South Valley of Cusco Tour Tipón, Pikillacta & Andahuaylillas
A quieter, history-packed route: the Inca water gardens of Tipón, the pre-Inca Wari city of Pikillacta and the gold-leaf church of Andahuaylillas, the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes”. From $35.
The South Valley tour explores the quieter side of Cusco, south-east of the city, in half a day. We leave at 7:00 AM for Tipón, a series of Inca terraces crossed by stone canals and fountains that still run with spring water, then visit the 17th-century church of Andahuaylillas, so richly painted inside that it is called the Sistine Chapel of the Andes.
The third stop is Pikillacta, a walled city built by the Wari centuries before the Incas, and on the way back we pause in Saylla, famous for its chicharrón. You are back in Cusco at around 2:00 PM. Transport, a certified bilingual guide, first aid and oxygen are included for US $35; entrances and lunch are paid separately — Tipón and Pikillacta are covered by the Cusco Tourist Ticket. More in our South Valley guide.
Inca water engineering at its finest: terraces, canals and fountains still fed by a natural spring.
Andahuaylillas
The “Sistine Chapel of the Andes”, a village church covered in murals and gilded altars.
Pikillacta
A grid of tall stone walls built by the Wari empire long before the Incas.
Saylla and its chicharrón
A stop in the town famous across Cusco for its fried pork with corn and potatoes.
Few visitors
Far quieter than the Sacred Valley — you often have the sites almost to yourself.
Back by 2:00 PM
A half-day trip at gentle altitude, with the afternoon free in Cusco.
Tour at a glance
Duration
Half Day · 7 h
Price
From US $35 per person
Hotel pickup
7:00 AM
Back in Cusco
2:00 PM
Max altitude
3,560 m
Walking
Light walking
Difficulty
Easy
Drive from Cusco
about 0.7 h
Meals
Not included (stop in Saylla)
Entrance fees
Not included (Tourist Ticket / church)
Group size
Small group, max 14 travelers
Last-minute booking
Until 2:00 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 7:00 AM pickup you can book until 2:00 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.
A relaxed, history-rich half day — Tipón, Andahuaylillas and Pikillacta through the scenic South Valley, returning to Cusco by early afternoon.
HALF DAY
Half Day · South Valley of Cusco
07:00 AMDeparture from Cusco. Hotel pickup and a scenic drive into the South Valley (3,400 m).
08:00 AMTipón. Explore the terraces, irrigation channels and ceremonial areas of Tipón (3,560 m), highlighting sophisticated Inca engineering.
10:00 AMAndahuaylillas. Admire the elaborate murals, gold-leaf altars and colonial artwork of the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes” (3,400 m).
11:30 AMPikillacta. Explore the vast pre-Inca Wari ruins (3,500 m) — residential areas, plazas and defensive walls.
12:30 PMSaylla. A stop in Saylla (3,350 m) to explore the town and try local fare (lunch not included).
02:00 PMReturn to Cusco. A picturesque drive back to Cusco, arriving around 2:00 PM.
Good to know: A gentle, scenic half-day at moderate altitude. Lunch is not included — there is a stop in Saylla, famous for its local cuisine, where you can eat at your own choice.
Inclusions & exclusions
Exactly what is covered in your South Valley of Cusco tour — and what to budget separately.
What's Included
Comfortable transport for the route.
Certified bilingual guide.
First aid kit & oxygen on board.
Not Included
Lunch (a stop is made in Saylla).
BTC / site entrance tickets where required.
Tips for guide and driver (optional).
Before you go
A few essentials we recommend to make your South Valley of Cusco day the most rewarding possible.
A gentle half day
The South Valley sits around 3,400–3,560 m, similar to Cusco, so it’s an easy day for acclimatizing. Bring sun protection, water and a light layer, and some soles for lunch and tickets.
Physical fitness
The tour is easy: short walks at each site and some stairs in Tipón. Everything is at or below Cusco’s altitude, which makes it a comfortable first-days excursion.
Best time to go
The South Valley can be visited all year. From April to October the days are sunny and dry; from December to March the fields are green and showers usually come in the afternoon, after this half-day tour.
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 – 14 travelers
US $35 / 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 $33 / pp
5% discount for adolescents & children
Group of 8+
8 or more travelers
From US $32 / 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.
A less-traveled route combining archaeological sites, colonial architecture and stunning landscapes — including Tipón, Andahuaylillas and Pikillacta.
Comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, water, snacks and a camera — plus a layer or rain jacket depending on weather.
Tipón’s Inca terraces and water channels, the Andahuaylillas “Sistine Chapel of the Andes” and the pre-Inca Wari site of Pikillacta.
About 23–30 km southeast of Cusco — easily reached on a half-day trip.
Lunch is not included, but we stop in Saylla, famous for its traditional cuisine, where you can eat at your own choice.
US $35 per person in a shared group, including transport, a bilingual guide and oxygen. Tipón and Pikillacta are entered with the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), and the Andahuaylillas church charges its own fee; lunch in Saylla is at your own choice.
Yes. Online booking for the South Valley stays open until 5 hours before hotel pickup (Cusco time). Pickup is at 7:00 AM, so you can book until 2:00 AM on the day of the tour. Pick your date in the calendar — any date still shown as available can be booked — and you will get your confirmation by email as soon as you pay.
Very close: Tipón is about 25 km southeast of Cusco (around 40 minutes) and the farthest stop, Andahuaylillas, about 40 km. That is why this is a half-day tour.
Yes — it is a different story: Wari and Inca engineering plus colonial art, with very few tourists. It pairs well with a Cusco City Tour on another half day.
