Cusco City Tour: A Visit To The Capital Of The Inca Culture

1.- OVERVIEW OF THE CUSCO CITY TOUR

Cusco is one of the most important and popular tourist cities today, is the arrival point where all travelers seeking to know Machu Picchu arrive to begin the journey. The most natural thing to do before visiting it is to delight in the city choosing among the many tours in Cusco City like visiting the Rainbow Mountain, the Sacred Valley and other unique places that can only be known here. Of all these options the Cusco City Tour is the best way to get to know the city, its streets and its tradition, you will discover that history is kept alive in every step you take.

2.- MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THE CUSCO CITY TOUR

2.1.- Main Square (Plaza de Armas)

For many of the Tours in Cusco City, this is the starting place where groups gather. It is also considered the heart of the city and throughout history has witnessed many super important historical events, but today is the epicenter of arrival where all travelers who come to the city visit at least once. The Cusco City Tour is also the ideal place to start because here you can find the Basilica Cathedral of Cusco which is the most important of the whole city. From this place it is very easy to get to other important points that you want to visit.

2.2.- Cathedral of Cusco

Originally the space occupied today by the Cathedral of Cusco belonged to the palace of an Inca ruler, with the arrival of the Spanish began the superimposition of power and dominion so that the most important buildings related to religion were made on sacred spaces such as temples or huacas with the intention of showing the power. During the Cusco City Tour you can enter to visit its interior and discover that it is formed by 3 churches, which make the connection so that the visit is complete and simulates a journey through time, starting from the church of triumph, the cathedral and the Sacred Family, contains the most incredible collection of Cusquenian art that you can appreciate, also during the guided tour you will learn the secrets behind each canvas.

2.3.- Qorikancha (Sun Temple)

Among all the Tours in Cusco City that take you to different places, only the Cusco City Tour allows you to know the most important place of all the Inca culture, the temple of the sun or Qoricancha is located in the historic center of the city. It is a sacred space in which the Incas worshiped the main god of their religion, the Sun. In its walls you can appreciate the fine work done which shows the importance it had, now you can see that on the same temple was built the church of Santo Domingo as a sign that the Catholic religion was superior to the Andean belief. During the Cusco City Tour you can tour inside and discover the unique enclosures it has.

2.4.- Sacsayhuamán

Located in the upper part of the city of Cusco, the archaeological park of Saqsayhuaman contains a large number of archaeological enclosures, for its characteristics of high walls and megalithic stones of more than 100 tons of weight was considered as a fortress, however with the studies conducted it was determined that this place had a multifunctional purpose (administrative, warehouse, military and others). During the Cusco City Tour you can enjoy a visit to the esplanade (place where the famous Inti Raymi – Festival of the Sun, on June 24 of each year) and then to the highest part where you will find a beautiful natural viewpoint of the entire city.

2.5.- Q’enqo

It is part of the attractions that you can enjoy during the Cusco City Tour, is quite close to Saqsayhuaman and has a ceremonial purpose, mainly noted for the subway spaces that you can visit, plus a peculiar monolith in the middle of a semi-circular square. You can also see a huge rock in which work was done and denote the zigzag channels that according to Andean belief were used for ceremonies and sacrifices on behalf of the gods.

2.6.- Puka Pukara

As you continue your Cusco City Tour, you also arrive at this checkpoint that contains one of the most attractive phenomena of the whole experience. At sunset the surrounding walls take a reddish color and by the dimensions make it look like a fortress. It is from there where it takes the name of Pura Pukara which is a Quechua word that means Red Fortress. This place served as a military center as well as a checkpoint for all people seeking to reach the city of Cusco, from here you can see an incredible view of the entire valley and the protective mountains of the city. The road that takes you to Puka Pukara is also the one that is used to make other tours in Cusco City as the Sacred Valley.

2.7.- Tambomachay

It is the last point to visit within the Cusco City Tour, a place that stands out from the rest by the perfect handling of water and the fine finishes that have their portals and fountains. It is considered a spiritual place where the Inca ruler performed spiritual baths to purify his body, according to the Andean belief that water was worshiped as a source of life.

3.- SOME PLACES THAT WILL COMPLEMENT YOUR CUSCO CITY TOUR

There are some important places that are in the way of your tour but are not considered within the Cusco City Tour, and in most of the traditional Tours in Cusco City either. But if you can do it when you have some free time or if you choose a more personalized option in which you have the availability of the guide, some of these places are:

3.1.- Church of the Company of Jesus

The Cusco City Tour starts in the main square of Cusco to first visit the cathedral and then walk along Loreto street until you reach the temple of the Sun. It is precisely on the corner of Loreto street where you can see a beautiful church that is the perpetual companion of the Cathedral. The church of the Company of Jesus is a beautiful sample of art with its baroque style front showing all the ingenuity that the Cusquenian artists captured here, its interior also contains a great collection of art that you can appreciate and delight in your free time.

3.2.- San Blas Neighborhood

There are many places in Cusco that maintain not only the culture or tradition, but also the appearance since colonial times, even before. This is the case of San Blas Neighborhood, although not visited during the traditional Cusco City Tour can be visited personally as it is located quite close to the main square. This place is mainly known as the neighborhood of artisans where you can see how such an important tradition is inherited for generations. It also stands out for its peculiar super narrow streets, white houses with balconies made of wood where the Andean and colonial essence is maintained.

3.3.- San Pedro Market

Either before or after the Cusco City Tour you can not miss a visit to one of the most important traditional markets in the city. This beautiful traditional market contains a wide variety of fresh produce, seasonal fruits, medicinal plants and souvenirs that you can buy during your trip. You can visit personally when you have time or you can do it within one of the Tours in Cusco City, such as the cooking class in which you visit the market to buy the supplies and then make your own food.

⁠4.- CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

As we previously said, the best way to know the city and all its charm is with the Cusco City Tour experience. However we know that you are looking for more than just that, you want to know and feel the culture for this reason is that we designed other Tours in Cusco City more linked to rural or experiential experiences in which you can enjoy local activities such as:

4.1.- Traditional Andean Music and Dance

During some dates of the year you can see how the streets of Cusco are filled with colors and joy, several groups of people to the beat of a melodious Andean music dance and greet the spectators, this is a sample of art and culture as the dances are native to the Andean people and is a way to express their presence. Usually the music comes from handmade quenas and small drums that mark the rhythm.

4.2.- Local Cuisine and Cooking Class

Peruvian food is recognized worldwide as one of the most delicious and the cuisine of Cusco has a great contribution to this. The cooking seasoning of the people of Cusco is very particular and unique in some dishes, that is why there are restaurants also called “Picanterias” where you can get this local food. Another option that many travelers enjoy is to visit the San Pedro Market, where you can also taste delicious dishes. However, if you are looking for a more private experience to learn, then the cooking class option is the answer. This is a space implemented so that travelers in the company of a professional chef can prepare one of the most representative dishes of the city.

4.3.- Textile Demonstrations and Coca Leaf Reading

Both experiences belong to the most important cultural activities that are part of the Andean belief, these can be enjoyed mainly in the villages near Cusco as Pisaq or Chinchero.

• The textile demonstration consists of a process from the moment the material is extracted from the alpaca, how it is processed to make thread and finally transformed into a beautiful unique garment with many colors, it is certainly a very popular show.
• On the other hand the reading of the coca leaf is related to the Andean belief that you can see what the future has prepared for you, so it prevents you from any possible evil that may occur, this practice is only performed by Andean priests.

⁠5.- PRACTICAL INFORMATION

5.1.- Transportation Options

The city of Cusco is small compared to other places so it is easy to get from one place to another. Most places can be reached on foot although it is also a good idea to take a cab but make sure it is reliable. In Cusco the InDriver application works as a means of cab service.

Walking through the streets is quite safe, even at night, but only in the historic center (near the main square). Like all cities there are places that are somewhat dangerous for this reason always try to be accompanied by someone who knows the city if you decide to visit a little more of the ends of the city.

5.2.- Altitude Considerations and Acclimatization

Upon arrival you may feel some discomfort such as headache or dizziness, this could be because of the altitude as Cusco is located at 3399 meters above sea level, it is important that you always stay hydrated, drink plenty of water, this helps the body to oxygenate more easily and you can feel better, it is also very good option to drink coca tea that they give you in the hotel or restaurants.

5.3.- Language Tips

The language of the people of Cusco is Spanish and Quechua naturally, although many establishments already provide assistance in English so it will not be difficult to communicate, however if you can learn some words in Spanish it would help a lot.

6.- SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CUSCO

“Cusco was not a city inhabited by the Inca culture, it was a sacred city that was visited only on special dates, it is a parallel to Lameca. It is for this reason that when the Spaniards arrived they found it empty, with very few people which facilitated its conquest in a quick way.”

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7.- PLANNING YOUR CUSCO CITY TOUR

The advantage of the Cusco City Tour is that you can enjoy it at any time of the year, even during the rainy season this experience is unique and incredible plus being so popular it has a daily availability so it does not matter if you book it 1 day before, you can tour the city with tranquility. This experience lasts about 5 hours visiting all the places mentioned and has departures in the morning (09:00 am) and in the afternoon (13:00 pm) but if you want a personalized experience you can add some complementary places and can last up to 8 hours.

If this is your first time in Cusco and you are looking to enjoy every moment of the trip then start your tour enjoying the Cusco City Tour, I assure you that this will allow the rest of the Tours in Cusco City that you have scheduled will be much more valued. Auri Peru can organize a tour for you in a way that fits your desires, contact our travel consultants, they will be more than happy to assist you in your next adventure.

“Keep filling your life with reasons to travel.”