Cusco City Tour Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán and Four Inca Sites in Half a Day
The essential introduction to Cusco: the Temple of the Sun, the giant walls of Sacsayhuamán and three Inca sites above the city, with a bilingual guide — from $18 per person.
Our Cusco city tour is the best first outing in the city. We start at 9:00 AM at Qorikancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, whose perfect stone walls still support the colonial convent of Santo Domingo. From there we drive up to Sacsayhuamán, with its zigzag walls of enormous fitted stones and wide views over Cusco.
The tour continues to three smaller sites in the hills: the carved rock shrine of Qenqo, the Inca fountains of Tambomachay and the lookout of Puca Pucara. You are back in the centre at around 1:00 PM, with the afternoon free. Transport and a certified guide are included; the Qorikancha entrance is paid at the door, and the four sites outside the city require the Cusco Tourist Ticket. Easy walking at gentle altitude makes it ideal for your first or second day — see our city tour guide.
The most sacred temple of the Inca Empire, with the finest stonework in Cusco under a colonial convent.
Sacsayhuamán
Zigzag walls of stones weighing many tons, and the esplanade where Inti Raymi is celebrated every 24 June.
Qenqo
A limestone outcrop carved with channels, steps and an underground chamber used for rituals.
Tambomachay
The “Inca baths”: fountains and canals still fed by a natural spring.
Puca Pucara
A small reddish Inca post with views over the valley north of Cusco.
A gentle first day
Four hours, short walks and moderate altitude — perfect while you acclimatize.
Tour at a glance
Duration
Half Day · 4 h
Price
From US $18 per person
Hotel pickup
9:00 AM
Back in Cusco
1:00 PM
Max altitude
3,765 m
Walking
Light walking at each site
Difficulty
Easy
Drive from Cusco
Starts in Cusco
Meals
Not included
Entrance fees
Not included (Qorikancha at the door, Tourist Ticket for the rest)
Group size
Small group, max 18 travelers
Last-minute booking
Until 4:00 AM on the day of the tour
Book today, travel tomorrow
Online booking stays open until 5 hours before hotel pickup (Cusco time). With a 9:00 AM pickup you can book until 4:00 AM on the day of the tour — the calendar updates by itself. You receive your confirmation by email as soon as you pay. Need a seat even sooner? Message us on WhatsApp and we will check availability for you.
Four hours among the Inca and colonial heart of Cusco, from the Temple of the Sun to the sites in the hills above the city.
HALF DAY
Half Day · Cusco City Tour
09:00 AMStart at Qorikancha. We begin at Qorikancha (3,399 m), the former Temple of the Sun and one of the most important religious centres of the Inca Empire.
10:00 AMSacsayhuamán. Marvel at the Inca fortress (3,701 m) and its towering, perfectly fitted stone walls.
11:00 AMQenqo. Explore the mysterious stone carvings and ceremonial spaces of Qenqo (3,580 m).
11:45 AMTambomachay. Admire the impressive water features of the “Inca Baths” (3,765 m).
12:15 PMPuca Pucara. Investigate the “Red Fortress” (3,760 m) and enjoy wide valley views.
01:00 PMReturn to the city. The tour concludes back in Cusco around 1:00 PM.
Good to know: A great first-day, gentle introduction to Cusco that helps with acclimatization. You’ll need the BTC (Cusco Tourist Ticket) for the archaeological sites — we’ll advise you.
Inclusions & exclusions
Exactly what is covered in your Cusco City Tour tour — and what to budget separately.
A few essentials we recommend to make your Cusco City Tour day the most rewarding possible.
Perfect for your first day
This gentle half-day tour is ideal for acclimatizing when you arrive in Cusco (3,400 m). Take it easy, hydrate and bring sun protection. Remember to buy the BTC Tourist Ticket for the sites.
Physical fitness
The city tour is easy: short walks at each site, some stone steps and gentle slopes at Sacsayhuamán. It is a great first-day activity because it keeps you active without pushing you at altitude.
Best time to go
Cusco can be visited all year. From April to October skies are clear and the sites dry; from December to March showers usually arrive in the afternoon, and this morning tour often finishes before the rain.
Sun & weather
Cusco’s sun is strong even on cloudy days. Bring sunscreen SPF 50+, a hat and sunglasses, and carry a light jacket or fleece: mornings are cool and the weather can change quickly, especially from December to March.
Cancellations & weather
You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour if a verifiable emergency keeps you from joining — an illness, an accident or a cancelled flight, for example, with a document that shows it. If weather or road conditions make the trip unsafe, we will offer you a new date or a full refund. See our refund policy.
What to pack
Travel light but smart. Here's exactly what we recommend bringing for a comfortable, safe day at altitude.
Essentials
Passport — required for the entrance ticket.
Hiking boots (broken in) — terrain is rocky & uneven.
Transparent pricing — no hidden fees. The more travelers in your group, the lower the price per person.
Group Type
Group Size
Price / Person
What's Different
Shared Group Most popular
2 – 18 travelers
US $18 / pp
Mixed international group · set departure
Private Group ★ Best experience
2 – 6 travelers
US $120 / pp
Your group only · personalized pace
Family Package
4+ adults & kids
US $17 / pp
5% discount for adolescents & children
Group of 8+
8 or more travelers
From US $16.20 / pp
Automatic group discount at checkout
Group discounts apply automatically. Book 4+ travelers and we'll send a custom quote within 2 hours. Larger groups (10+) qualify for additional savings — message us on WhatsApp.
Payment & refund highlights
Secure online payment
Pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express. All transactions SSL-encrypted via Izipay.
Cancellation policy
We accept cancellations up to 24 hours before the tour when a verifiable emergency prevents you from attending. Refunds go back to your original payment method and are processed by your bank, not by us: any bank fees are applied by the bank, and the money can take up to 30 business days to reach your account. Thank you for your patience. Read the full policy.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. More? See the full FAQ page or reach us on WhatsApp.
About 4 hours, from 9:00 AM to around 1:00 PM.
Transport between the sites and a certified bilingual guide, for US $18 in a shared group (US $120 private). Entrance tickets (Qorikancha and the Cusco Tourist Ticket) are paid separately.
Yes, for Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara. It is not included; read our Tourist Ticket guide to choose the right one.
Yes. The walks are short and the altitude is close to that of Cusco, so it is an easy way to adapt before longer excursions.
Yes. Online booking stays open until 4:00 AM on the day of the tour (5 hours before the 9:00 AM start).
No. The cathedral on the Plaza de Armas is not part of this tour, but you can visit it on your own with the religious circuit ticket.
