Cusco’s South Valley: Tipón, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas
Most travelers rush north to the Sacred Valley and miss the South Valley entirely. Their loss is your gain: three remarkable sites, almost no crowds, and a glimpse of cultures that came before and after the Incas.
Three sites, three worlds
| Site | What makes it special |
|---|---|
| Tipón | Masterful Inca water gardens and channels still flowing |
| Pikillacta | A vast pre-Inca Wari city of hundreds of buildings |
| Andahuaylillas | A church so painted it is called the Sistine Chapel of the Andes |
Why it is worth your time
Tipón shows the Inca mastery of water; Pikillacta proves great cultures thrived here long before them; and Andahuaylillas dazzles with colonial art. Together they make a rich, crowd-free day. See the South Valley tour.
Discover the South Valley
Tipón, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas in one day.
Cusco's South Valley: the road less travelled
While most visitors flood the Sacred Valley to the north, Cusco's South Valley (Valle Sur) stays quiet — yet it holds some of the region's most impressive engineering and pre-Inca history. A classic circuit links three sites: Tipón, Pikillacta and the colonial church of Andahuaylillas.
| Site | What it is |
|---|---|
| Tipón | Masterful Inca terraces and still-functioning water channels and fountains |
| Pikillacta | A large pre-Inca city of the Wari culture (c. 600–1000 AD) |
| Andahuaylillas | A 17th-century church famed as the 'Sistine Chapel of the Andes' |
Why the South Valley is worth your time
Tipón is arguably the finest surviving example of Inca hydraulic engineering — water still flows through its precisely cut channels and fountains centuries on, a living lesson in why the Incas revered water. Pikillacta is a rare chance to see a major Wari city that predates the Incas by centuries, its grid of stone walls hinting at an earlier Andean empire. And Andahuaylillas dazzles with baroque murals and gold leaf. Few day trips pack so much variety with so few crowds.
How to visit
The South Valley is an easy half-day to full-day trip just southeast of Cusco. Tipón and Pikillacta are included on the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico); the Andahuaylillas church charges a small separate entry. Bring sun protection and water — see our Boleto Turístico guide and our best day trips from Cusco.
Planning your South Valley day
The South Valley is an easy escape just southeast of Cusco, and because it sees so few tourists, it feels refreshingly unhurried. Most of the key sites are covered by the Cusco Tourist Ticket, with the Andahuaylillas church charging a small separate fee.
| Site | Ticket | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Tipón | Boleto Turístico | ~1–1.5 h |
| Pikillacta | Boleto Turístico | ~1 h |
| Andahuaylillas church | Separate small fee | ~30–45 min |
Combine all three for a relaxed half- or full-day. Bring sun protection and water, and come acclimatized. It's an excellent lower-key alternative when the Sacred Valley feels too busy — see our Boleto Turístico guide.
Frequently asked questions
A less-visited area south of Cusco with three superb sites: the Inca water gardens of Tipón, the Wari city of Pikillacta, and the painted church of Andahuaylillas.
Because its interior is covered in extraordinary colonial-era murals and gilded art, rivalling far grander cathedrals.
