Cusco night tour: San Pedro Market, Plaza de Armas, planetarium

Walk a working market at dusk, then watch the southern constellations through a telescope.

A 6.5-hour night tour of Cusco includes pickup from your hotel, a walk through San Pedro Market, a stop at Plaza de Armas with pisco sour or maracuya sour, entry to the Planetarium Cusco with a certified guide, and pollo a la brasa with Inca cola at a local restaurant. The tour runs entirely by private transport and a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, so the timing and route stay fixed while you move between stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. San Pedro Market45m
2. Plaza de Armas2h
3. Planetarium Cusco2h · entry included

Cusco market, drinks, planetarium, dinner

• Pick up from accommodation at 2:30 pm
• Walk 10 minutes to San Pedro market
• Explore San Pedro market stalls
• Walk to Plaza de Armas main square
• Learn about Cusco cathedral and history
• Try Pisco sour and Maracuya sour at local cafe
• Drive 15 minutes to Cusco planetarium
• Visit interpretation center and main dome
• Stargaze through telescopes
• Return to Cusco center for dinner
• Taste Pollo a la Brasa and Inca Kola

The experience

Pickup happens at 2:30 pm from your accommodation. A 10-minute walk brings you into San Pedro Market, where street vendors in traditional dress sell sandwiches, medicinal herbs and produce alongside stalls packed with local food, souvenirs and fresh-squeezed juices. The market is where Cusco residents shop, not a tourist version of one, so the rhythm and the goods are real.

From there, the tour walks to Plaza de Armas, the central square. Your guide covers the cathedral basilica (built between 1560 and 1654 in a mix of baroque, gothic and Renaissance styles), and the history of Tupac Amaru II, an Inca descendant who led the first major indigenous revolution in Latin America from 1780 to 1782. At a local café, you taste pisco sour, made with Peruvian grape brandy, lemon juice, syrup and egg white, or maracuya sour if you prefer. Non-alcoholic options are available.

A 15-minute drive takes you outside the city to the Planetarium Cusco, situated near the Inca sanctuary of Sacsayhuaman. The planetarium's specialized guides walk you through an interpretation center and the main dome, explaining Inca constellations and how they were used in daily life. Then you look through powerful telescopes at stars, planets, nebulae and constellations of the southern hemisphere: the same sky the Incas studied 500 years ago. Weather affects visibility and which constellations appear depending on the season.

The tour ends back in central Cusco with pollo a la brasa (chicken rotated on rods inside an oven and seasoned with Peruvian spices, served with fries, salad and sauces), and Inca Kola, Peru's most common soft drink. Your guide, transport and all entry fees are included. You bring only the appetite.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout.
• certified tour guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• entry to the Planetarium Cusco with telescope access.
• pisco sour or maracuya sour tasting.
• pollo a la brasa with Inca cola at a local restaurant.
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Under 10: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by IncaGo Expeditions

Is this one for you?Book this if you prefer a guided evening with set stops and timing rather than piecing together your own route. The private vehicle keeps the market, plaza, planetarium, and dinner flowing as one experience.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years). Under 10: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is San Pedro Market like when we walk through it?

San Pedro Market is an active neighborhood market where locals buy food, produce and everyday goods. Street vendors in traditional clothing sell sandwiches and medicinal herbs outside. Inside are stalls with fresh juices, local dishes, souvenirs and items unfamiliar to visitors but in high demand among residents.

What happens if the weather is bad on the night of the planetarium visit?

The planetarium tour is subject to weather conditions. Cloud cover affects which constellations you can see through the telescopes, and visibility depends on the season of your visit. The interpretation center and dome education still happen, but telescope viewing may be limited.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour includes a 10-minute walk through San Pedro Market and a walk around Plaza de Armas to see the cathedral and learn the history. The rest of the day involves transport by private vehicle. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What food and drinks are included?

The tour includes a pisco sour or maracuya sour tasting at a café near Plaza de Armas, pollo a la brasa (rotisserie chicken with fries, salad and sauces), and Inca Kola. Non-alcoholic alternatives are available for the cocktail tasting.