Half-Day Tour of the South Valley

Itinerary

SOUTH VALLEY – TIPÓN, PIKILLAQTA AND ANDAHUAYLILLAS

We will begin our excursion with pickup from your hotel starting at 8:00 a.m. We will head south of the city to explore three architectural and historical gems that represent different eras of Andean civilization.

Our first stop will be Tipón, an impressive agricultural complex featuring 12 stepped cultivation terraces, whose walls were built with finely carved stones. Most astonishing is its irrigation system, which still functions today, supplying water to the crops through a spring that flows throughout the year.

We will continue to Pikillaqta, a large urban center belonging to the Wari empire, with over a thousand structures including plazas, colcas (food storage depots), dwellings, temples, and long narrow streets with buildings that reached up to four stories high. This archaeological site is one of the most important Wari culture sites in the region.

We will conclude our tour in Andahuaylillas, a typical Andean village from the colonial era. Its Catholic church, known as the “Sistine Chapel of Cusco,” features beautiful interior decoration and mural paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries that will leave you breathless.

During the return journey, we will make a stop in Saylla, a typical Cusco town famous for its delicious pork cracklings, where you can taste this traditional delicacy optionally.

The return to the city of Cusco is scheduled for approximately 2:00 p.m.