 40m
3. Sacsayhuaman 40m
4. Q'enqo 30m
5. Tambomachay 30m

What’s included

• Transport to all six sites.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• one bottle of water per person.

Times

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• Every day 09:30 10:00 13:00 13:30

Information

Four-and-a-half-hour guided Cusco tour visiting Sacsayhuaman's massive stone walls, the Temple of the Sun, and four other archaeological sites with hotel pickup and water.

Group Up to 15 3 similar private tours ›

Live guide English and Spanish Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 31 pickup points. See the pickup points

Book up to 12h before

Ages Adult (18 to 85 years) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems Infants must sit on laps

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.25 ★★★★★ Very good 8 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

The tour runs four and a half hours and covers six sites across and around Cusco's historic center. Your guide picks you up from your hotel and takes you first to Koricancha, the Temple of the Sun, where you see some of the finest Inca stonework still standing. From there you move to Cusco Cathedral, which holds colonial paintings and murals alongside its Spanish architecture. The route then heads into the hills above the city to Sacsayhuaman, where you stand in front of massive monoliths (some weighing as much as 200 tons) fitted together without mortar. These are the stones that anchor Cusco's UNESCO World Heritage designation.

The remaining stops work backward through Inca ceremonial life. Qenqo was a religious center carved directly into natural rock, with channels and chambers the Incas used for rituals. Puca Pucara, a reddish-colored fortress, sits lower on the slope. Tambomachay, whose name means underground cavity in Quechua, was a retreat where Inca nobility came to rest, with water channels still flowing through its stone structures. Your guide explains the purpose and history of each site as you move through them.

Transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, and one bottle of water are included. Entrance fees (125 Peruvian sol, paid in cash) are separate. You'll need your passport details at booking. The tour operates in the morning or afternoon depending on which option you choose.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What are the monoliths at Sacsayhuaman actually made of?

Sacsayhuaman's massive stones are granite, fitted so precisely that mortar was not needed. The largest blocks weigh around 200 tons and were quarried and moved into place by Inca builders without wheels or metal tools.

Is Koricancha still a functioning temple, or is it a museum?

Koricancha, the Temple of the Sun, is an archaeological site you visit with your guide. The Inca stonework remains visible, though a Spanish colonial church was built on top of part of the original structure after the conquest.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

You walk at each of the six sites, with some uphill sections, especially at Sacsayhuaman. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Infants can ride in a stroller or be held.

Does the tour include time inside Cusco Cathedral?

Yes, Cusco Cathedral is one of the six stops on the itinerary. You see its paintings and murals as part of the guided tour.

What's the difference between the morning and afternoon options?

Both tours cover the same six sites and last four and a half hours. The morning tour departs earlier in the day. The afternoon tour begins after lunch. Choose based on what fits the rest of your schedule in Cusco.

Operated by Machupicchu Latin America. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

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