City Tour of Cusco and Archeological Sites
Cusco, Peru
Trip Type: Half-day Tours
Duration: 5 hours
Visit the charming city of Cusco, historic capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex, which was built over the Inca Qoricancha temple and you'll continue to the Plaza de Armas to visit its famous cathedral. You'll then head above the city to visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the ruins of the temple and amphitheater of Qenqo, and finally, visit Puka Pukara (‘Red fortress’ in Quechua), an ancient Inca military complex.
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Visit the charming city of Cusco, historic capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex, which was built over the Inca Qoricancha temple and you'll continue to the Plaza de Armas to visit its famous cathedral. You'll then head above the city to visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the ruins of the temple and amphitheater of Qenqo, and finally, visit Puka Pukara (‘Red fortress’ in Quechua), an ancient Inca military complex.
Enjoy a guided tour of this charming city, which was once the capital of the Inca Empire. You'll be picked up at your hotel ahead of time, with the tour starting at 1pm with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex that was built over the Inca Qoricancha temple. It was one of the most important temples dedicated to the worship of the sun, and its foundations are still prominent at the base of the convent. Ancient chronicles say the temple was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature.
Then, continue to the Plaza de Armas to visit its cathedral; it features an elaborate Renaissance façade and, like other important monuments in the city, was built over a demolished Inca temple.
Afterwards, you'll head to the hills above Cusco to visit some preserved archaeological sites around the city. You'll visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, whose imposing ramparts offer a stunning panoramic view of Cusco; the ruins of the temple and amphitheater of Qenqo, where it is believed the Incas practiced agricultural rituals; and finally, Puka Pukara (‘Red fortress’ in Quechua) an Inca military complex located on a prominent hill, whose dwellings squares, bathrooms, aqueducts, walls and towers can still be appreciated.
Once the tour is over, you'll be dropped off back at your hotel.
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