Day Highlight: sweeping trek and guided observations through City tour with unhurried transitions and panoramic vantage points.
At 1:00 pm, we will meet you in the lobby of your hotel to begin your tour. From here, you will head to Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun, at Qoricancha you will observe the construction methods of Inca culture and Catholicism. This was the key spiritual center of the Incas, leading to the four quarters of the Inca Empire. There is also a bronze high altar to be seen.
From Qoricancha, your group will walk along Avenida El Sol, where you will take your bus for the 25-minute ride to the majestic Inca site, Sacsayhuaman, with its enigmatic walls weighing more than 200 tons. You will listen to your guide’s explanation and then traverse on your own.
From Sacsayhuaman, you will take a five-minute bus ride to the Inca site of Q’enqo to see its intriguing Inca altars. Next, it will take another five-minute drive to Puka Pukara, a small circular Inca site. The last stop on our tour is Tambomachay, a water temple with impressive water fountains, which the Incas used for bathing. We will then return to Cusco, where the tour ends at the main square, unless you take a private tour, in which case, we will return you to your hotel.
Day Technical Data:
- Timing: Early morning start with well-spaced afternoon transitions.
- Terrain: Variable mountain stone paving, compacted soil paths, and loose gravel slopes.
- Physical Effort: Moderate to demanding exertion adapted to traveler acclimatization.
- Transport Profile: Private van pickup from Cusco hotel and dedicated linking transfers.
